Present: Simon Parson, Paula Browne, Grant Lavers, Corrie Howes, Tristen Cosgrove, Lesa Cooper, Helen Barwick.
Apologies: Ruth McLeod, Tim Gippel, Johnny Alessi, Deb Holbert, Penny Whatman.
2. Acceptance of previous minutes from the 9th August, 2011.
Moved: Paula Browne, Seconded: Grant Lavers.
3. Business arising from previous minutes.
3.1 Tristen spoke to Westpac regarding break costs on the term deposit. As we are already half way through the second term it’s not worth breaking. Banks are constantly changing rates so we need to watch, might be worth splitting soon to pay fee for proposed concept plan for creative play space.
3.2 Paula has completed and submitted the equipment register for canteen items over $200. Some items were quite old with no known value. Simon suggested they should be added to the schools asset register in case the canteen got broken into. Paula was asked to photograph all items in the canteen for insurance purposes. Paula also advised that they stocktake all food at the end of each term.
4. Correspondence.
4.1 In
Various Westpac correspondences given to Lesa
Paperwork from the P & C Federation regarding canteen wages given to Lesa
Port Stephens council confirmed that the footpath to Ash Street is going ahead
4.2 Out
Building funding letter sent to Minister for Education via Craig Baumann
.
5. Reports.
5.1 President’s Report.
5.1.1 The Bunnings BBQ on the 11th September was very sucessful and we raised $730.
5.1.2 Tristen is looking forward to the Trivia night this Saturday.
5.1.3 We all agreed on Paula’s extended hours in the canteen. This way we can ensure we meet our safety obligations whilst the canteen is open and will take pressure off the volunteers.
5.1.4 Tristen advised he still hasn’t had a response regarding the grant we applied for for the canteen.
5.1.5 Deb Holbert and Pip Brock are applying to the NRMA for a grant and may need help for the deadline this month. They are hoping to get funding towards a raised pedestrian crossing. We can’t get traffic calming due to it being on a bus route. The crossing is on a blind corner, speed and other issues the council are aware of but still won’t provide funding, so hopefully this grant will assist us. Deb and Pip offered to do a presentation to council.
5.1.6 Tristen advised that they are almost up to deciding on a play area plan. Two planners have already been and a third will visit soon.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Grant Lavers.
5.2 Principals Report
5.2.1 Simon said Term 3 had been demanding and wanted to acknowledge how eager the students were and how they have relished every opportunity put before them and how they have responded accordingly. Tomaree Music Festival, Port Stephens Public Speaking Competition, dressing up for Book Week and on the sporting field was all done with enthusiasm.
5.2.2 The school is now well into a planning phase in preperation for the next 3 year period 2012 – 2014. The staff have spent time reviewing specific areas such as the school’s Mission Statement & Guiding Principles; Theaching and learning programmes as well as student well being. This will continue with community consultation early in Term 4 with a number of surveys being released. Our feedback will then be collated and integrated into future planning. One strong feature of the school’s next Stategic Plan will be the introduction of the NSW Board of Studies Syllabus, which will incorporate the goals of the National Curriculum.
5.2.3 The Maitland School Education Area Director, Mr Bryan Campbell, will be visiting the school tomorrow and Simon will discuss the Strategic Plan along with our future needs.
5.2.4 The transition programmes for Kindergarten and Year 6 students is continuing well.
5.2.5 All Year 3 and 5 students should have brought home their 2011 NAPLAN results yesterday. Our school’s results have been close to the state average and analysis thus far has identified some areas of strength and some areas that requires more development. The Year 3 results weren’t as strong as last year , although our Year 5 results are stronger.
Year 3 (Bands 4 – 6) Strand School State Reading 69%6 68% Writing 82% 82% Numeracy 66% 67% Year 5 (Bands 6 – 8) Reading 63% 56% Writing 53% 57% Numeracy 79% 58%
We have identified that writing continues to be an area that requires attention and we will be further analysing this data so we can draw out some more specific areas to improve on in 2012 and beyond.
5.2.6 Our information evening for 2012 Kindergarten parents will be held on Wednesday 2nd November at 6pm. Simon asked the P & C to send any information to be included in the bags to the office by early Term 4.
5.2.7 Simon then thanked the P & C and parents for their continued support, and in particular for fundraising efforts and looks forward to a fun evening at this Saturday’s Trivia Night.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Grant Lavers.
5.3 Treasurers Report.
5.3.1 The current balance on the Uniform account is $1,416.05.
5.3.2 The current balance on the Canteen account is $7,628.38.
5.3.3 The current balance on the P & C account is $2,783.90.
Moved: Lesa Cooper, Seconded: Helen Barwick.
5.4 Canteen Report.
5.4.1 Paula advised that everything was going well. She again discussed the eagerness of the Year 6 assistants and how they turn up regularly at the door asking “When are we on the roster?”.
5.4.2 She also said she was very happy about the canteen’s current bottom line.
5.4.3 Paula said there was still some dissent amongst the masses regarding how differently the hot chocolates were served by different people.
Moved: Paula Browne, Seconded: Grant Lavers.
5.5 Uniform Report. No report submitted.
5.6 Ground Committee Report. No report submitted.
5.7 SIFC (School Improvement and Finance Committee) Report.
5.7.1 Last meeting was set aside for how to proceed with the creative playspace. They spoke about history and need. Having established these facts they discussed where they were going next. The consensus was we need to move forward quickly without acting rash. The Landscape Architect that had previously been, came by to do a fee and proposal. Simon also met today with another Landscape Architect and will perhaps invite a third for us to choose between.
5.7.2 Initial costs will be high due to site development issues, there is a lot of hydraulic issues due to the clay/pink granite, high rainfall and loss of soil. Drainage and water management is also a big issue. This needs to be managed prior to development otherwise we will again go three steps forward and two steps back. It was discussed that the last playground the school had was a “white elephant” and we wanted to avoid that again at all costs.
5.7.3 Grant asked for minutes from the last SIFC meeting to advertise “what’s happening” as a lot of parents are asking what is happening with the funds raised at the fete last year. When provided Grant will put something in the newsletter.
5.7.4 Simon advised the new P & C members that the school COLA was funded by the P & C at a cost between $70 – 80K and took many years to complete. It was done in two stages, the first stage costing approximately $45K and the second stage about $30K.
5.7.5 The ideas around the new playground concepts was that the school is growing, the new car park was built on existing play area and that the students needed a better active play space. Simon would like to open up the South East corner of the school and level it. It’s envisioned it will be between an existing building and the new two storey proposed building, in a courtyard, (probably stage 4). Where the current library is will be an ideal play area.
5.7.6 The current equipment cannot be used due to no staff available to supervise the students. The current space we have is too small for our current population and they’d love to move forward. Very keen to get a plan on the table so we can start to “consult” and move forward. Surveyors costs will also be a big cost.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Corrie Howes.
5.8 Fundraising Committee.
5.8.1 Corrie said she forgot to thank Port Stephens Fruit Market for onions in the last newsletter regarding donations for the Bunnings BBQ.
5.8.2 We are hoping the Trivia Night will be a great success this Saturday night. Johnny has secured labour and food in the hopes that a lot of the door price of $35 per head will come back to the P & C at $20 per head. Penny is having another meeting at Sakamander Shores tomorrow to finalise the night.
5.8.3 Tristen advised he was arranging a fundraising calander for 2012.
Moved: Corrie Howes, Seconded: Paula Browne.
6 General Business.
6.1 Regarding additional hours for Paula, for supervision as the employee, and less pressure on volunteers, Paula feels like she has a lot more control and happy to do the additional hours. Everyone agreed during Presidents Report.
6.2 Simon advised that additional funding for the air conditioning unit for HB1 was no longer an item for P & C consideration.
6.3 The approved council footpath was discussed. No time line was provided to date, but all new information would be provided when supplied.
6.4 Paula confirmed that she would update procedural manuals/inductions for including Year 6 workers. Paula also advised that she would need to start to train some Year 5 students for next year. Simon offered Paula a Smartboard to do an induction for 25 new kids. He thought it was great responsibiliies for students.