Present: Simon Parson, Corrie Howes, Ruth McLeod, Tristen Cosgrove, Lesa Cooper, Kylie Murchie, Helen Barwick, Michelle Chesworth, Penny Whatman, Grant Lavers, Rob Richards, Johnny Alessi, Liz Richards.
Apologies: Nicole Mulder, Kylie Screen, Seva Kiprioti.
2. Acceptance of previous minutes from the 21st February, 2011.
Moved: Ruth McLeod, Seconded: Johnny Alessi.
3. Business arising from previous minutes.
3.1 Discussed what we needed for supervision for the disco and money for glow sticks. Shoes must stay on, clear room and hold doors until the next age group, ideally need 8 volunteers per group. Need a colourful flyer. Tristen agreed to project manage the disco, Kylie will do the flyer and Lesa will arrange a float. Need to write a procedure.
3.2 Tristen thanked Kylie & Danielle for their hard work in submitting the Anzac Community Grant.
3.3 Penny rang the Cancer Council and found the school has already got on board directly. Of the 12 steps we already conform to most. We just need to start applying sun cream on students, educate them into being sun smart and educate the wider community. Free pump pack provided in each classroom, need to check ingredients and get parent permission.
4. Correspondence.
4.1 In
Various Westpac correspondences given to Lesa.
Invoice Mark Edmunds Assoc. Re a/c & tax services including preparing financial statements for EOY
Host Plus Super
BAS forms
QBE Workers Comp cheque re 3% discount
4.2 Out
None
.
5. Reports.
5.1 President’s Report. No report submitted.
5.2 Principals Report
5.2.1 Firstly, I would like to acknowledge Pip Brock & Deb Holbert in their endeavours to improve safety through improved traffic measures. The ladies have tenaciously lobbied Port Stephens Council and Craig Baumann to address the current situation. Mr Baumann currently holds a letter outlining our cause which he has agreed to discuss with the appropriate minister.
5.2.2 The 2011 Annual School report is close to completion. It’s a comprehensive reflection of the school’s programs, activities and achievements for the 2011 school year. It will be available on the school website in early Term 2. I would like to thank all staff, students and parents who have contributed.
5.2.3 With the support of the P & C I have submitted the school’s application for a chaplain/student welfare worker and hope to hear the outcome by end of term.
5.2.4 The students have been participating in a multitude of sports, including softball, touch, rugby union, and netball. We also intend to hold our cross country selection before end of Term 1. In Term 2 we have organised gymnastics lessons for all students throughout Term 2, taught by qualified gymnastic teachers at a cost of $28 for the term or $3.50 per week.
5.2.5 On the environmental front, Nudie Tuesday has been very well received by many school families. We will soon review our Environmental Management Plan and hope to expand our energy saving practices to further reduce our utilities costs. Our production of solar energy continues to pay dividends with the system producing approximately 30 kilowatts a day. This data is available on the website under School Environmental Management.
5.2.6 Thanks to the financial support of the P & C we have purchased and installed another IWB in the new demountable classroom and is greatly appreciated by class 5F.
5.2.7 Newcastle School Portraits will be taking our photos again on Tuesday April 3rd.
5.2.8 Anzac Day will occur on the first Wednesday of Term 2.
5.2.9 I thank the P & C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for their continued support and look forward to seeing some of you on Sunday morning at our working bee.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Tristen Cosgrove.
5.3 Treasurers Report.
5.3.1 $12,000 has been banked by the school. $25,000 has been put on a term deposit for 3 months at a rate of 5.3% interest (9th March – 9th June), 5 months would only have gained an additional $15 in interest over the term. Interest will be paid on maturity.
5.3.2 In order to transfer money from one account to another, e.g. $300 float from the movie night, I had to re-do paperwork at the bank so Tristen, Corrie, Penny and I all have authority on all accounts.
5.3.3 Paula is waiting for paperwork for her nutritional course. She will require a cheque for $150 to be sent in with her application.
5.3.4 The P & C account balance at the end of February was $31,747.39. After $12,000 donation to the school and reinvesting $25,000 the current balance is $6,747.39
5.3.5 Canteen account balance currently stands at $6,703.09.
5.3.6 Uniform account balance currently stands at $1,800.24.
Moved: Lesa Cooper, Seconded: Penny Whatman.
5.4 Canteen Report.
5.4.1 Will look into the menu and perhaps change it for winter.
5.4.2 The Meal Deal tomorrow will donate $1 per meal to surf aid.
5.4.3 Hot cross bun order forms have gone out this week.
5.4.4 We may have to stop selling ice blocks 10 minutes before the bell at lunchtime as the Kindergarten students are struggling to finish them in time.
Moved: Penny Whatman, Seconded: Corrie Howes.
5.5 Uniform Report. No report submitted.
5.6 Ground Committee Report. No report submitted.
5.7 SIFC (School Improvement and Finance Committee) Report. No report submitted.
5.8 Fundraising Committee. No report submitted
5.8.1 Ruth advised that the Tea Towel fundraiser is going ahead in time for Mothers Day. We make $5 profit per tea towel.
5.8.2 Corrie submitted fundraising options of raffle tickets & Living Fundraiser plants. Simon said we need to check the Year 6 calendar so we don’t conflict. Tristen, Johnny, Helen & Penny all agreed to help.
6 General Business.
6.1 There was a complaint about odour and mould in one of the classrooms along the fence line near the new car park. Simon said it was hard to locate as nothing visible. Those rooms have flat roofs and there has been a lot of rain recently. The rooms can get quite stale if they are locked up for a while. Will be monitored.
6.2 Grant showed concern that the computers in Mrs A’s class were all different and the students had nowhere to put their keyboards but on their laps. They were all ergonomically unsound and all had different software on them. Grant asked where the funding comes from. It was noted that it’s not an adult workplace and the students aren’t at the computers 8 hours a day. Could we approach the Men’s Shed to build desks to fit the towers underneath as the furniture we currently have came before the PC’s. Simon explained that every year we get a number of PC’s to replace older ones from every 4 year roll along. They come pre programmed with software from the Department. Kids are all shapes and sizes. Kylie will explore ideal height/distance ratios from the Australian Standards. Rob suggested we just have monitor and keyboards with a server (no tower). Simon explained due to different applications that’s not possible now but something to work towards. Perhaps audit classrooms and do easy fix like bigger desks to fit keyboards on. Resources very limited. Will do audit and costing.
6.3 Discussed “Empower” the new initiative for schools to be more autonomous. Essentially based on three things, governance; funding and staffing. Tristen couldn’t write letter on behalf of the P & C and parents as the school could fundamentally change and we need to know more – perhaps a public forum for teachers and parents. Simon explained that there are 230 schools under the program now. Expressions of Interest were just asked for. The basic principal is to create a relationship between the school and the Federal Government, bypassing the State Government in a manner. We are not on any other programs getting additional funding due to our good student outcomes. We can’t access consultants for free as we are not a “focus” school. This sort of initiative would be exciting and would come with additional funding. For example if we needed a tree to be cut down, we currently must use a particular person that could potentially cost double what a local person could do it for. Principal’s could have control over 70% of their budget instead of 10%.The school could potentially be run like a business, incredibly complex on many levels. The staff were divided about it too. The school did not apply as no time to discuss in a decent forum.
6.4 Run Around Australia (old Canteen Rescue) will run from 21st May to 22nd June. Can we promote more, distribute the letter again and get boxes into businesses. Parents to volunteer to add dockets up for Bronwyn. Liz offered to manage.