Present: Tristen Cosgrove, Anna Webster, Belinda Lavers, Trish Bray, David Smail, Jeff Gibson, Paula Browne, Anna-Maria Ford, Kylie Screen and Ruth McLeod.
Apologies: Simon Parson.
2. Acceptance of previous minutes from the 11th February 2014, and SIFC Minutes from the 4th February 2014
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Trish Bray.
3. Correspondence – In/Out
In:
- P&C Magazine copies received and distributed.
- Notice of P&C Annual Conference received and all P&C Members advised and invited to attend. For further info please request a copy of invite from Trish Bray, Secretary.
Out:
- Nil.
4. Business arising from previous meetings.
Nil
5. Reports/Updates
President’s Report
The P&C continues to be run well in my opinion with all volunteers and our employee doing a stellar job throughout the year and I congratulate and thank all those who will continue assisting the P&C this year.
We have a major focus of raising additional funds which we can add to the term deposit and we hope to be able to donate $25,000 to the School in early Term 3, to make a big impact on our Grounds/Creative Play Spaces project. The $25,000 includes the balance of the term deposit.
I look forward to us striving to achieve our goals.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
Principal’s Report
I would like to commence by acknowledging those parents who attended the Parent Information Sessions held at the school throughout February. This year we had a little over 50% of parents attending. I trust those parents who attended found the sessions constructive and supportive.
I also remind parents that we are keen to promote healthy channels of communication between school and home so you are welcome to follow the procedures set out in the Communicating with the School flyer, which was available on the night or can be collected from the office.
I would also like to commend those parents who made it along to the cyber-safety workshop held on February 20. The feedback I have received so far from students, staff & parents has been very positive. In my opinion the issues explored and strategies offered were outstanding and will hopefully guide us as parents with this challenging issue.
If anyone has any other suggestions for parent workshops, whether they be linked to cyber-safety or other issues, please email them through to Simon at the school and we’ll see what we can arrange. Any feedback about the cybersafety workshop would also be appreciated.
Our Kindergarten teachers are presently finalising each child’s Best Start report which will be sent home shortly accompanied by an invitation to attend a follow-up interview. I encourage all Kinder parents to make it along to this meeting as it will provide parents with information about their child’s skills along with suggested strategies to support their development at home.
Paula and I recently met with an officer from Hunter New England Health regarding our school canteen. It was a very positive meeting and the officer was most impressed with the menu available to the students. Hunter New England Health will provide some follow up suggestions to both Paula and myself which we can discuss and endeavour to implement in the future.
A number of practical suggestions were offered such as including some healthy lunch recipes in the newsletter, which we have done previously, and promoting days like Ride 2 School Day and support it by selling a special item from the canteen on that day. I’m sure Paula will be keen to work with the Canteen Committee to realise some of these suggestions.
Continuing with health - the students have had an array of sporting opportunities already this term and this is set to continue with school teams participating in a range of sports in coming weeks. Today our girls participated in the Port Stephens Zone Netball trials, next Tuesday our boys will be participating in the rugby 7s, and then playing cricket against Tomaree on Thursday, March 27.
One recent highlight has been the success of our swimmers at the Port Stephens Zone Carnival where SPPS were crowned runners-up. Six swimmers were selected to represent the Zone at the Hunter Regional Carnival with one, Aidan Mulder, being selected for the Regional team to go onto the State Carnival on April 9.
Soldiers Point will be hosting a band workshop on Tuesday, April 1, with John Morrison (James’ brother). This workshop has been made available to students from all public schools across the Tomaree peninsula. I thank Emma Bowen and Mrs Soulsby for their organisation and management of this initiative.
Newcastle School Portraits will be taking our photos again in 2014. They will be visiting the school to photograph children on Wednesday, April 2. Additional information about this will be placed in future newsletters. Students are expected to wear full school uniform on this day, including black school shoes.
The 2013 Annual School Report has been drafted and is almost ready to be sent off to the printer. The ASR is a comprehensive reflection of the school’s programs, activities and achievements for the 2013 school year. I expect to have it finalised by Thursday, March 27, and forwarded to the printer for printing during the holiday break. It will be also available on the school website in early Term 2. I would like to thank all staff, students and parents who’ve contributed to the making of the ASR.
The trial with the application Skoolbag has been very well accepted by the community so we have undertaken an agreement to continue. I remind parents, however, that this is only one form of communication and it’s essential that you continue to read the newsletter, notes sent home for school-related activities and the school’s website.
During Week 8 of this term, we’ll be having quite a few harmonious activities, both with our environment and each other. These include:
• _A bin-free day on Tuesday, March 18;
• _Ride 2 School Day. This day is being promoted to encourage families to get their bikes out and ride to school thus relying less on motor vehicles & fuel;
• _Clean Up our School Day on Friday, March 21. Students are encouraged to bring along a glove to collect rubbish;
• _Friday, March 21, is also Harmony Day so students are encouraged to wear orange on this day; and
• _We will round the week off with our Welcome BBQ.
I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for their continued support and look forward to catching up with you at the Welcome BBQ.
Moved: Jeff Gibson on behalf of Simon Parson, Seconded: Trish Bray.
Treasurer’s Report
No additional report. See AGM report.
Canteen Committee Report
No additional report. See AGM report.
Uniform Committee Report
Current Balance: $2542.32
Deposit today: $ 342.00
Payments due: $ Nil
Total: $2884.32
The Uniform Shop is still well stocked with most items.
The Pricelist has been updated to include a Size Chart to assist in ordering. The updated Pricelist is available for printing from the P&C Website.
· Preparations for Welcome BBQ Friday 21st March were discussed. Anna, Trish and Paula will liaise regarding the BBQ food items. Reminder of date will be placed in Newsletter. All to rally volunteers to help as much as possible on the night, proceeding as was initially planned.
· Athletics Carnival discussed, with view to providing a canteen/bbq on site. It was agreed that Paula would discuss this amongst canteen committee. Tristen to make enquiries regarding insurance for this as a canteen fundraiser.
· Paula’s new arrangement for grocery collection discussed. Anna-Maria offered to enquire on workers comp/ OH&S issues for work/home travel with grocery collection included.
· Admin/communication issue raised. It is suggested that the P&C request any future ‘Parent Notes’ and Newsletters also be provided in hard copy to the Canteen, to ensure Paula is kept informed of any upcoming Calendar Dates or changes to events.
· Trish Bray has agreed to compiling and emailing the P&C Monthly Meeting Agendas, taking the responsibility over from Tristen Cosgrove. Trish requests that all attendees print their own email copy of the Agenda, prior to the meeting if possible.
· Goals for P&C 2014 and onwards (in addition to Creative Play Spaces) – Main goal is to raise extra funds to be able to donate $25,000 to the school for Creative Play Spaces in term 3 (including the term deposit). Additional Wish List items are on hold until major goal is achieved. At the last meeting it was proposed that we have some smaller fundraisers in 2014. This has been further discussed tonight within the AGM Annual Fundraising Report, and also further discussed within the Monthly Meeting with regard to Twilight Market initial preparations. Ruth McLeod also suggested the possibility of an organised raffle, with tickets to be sold at major events in Port Stephens. Further discussion will occur regarding Fundraising at future meetings.
· Jeff Gibson suggested sharing the role of Chairperson at future meetings, amongst those willing on the P&C, to alleviate the duty from Tristen, and potentially expedite future meeting proceedings, as it has been noted that P&C meetings can tend to run long. All present agree.
Meeting closed 8.55pm.
Next meeting – 8th April 2014 – School Administration Block