2. Acceptance of previous minutes from the 9th November, 2010.
Moved: Grant Lavers, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
3. Business arising from previous minutes.
3.1 With 20+ we can go ahead with the First Aid Course and it runs for approximately 6 hours. Suggested we do after summer sport before winter sports start and it shouldn’t clash with University, term 1 finishes Friday 8th April. Ruth suggested March 12th, 19th or 26th. Contact EOI with suggested dates and request payment of $85 or a deposit of $50. Corrie to give Grant all contact details. Simon asked if they need any equipment, cables, screens etc.
3.2 Corrie to contact Liz Richards and Beck Duffey to get Fete photo’s to Grant for the website. Decided to drop the fete survey as it’s no longer fresh in people’s minds.
3.3 Liz is taking a picture of the grandchildren of the Winning Voucher winner with the stove as a thank you for the newsletter. Liz will arrange permission to publish pictures of the kids.
3.4 Would like a Skills Audit of parents for the P & C only. Put something in the newsletter as a school only Yellow Pages, online only. Free service. Grant suggested we validate that the child is a student and keep it current. Ruth suggested we have a project plan, i.e. to create a form, document the process. Grant is ok with the steps but wants someone else to do the blurb. A goal for the P & C is project management. Need to write a plan for any new ideas and bring it back next meeting to present. Corrie happy to liaise with Grant.
3.5 Fete money has been invested for 6 months at 6%, $36K. Ruth asked if we were any closer to closing the fete account. Brendon will check with Lesa. The canteen hopes to cover the stove installation.
4. Correspondence.
4.1 Various Westpac correspondences given to Lesa.
5. Reports.
5.1 President’s Report.
5.1.1 Brendon thanked Ruth for going to the Year 6 graduation and celebration day on his behalf.
5.1.2 Brendon thanked the grandfather that donated the Winnings Voucher, and thanked Winnings & Liz for the further discount to get the oven for the school canteen. Also thanks to Craig for installing it.
5.1.3 Sam is organising a thank you morning tea for the teachers tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has contributed something and thanks to Sam for arranging.
5.1.4 Brendon also thanked Seva, Penny & Paula for the volunteering morning tea.
Moved: Brendon Wilson Seconded: Penny Whatman.
5.2 Principals Report
5.2.1 Simon thanked the families that attended the working bee on 28th November. It was a successful day and enabled us to tidy up some areas that really needed it.
5.2.2 All student reports have been issued and I trust you will find them informative and supportive. Students will be bringing all belongings home this week.
5.2.3 Simon extended his thanks and appreciation to the P & C for their involvement and support of the Year 6 Graduation and Celebration Day.
5.2.4 The installation of the two air conditioning units in HB3 & 4 has commenced and should be completed this week. Thanks again to the P & C for their contribution that will make the students learning environment more comfortable. I plan to have sections of the administration block air conditioned early next year.
5.2.5 The class structure for 2011 will possibly be:
· Kindergarten x 2
· Stage 1 = 3 x 1-2 classes and a Year 2
· Stage 2 = 2 x Year 3, 1 x Year 4, 1 x Year 4-5
· Stage 3 = 1 x Year 4-5, 3 x Year 5-6
As the structure is dependent on student population, we will finalise the make-up during Week 1 whilst students are in their 2010 classes.
5.2.5 Book packs have been sourced and delivered in preparation for commencement of Term 1:
· Kindergarten = $55
· Stage 1 = $60
· Stage 2 = $50
· Stage 3 = $45
5.2.6 BER handover is pending, but unlikely before end of school. Planning to move in the break so we hope to be operational for Day 1, Term 1.
5.2.7 Dates for 2010/2011. Term 4 ends 15.12.10 for students. Staff will be participating in professional learning and planning activities on Thursday & Friday. January 28th will be a Staff Development Day. Students in Years 1 – 6 will commence on Monday 31st January. Students in Kindergarten will undertake their Best Start assessment during Week 1 and commence in their classes Friday 4th February. Kindergarten photo are booked for Wednesday 9th February. Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 10th February for students from 8 years. Additionally, Footsteps have booked to undertake dance classes during Term 2, as have the inter-relate classes for students in Years 3 – 6.
5.2.8 I sincerely thank the P & C and parents for their continued support through 2010. It has certainly been a dynamic year and, on behalf of the staff and students, I thank you for your time, effort and generous contributions. I look forward to 2011 being more settled with fewer construction matters.
5.2.9 Ruth added Tea & Tissues for Friday 4th February, Penny put her hand up to arrange. Welcome BBQ possibly the 11th or 18th of February. Brendan to email Kim regarding the jumping castle. We need to ensure we state “No Alcohol” in the newsletter.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
5.3 Treasurers Report. No report submitted.
5.4 Canteen Report.
5.4.1 Penny thanked Paula and all the volunteers. There is virtually no product left. The stove was installed last Thursday and worked brilliantly for last Friday thankfully as it was a very busy day.
5.4.2 Penny would like to cut a bench and move a freezer to make it more ergonomical. Simon would like to take a look and send an email to Asset Management with a plan.
5.4.3 Lost a few Year 6 volunteers and hoping for new Kindy mum’s to volunteer.
5.4.4 Paula mentioned opening on a 4th or 5th day. Just really short on volunteers. Want to get more healthy and unprocessed food. Perhaps a no order day, just cooking only. Really want to do more home cooked food, i.e. Nachos, soups and wraps are really popular. The canteen can afford the extra wage for the day.
Moved: Penny Whatman, Seconded: Brendon Wilson.
5.5 Uniform Report. No report submitted.
5.6 Ground Committee Report.
5.6.1 Penny thanked everyone who attended the working bee.
5.6.2 Simon provided a response to a survey of staff regarding the new playground with 5 discussion points. Staff viewed sample photos and gave likes/dislikes.
Point 1 - The south east site (bottom corner) was the most popular site.
Point 2 – Play Areas. Active/Passive/Cleared. Comments: Need more space for bigger games as well as passive (Quiet) areas x 3, Clear flat area for older students/sport, Sandpits for cars x 3, Passive colourful area for relaxing together, Active gym, Nature trail – passive x 2, Veggie Patch x 2, Sloping hills, tunnels, bridge, climbing equipment, colour, balance.
Point 3 – Is there anything you are keen to avoid? High Structures x 2, More duties x 4, Balls near the road x 2, Losing too many trees x 5, Poor visibility of students, Two separate playing areas.
Point 4 – View sample photo’s. Is there anything you liked/disliked about sample photos? Likes – slides, ropes, low climbing walls, soft fall hills & valleys, tunnels, bush rock, bridge. Dislikes – large climbing maypole, spider web climbing structure.
Point 5 – Any other considerations you’d like to raise? Duties & supervision, water holding area (muddy/soggy), mosquitoes, security during weekends holidays, lots of colour, painted games on concrete, fencing.
5.6.3 Corrie mentioned that at the working bee a local resident approached her regarding the lack of footpath along the road that leads to the Caravan Park and helipad. Simon agreed wholeheartedly and additionally suggested speed humps. We apparently don’t qualify for speed humps. Simon encouraged us to lobby the council as it’s been an issue for years. Penny mentioned she’d seen several letters in the Examiner recently, Also suggested a left turn only at the street opposite the school.
5.7 SIFC (School Improvement and Finance Committee) Report.
5.7.1 We discussed how the ‘My School’ website is going to start putting financial information up on the schools. Simon is concerned as our figure stands at $7K per student and appears quite large and nobody understands why. SPPS also has a financial statement, probably 1/15th of what will be published on the website, as well as BER funding. Simon as a tax payer is pro accountability; however, it can be destructive if the data is incorrect. Simon explained he is dealing with the State, and this is Federal. So the schools global fund is $140K plus others, this certainly doesn’t equate to $2 mill. Simon said he doesn’t see 1/15th of what they’re projecting. He also stated that this will be very interesting for private schools. These figures just don’t reflect what he sees and is very curious as to how they have arrived at that figure and hopes to share that information if he ever finds out.
5.7.2 Current targets for what the school needs right now is air conditioning, photocopiers and reading resources (approx. $8K).
5.7.3 May use the new general assistant to assist with the move into the new building.
5.7.4 2011 Action plan – ‘You Can Do It’ and punctuality is the biggest problem. Simon stated as parents we should be furious as all of our kids are missing out as the teacher needs to prop that late arriving child up for 15 minutes. Simon could involve HISLOW (Home Liaison Officer) but it wouldn’t make a long term affect. Continuing ‘Crunch & Sip’. Looking at adjusting lunch and recess times.
5.7.5 Helen asked why we don’t have ‘Lollypop’ people. Simon explained we don’t have the numbers, we could have a volunteer but they have no authority.
5.7.6 Looked at process for playground and the points that need to be followed. We need a large long term plan, so that Stage 1 can be built with Stage 2 in mind, not done all higgledy piggeldy. Need some P & C people to help Project Manage this. That group needs to contact contractors and consult with staff students etc. Then involve Simon and DET. Project Managers to then oversee contractors. Main priority is a full size plan so no money is wasted, i.e. old P & C playground is currently unusable. Grant suggested we contact Uni students/Lecturers with brief for free ideas. The summary of fees for the overall concept is about $2 ½ K. After various costs it will almost swallow up raised funds. Consultation with staff and students is of the utmost importance.
5.7.7 Steps discussed for playground.
1. Identify 1-2 people to project manage.
2. Identify and make contact with possible landscape designers/planners.
3. Land survey – identify slope, contours, etc.
4. Consultation – bring together ideas from staff, students & families with the planners initial ideas.
5. Reach agreement with final plan.
6. Get DET/school approval of plan.
7. Start to get quotes to do the earth works/equipment.
8. Oversee contractors and liaise with school.
Moved: Corrie Howes, Seconded: Brendon Wilson.
5.8 Fete Committee
5.8.1 Corrie stated we raised an additional $640 at the Carols by Twilight at Salamander Shores from left over donations from the Fete. She thanked the Richards, Cooper, Whatman, Javanovic & Fleming families for their help.