SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES FROM MEETING HELD 7 OCTOBER 2015 Present – Brenda Madden, Simon Parson, Ruth McLeod Previous minutes – 2 September 2015 accepted Reports and Updates Principal Asset Management: - Demountable from staff carpark has now been relocated behind kindergarten rooms and old library demountable removed. Creative Play Spaces: - Play equipment now ordered and installation arranged. Installation costs $18,500 plus gst. - Engineering plans to prepare the site have been done. - Paul Park from Soil Conservation Service, Department of Primary Industries to provide quote for the earthworks including levelling the site with two levels and a step between the levels. - Earthworks works and installation to be undertaken during Term 4 with completion by the end of the year. Staff reviewing progress against goals in the 2015-2017 School Plan. A number have been achieved. Planning underway for implementing in 2016 individual student goal setting, student-led conferences including student/parent/teacher, and development of emergency processes and signage. General Business Ruth and Brenda hosted an informal PRG session Parents Talking to Parents on 11 September after the school assembly. 25 parents and carers participated. Summary of outcomes included in attached report. Things that worked well included timing (held after an assembly that attracted a lot of parents), notes on seats inviting participation, parent led engagement about issues relating to parents. Suggest doing one per term. Ruth provided a draft communication tools analysis spreadsheet. Development of the spreadsheet was an outcome of the June PRG forum and can be used as a basis for further review and discussions with staff and parents about communication. Ruth to send through to Simon including extra details discussed in the meeting. Tell Them For Me Parent Survey still open for parents to complete until 16 October. Simon to provide an update at next meeting if results available. Possible PRG forum and/or informal day time session could be held in November to discuss outcomes; will depend on the issues raised.
Ongoing achievement of communication goals include update of Parent Information Book. Now discussing development of templates for notes home. Proposed meetings for remainder 2015:
Term 4 4 November SIFC Regular meeting
2 December SIFC Regular meeting
Soldiers Point Public School Parents Talking to Parents September 2015 This report provides a summary of informal discussions held on 11 September 2015 with parents and carers at Soldiers Point Public School (SPPS). Aim To provide a semi-structured forum to engage parents in discussions about the school community. Parents Talking to Parents was particularly focused on: - expanding discussions already underway at P&C Meetings, previous Parent Reference Group Forums and the Parents Facebook page, and - having conversations with parents who might not have already participated via these communication channels. Encouraging conversations Parents and carers were invited to stay after the assembly and join in discussions hosted by Ruth McLeod and Brenda Madden. Twenty-five parents participated. Prompts for discussions were provided on display boards outside the canteen and included the following issues: - Communication in our school community - Ethics classes - Accessing care for children in our area - The fantastic school musical - Opportunities to get involved. Parents were encouraged to participate by "voting" on how they get information about the school, writing up suggestions and joining in the conversations. Findings Information Sources
The most common sources of information for parents within the school community were the Skoolbag app, the Parents Facebook page and the School Newsletter. How parents get information about what’s happening Votes
Skoolbag 13
Parents Facebook page 12
Newsletter 11
Notes home 7
P&C Meetings 1
SPPS Website 1
Suggestions to improve communication in our school community Half yearly student-parents-teacher interviews instead of reports (plus 2 votes) Optional half yearly parent-teacher meetings (plus 3 votes) Parent meetings with teachers (plus 2 votes) Feedback on areas that my child needs help with (giving parents a heads up) Emails for grandparents (plus 1 vote) Electronic notes sent by email / skoolbag app (plus 1 vote) A lot of information is already transferred through word of mouth Meet and greet night for families with teachers External noticeboard at school gate Parents suggested they would swap children to ethics classes if available (plus 1 vote). Ethics Classes Several conversations were held with parents about ethics classes being included at SPPS. Some basic information from the Primary Ethics website (www.primaryethics.com.au/) was shared and discussions focused on the need for volunteers to undertake the training and be available to teach the classes before they could be considered. Three parents provided contact details to receive more information about the training. Accessing Care An information sheet about existing options for before and after school care on the Tomaree Peninsula were provided for interested parents (see attached). Options include licensed OSHC services, Port Stephens Family Day Care and private care providers.
INFORMATION SHEET Page 1 Accessing CARE before and after school Out of School Hours Care OSHC services currently operate in the following locations: St Philip's Community OSHC St Philips Christian College 182 Salamander Way Salamander Bay NSW 2317 T: (02) 4919 5429 T: (02) 4984 3882 T: (02) 4919 5400 (School Office) Opening Hours Before School Care: 6:45am - 9am After School Care: 3pm - 6pm Vacation Care: 6:45am - 6pm Places 35 approved places Tomaree YMCA OSHC Tomaree Public School Salamander Way Salamander Bay NSW 2317 M: 0407 511 694 T: (02) 4981 1595 (School Office) Opening Hours Before School Care: 6:30am - 9:15am After School Care: 3pm - 6:30pm Places 30 approved places
Shoal Bay Public School OSHC Rigney St Shoal Bay NSW 2315 M: 0409 241 252 T: (02) 4981 1007 (School Office) Opening Hours Before School Care: 7am - 9am After School Care: 3pm - 6pm Places 58 approved places Soldiers Point Public School students have direct bus access to St Philips Community OSHC in the afternoon timeslot. Direct bus access is currently unavailable for Tomaree and Shoal Bay Public Schools however, Soldiers Point Public School students are welcome to attend any of the OSHC services listed above. Perhaps the P&C could also speak to the bus company about extending a bus route to Tomaree? Port Stephens Family Day Care The Newcastle/Port Stephens Family Day Care organisation may also have availability for before and after school care for 4-13yr olds in the local area. For further information please contact Managing Co-ordinator, Ms Tracey Sweetman T: 4980 0308. Private Child Care Provider Parents may also like to connect with other families at Soldiers Point Public School who are experiencing difficulty accessing the days they require for local childcare outside of school hours. Perhaps a private child care provider could be shared between multiple families? Please place your name on the list provided if you wish to be connected with other parents who are experiencing obstacles to childcare.