1. Welcome – Present and Apologies Present: Tristen Cosgrove, Anna Webster, David Smail, Simon Parson, Belinda Lavers, Danielle Robinson, Rob Richards, and Trish Bray Apologies: Ruth McLeod and Liz Richards.
2. Accepted Minutes of Previous Meeting (11 June 2013) Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Trish Bray
3. Business arising from previous meeting/s: Community Building Partnership Grants applications and outcomes – To be discussed in General Business tonight re: funding.
4. Correspondence – In/Out
In: Received Demographic Report, Received Parent and Citizen Report
Out: P&C Insurance has been paid and renewed. Also to be discussed in Treasurer’s report.
5. Reports
President’s Report: Tristen Cosgrove
Welcome all. Well done to all those who helped in the open day to make it a success.
We are making some progress in areas of school improvement and we are building on relationships with key politicians which are aware of the needs of the school and are keen to help where they can. Of note lately we are moving along with the Covered Walkways with the aid of a grant and I have submitted four more grants asking for $93,000. We hope to have some success in this area. Other projects are being planned such as a remembrance garden and we will hear more about that tonight from Rob Richards, Danielle Robinson and Guy Holloway. I have also asked the Nelson Bay RSL for $500 - $1000 towards this project or to reimburse us for expenses if we proceed in the mean-time.
Whilst progress may look slow on the school grounds and other improvements, I can see things starting to come together after a period of planning and preparing. Whilst progress may appear slow, I know that much has had to be done behind-the-scenes to make the visible parts come to be. That work has been done by volunteers, which includes teachers and the Principal working outside of work-hours. On these matters they are as much volunteers as we are. Instead I thank all those who have been involved in all of this and I am willing to confidently state that it is indeed progressing.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Trish Bray
Principal’s Report: Simon Parson
I’d like to start by thanking the P&C for your support with our recent Open Day. This year’s
Open Day activities were very well supported by the school community with more than 250 visitors in attendance. I particularly thank Paula and all those parents who assisted in the canteen and with the BBQs. You did an amazing job in preparing and serving so many people in such a short amount of time. I’d also like to say a special thanks to Anna Webster for her creativity and collating the Celebrating our Stories picture. The day was also very well supported by the wider community through individual donations for the walk-a-thon. To date we have received nearly $4000 in donations which is a great boost for our technology upgrade.
I would also like to thank the P&C for your support of the Port Stephens Zone Public Speaking finals for Stage 2, which we hosted at SPPS last Friday. Your willingness to provide a coffee & cake was greatly appreciated by the visitors. Incidentally, it was a positive outcome for SPPS as Abbie B won the Stage 2 final and will now go on to the Hunter / Central Coast Regional final.
The teaching staff have been accessing a significant amount of professional learning throughout 2013. The two main focus areas have been:
• _An introduction to the new BOS English syllabus, which will be implemented in 2014. Our goal for this year is to become familiar with the document and for stage teams to prepare a unit of work which can be used Term 1, 2014; and
• _SPPS, under the leadership of our Learning Support Team coordinator, Sharon Egan, is currently hosting a course, Understanding Dyslexia and other Significant Reading Difficulties. This course is being attended by primary teachers from four public schools on the Tomaree peninsula.
It has been very well received by our teachers and has complimented the renewal of our school’s Learning Support Team. I expect this focus on literacy to have significant benefits for our students in both the short and long term.
Keeping with the literacy theme, the students are gaining a greater appreciation of books through this year’s Book Week activities.
Today, I thoroughly enjoyed watching our students engage with illustrator, Sarah Davis, who presented for our students today. Sarah did an excellent job informing students of the illustrating process, as well as demonstrating her skills by drawing for them. Let’s hope this experience has inspired a number of our budding artists / story-tellers.
Next week we will be having our annual Book Fair, which will further promote reading with our students and wider community. I encourage as many parents to drop in and purchase a few books. The Book Fair will be held in the hall from Monday – Thursday. It will be accessible before school from 8:30-8:55 and after school from 3:00-3:30.
Also next week we will be hosting about 50 pre-schoolers who will be experiencing school for the first time as they join us for Storytime on Wednesday afternoon (1:45-2:45). Parents are also encouraged to join their child in the classroom for this initial visit.
The 2nd Storytime will be held on Wednesday September 4 and I invite representatives from the P&C to attend this session to present general information about the P&C, school uniforms and canteen. If we have a large number of parents attending the Storytime sessions, we may elect not to have a Parent Information Evening.
More than 130 of our primary students are currently preparing for the Tomaree Music Festival, which will be held on August 28 & 29 at the MPC. This year we have one combined choir, a junior & senior dance group performing over the two nights. If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend a TMF I encourage you to do so.
The music festival will be followed by our own Band Evening on Wednesday September 4, where our bands and individual musicians will be performing.
Finally, the students have performed very well on the sporting field recently with the rugby league team winning the local Jarrod Mullen Cup, the boys’ hockey team was narrowly defeated in a thriller by Tinonee in their knockout game, the boys’ touch team play their 3rd round knockout game tomorrow, and a number of our students have been selected to represent the Port Stephens Zone at the Hunter Regional Athletics Carnival.
• _Election - Saturday September 7 (noted: voting will occur here at SPPS on that day)
I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for their continued support.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: David Smail
Treasurer’s Report: David Smail has given an update on the following:
P&C Insurance renewal has been paid. Payment went through today, paperwork to follow. There was initially an issue with David’s token which was not working, and may have caused some delay in approving payments out of suspense account, however all has been resolved, token is working correctly now, and all payments have been made. Note: New P&C Certificate of Currency to be emailed to P&C email account, David please to request that from P&C Federation.
Open Day raised $1600 profit from Sausage Sizzle
Account Balances are: P&C account, $4900, Canteen account $3682. Westpac online summary transaction report sighted. Term Deposit balance $22,468.81. Moved: David Smail, Seconded: Rob Richards
Canteen Committee Report: No report provided, however it was discussed and agreed upon by all P&C members present that the P&C suggests and supports a review of the Canteen Volunteers Job Description to be undertaken in the immediate future. Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Tristen Cosgrove
Uniform Committee Report:Belinda Lavers Current Balance: $3694.54 Payments due this month: $1147.20 Subtotal: $2547.34 Extended Credit Payments (Due January 2014) $794.37 Total: $1752.97 The Uniform Shop is currently well stocked with most items with the exception of some jackets. With the warmer weather we have experienced lately more summer uniforms are being purchased. Next month I will start to increase some stock levels utilising the extended credit available through one of our suppliers in anticipation of uniform purchases for 2014 Kindergarten students which usually begin once they have been to the storytime sessions. This proved to be very successful last year with only minimal outstanding orders. We still have our same four volunteers always willing to help with running the Uniform Shop and always checking in to see if we need extra help during our busier times. Moved: Belinda Lavers, Seconded: Anna Webster
Grounds Committee Report:
No report submitted, however Rob Richards discussed the following:
1st working bee for 2013 will occur this Sunday, 18th August form 9am to 12.30. More will be discussed on this by Danielle Robinson, later in this report.
Planting in the tiered garden is moving along, we just need to purchase the plants and put on some of the mulch we have.
Outdoor Classroom; Guy Holloway and Rob have marked out the site for the proposed Outdoor platform/classroom. Design has been prepared and sighted at tonight’s meeting. Building may begin soon, depending on Guy Holloway’s school hours.
And Danielle Robinson discussed the upcoming Working Bee / Remembrance Garden:
Designs and photographs for the Remembrance Garden and Lone Pine have been sighted at tonight’s meeting. The Lone Pine has been received and is being cared for whilst the Remembrance Garden is built. This weekend’s Working Bee will focus on the cut & fill required on the site. Following will be the laying of the crushed gravel and supporting sleepers. Danielle is keeping a diary of the progress on the project, with photos and design plans included. We would hope to include a Remembrance/ Memorial plaque near to the Pine once the garden is complete, and perhaps schedule an Opening ceremony inviting the diggers who have generously donated the Pine and have helped Danielle in her plans.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Trish Bray
School Improvement & Finance Committee Report: Meeting was held on 7th August, with detailed Minutes submitted and circulated at this meeting. Minutes from this meeting are on P&C website. Next SIFC Meeting is 4th September 2013.
Anna Webster; Two items raised for discussion & action:
Possible BBQ and cake stand at school for the upcoming election on September 7 as a P&C fundraiser. Maybe we can talk to Paula re: logistics of BBQ/sausages/cooking. Also a note home to parents calling for donation of cakes/slices etc delivered on Friday 6th (after school) for sale on election day. Call for volunteers on the day.
Possible flyer about the P&C for Kinder Orientation day on September 4. This will have general information about the P&C including what we do, the role we play in the school, uniform shop, canteen etc. Tear off section for parents/carers to fill out to express an interest in coming to meetings, being on the email list, suggestions as to what the P&C should do.
It was agreed by the meeting that both these suggestions should be actioned. Trish Bray will contact Corrie to request notification of events to be prepared for P&C Federation for Insurance purposes for the BBQ on Election Day. Volunteers will need to be sought to fulfil remaining roles to make these items happen.
Belinda Lavers; Update on Sydney Shopping Trip Fundraiser; As we getting nearer to the date, Belinda is requesting that all payments are made as soon as possible to secure places on the bus for the shopping trip. At present, although there has been many interested in attending, only minimal numbers have paid to secure their place. Belinda mentioned a flyer going home in bags next Monday as a reminder. Moved: Anna Webster, Seconded: Trish Bray
General Business
Goals for P&C 2013 - From the wish list in the administration block in priority order per Principal
Top 3: - PM Readers for Stage 1, Support Group 1/ 2 E, Levels 9,10,11,12,13 Selected Titles $500 - Large Outdoor Giant Plastic Chess Set or Checkers Set (www.yardgames.com.au ) $675 to $995 - Kindergarten Seating & Tables Outside $1,000
Next: not in order - IWB step for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 (cost ?) - Tiered decking platform for outside learning area near Room 1 and Room 2 (Stage 2 area) $1,500 - Bag hooks for 3 / 4 N ($100-$150)
Long term: - Weatherproof lockable outdoor notice board to go outside the School Reception (great for putting upcoming events in) costs depends on size. - Brochure Stand for School Reception (to put all the leaflets in) Ph 1300 658 808 www.slimlinewarehouse.com.au $295
Decided to utilise tonight’s meeting as an opportunity to discuss and vote on funding some of these items, along with discussion on Community Building Partnership Grants 2012 funding to begin Covered Walkways project.
Community Building Partnership Grants 2012 (CBPG2012) - Tristen Cosgrove and Corrie Kenrick were successful with $15,000 for Covered Walkways. Have quote for $19,772.28 including GST or $17,974.80 (seeking approval from P&C for difference (hoping no GST applies but requesting both scenarios to be approved - Best case $2,974.80, Worst case $4,772.28) – small price for covered walkways) – project managed by Transfield Services. Once approved by P&C I can action the acceptance and receive the money to the P&C account.
Members of the P&C moved that the spending be approved, and funds taken from the accounts as follows: Term Deposit: Kindergarten Seating & Tables Outside $1,500 Remembrance Garden $1,000 Total = $2,500
Community Building Partnership Grants 2013 (CBPG2013) Tristen Cosgrove has applied for 4 more grants, hopefully for at least some of $93,000, $15,000 different covered walkways to Room 6, $12,000 Playground Upgrade, $36,000 Student seating – tiered concrete seating off COLA, $30,000 Swale and Earthworks
From the SIFC:
Building Update – Public Schools Upgrade Program grant and DPI quote
Drainage works (proposed in Creative Playspaces Project (note the CBPG2013 is trying to address these matters)
Options for the Library
$15,000 CBPG2012 Covered Walkways
Technology Update including Book Pack and Technology Contribution in 2014
Remembrance Garden (Lone Pine Planting) (Rob Richards, Danielle Robinson, and others) On 12/8/13 Tristen has asked Nelson Bay RSL for $500 - $1,000 but P&C will need to consider funding this. Also Community Grants are available of up to $5,000 and we should look into this through Anzac Community Grants Program at www.veterans.nsw.gov.au Applications from 31/5/13 to 28/2/14. We were previously unsuccessful in a previous attempt at this grant.
Possible Major fund-raiser in 2014. (to be discussed at next meeting)
Class Contact lists and Class Parent Representative update. (to be discussed at next meeting)
Meeting closed 9:35pm. Next meeting – 10 September 2013.