2. Acceptance of previous minutes from the 8th March, 2011.
Moved: Grant Lavers, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
3. Business arising from previous minutes.
3.1 Grant advised that only four parents have advised regarding the skills audit. More of a Yellow Pages for the school and parents, linked to the P & C website. Tristen asked if this was chargeable as the advertising on the old newsletters had been as it could be a good source of income. The current reaction of only four responses for free makes that not viable, but it could be a possible future income.
3.2 Additional canteen day. Paula has been managing the canteen for 3 ½ years and has put a proposal together suggesting we open a 4th day to pre-cook homemade foods to replace the pre packaged foods we currently sell. The estimates Paula has provided are based on supermarket rates instead of wholesale rates available to us so should be even cheaper. There will be a small outlay necessary for equipment, i.e. stock pot, food processor, muffin trays, etc. to streamline. Approximating $300. The new oven is wonderful. Liz suggested we put what’s required in the newsletter. Heavy based pans required for the new cook top, Liz asked if that was what the Carol by Twilight funds were for. Paula available for the additional day on Thursday, otherwise she’d have to come in early Mon/Wed/Fri. If no volunteer on Thursday Paula advises she could manage cooking and selling over the counter sales by herself. Paula states we currently do nearly everything a “Healthy Kids Canteen” and suggests we join as they will audit us free of charge, and advise detail re baking, pest control, ect. Could we encourage parents to push healthier choices for kids. Ruth recommends that we trial the Thursday and get a progress report for the June meeting. Paula stated no hot food handling can be done if we get Year 6 to assist, everything is pre packaged so no handling/health issues otherwise. Simon asked Paula to check on the rules regarding students assisting in the canteen. Do we also require parents’ permission? Job description/Job application for students. Ruth asked Paula to do a quick costing for equipment required, i.e. processor, vacuum sealer. Liz suggested we put a new style of note in the newsletter for canteen volunteers, “meet someone new”. Trial to go ahead.
Moved: Ruth McLeod, Seconded: Lesa Cooper.
3.3 Plan to lobby council re footpath and speed humps. Brendan Wilson & Mark Newling currently in discussions with council. Simon confirmed he hasn’t heard from council. We requested speed humps for the front of the school. Tristen to see Brendon, Joe Gleeson was the gent who came out to advise regarding the fete, Tristen will contact Joe.
3.4 Project Manage Playground. We need to get a few keen people to project manage a concept/plan and get in contractors. Ruth will write something for the newsletter asking anyone in Landscape Design to participate. Sean Richards following up with a designer he knows. Kylie Murchie is quite keen too.
4. Correspondence.
4.1 Various Westpac correspondences given to Lesa.
4.2 Host Plus statement given to Lesa.
4.3 Letter from DET regarding school global funding kept on file.
5. Reports.
5.1 President’s Report. No report tabled.
5.2 Principals Report
5.2.1 Simon thanked the parents and wider school community for support of the recent Mothers’ Day raffle & lucky dip that raised more than $1,300 which will go towards the Year 6 graduation and the students gift back to the school at the end of the year.
5.2.2 The Annual School Report has been completed and available on the school’s website. Simon thanked the staff, students and parents who contributed to the report. It’s a comprehensive reflection of the school’s programmes and activities for 2010 and encourages everyone to take the time out to read the report. Ruth also encouraged that everyone should take the time to read it.
5.2.3 Year 3 & 5 students participated in two legs of their NAPLAN adventure today completing writing and language, tomorrow is reading and Thursday is numeracy.
5.2.4 The students are currently participating in softball, rugby league, rugby union and netball and will soon be dancing across the school from week 6 with ‘Footsteps’.
5.2.5 The school has now built three small veggie gardens with the assistance of Bunnings and are keen to grow produce for the canteen, any requests? Is it pesticide and chemical free so we don’t poison the kids.
5.2.6 The school’s production of solar energy is close to powering forty percent of the admin block’s requirements, approximately 30 kilowatts per day.
5.2.7 Simon asked what our feedback was on the school photo’s. Everyone agreed to stay with Newcastle School Portraits. Ruth said she would email them to say thank you
5.2.8 The school is offering YCDI and inter relate courses for parents and students again this year.
5.2.9 Representatives from all of the Tomaree Learning Community are reviewing their respective anti-bullying policies which will evolve into one shared policy including social media. They hope to have this completed by the end of Term 4.
5.2.10 Simon stated that he has received a letter from staff requesting financial support from the P & C toward reading resources. He requested a $5K contribution and that the school would put up the rest as it had been a long time since the current resources had been supplemented. The school is asking for a large contribution as they have had a lot of expenditure recently, i.e. they’ve had three surge protectors blow up recently.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
5.3 Treasurers Report.
5.3.1 We need to change the signatories on the P & C bank account. Ruth and Brendon to be removed and Tristen and Corrie to be added.
5.3.2 The canteen account is currently at $10,492.59. Lesa has just received the invoice from the school for $2,500 towards air conditioning. The account is definitely healthy enough to trial Paula for the additional day. Will also cost up a permanent fridge for the canteen to replace the broken one.
5.3.3 The P & C account stands at $4,578.83 and the term deposit at $36,000.
5.3.4 The uniform shop account is $2,800 and maintaining stock.
Moved: Lesa Cooper, Seconded: Tim Gippel.
5.4 Canteen Report.
5.4.1 The fridge has broken down after spending money on maintenance over the last several weeks, so a replacement is required for summer. Simon said there is a spare fridge available in the admin building and he will arrange delivery next week.
5.4.2 Paula wants to change from Nestle to Streets. Streets is healthier and we don’t have to stock.
5.4.3 Paula went to the canteen expo in Homebush in March. Dairy Australia is going to help advise on how to increase dairy for kids.
5.4.4 Healthy canteens who ran the expo offered to send through free recipes etc. Simon said he use to put recipes in old newsletters and always got great feedback, if Paula could pass them on he’d like to do again.
Moved: Paula Browne, Seconded: Lesa Cooper.
5.5 Uniform Report. No report submitted.
5.6 Ground Committee Report.
5.6.1 We need to set up a date for the path/working bee. Ruth will talk to Sean & Penny.
5.7 SIFC (School Improvement and Finance Committee) Report.
5.7.1 Kylie Murchie is the convenor and will keep the P & C up to date in relation to school policies. At the meeting in April they discussed the annual report and action plan for the school, the playground development and lobbying the government regarding the next stage building works which is an additional two storey building consisting of six classrooms, a library and a lift.
5.8 Fundraising Committee
5.8.1 Lesa to confirm what money was raised at the movie night.
5.8.2 Ruth asked id “Footsteps” ran a disco and Simon advised they do a daytime one only. Ruth suggested we do a disco for Term 3.
5.8.3 Brendon has resubmitted the sausage sizzle letter to Bunnings.
6 General Business.
6.1 Tristen asked what the plans were for the P & C. Ruth stated that they had a “Strategic Plan” workshop about 2 years ago with parents that we should revisit, especially now with the playground plan. Liz said that there are too few parents involved with the P & C and suggested we arrange a parent representative for each class for a more personal approach to foster socialisation. Liz will draft ‘roles’ of class parents.
6.2 Liz said she would arrange a letterbox drop locally asking residents to support SPPS in the shop a docket/canteen rescue competition.
6.3 Grant stated that all staff working in the uniform shop and canteen are volunteers and are being abused by parents. He will put something in the newsletter.
6.4 Grant asked Simon about the schools policy on teachers wearing closed toe shoes for both OH&S reasons as well as an example for the students. Simon stated that they are adults not students but requested Grant email him with his concerns.