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school mins nov 2009

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NORTH KESSOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 10^th NOVEMBER 2009

PRESENT

Helen Barton Lesley MacLachlan

Jo Hazell Ian Mackenzie

Susannah Leslie (Chair) Lorna Reid

Graeme Lyon Vicky Bicknell

Hazel Henderson Sally Martin

Tilly Grist

APOLOGIES

None

WELCOME

Susannah thanked Tilly Grist (new parent member) for attending the meeting. Tilly has two daughters, Emily who is in nursery and Isla who is 16 months old.

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 15^th SEPTEMBER 2009

These were confirmed as an accurate record of the meeting.

HEAD TEACHERS REPORT

Miss Henderson issued a report to the Parent Council, a copy of which is attached.

Pupil Council and Playground Equipment

The Pupil Council met on 18^th September. Miss Henderson advised that there was a mixed consensus of opinion with regard to what playground equipment the children wished to see installed. She will contact Nicola Mackenzie, the active schools co-ordinator, to move forward the purchase of some equipment. The children mooted obstacles courses as a possible idea. Low ground equipment was also seen as being of interest to the younger children which would be a good option as they are less likely to be vandalised. The next meeting of the Pupil Council is to take place on 12^th November.

Highland Council Saving Energy Initiative

It was noted that the Highland Council is currently promoting a saving energy initiative. It was suggested by Ian Mackenzie that the school could consider looking at the installation of solar power, which may qualify for funding by the Highland Council. This is something to be further investigated by the Parent Council in 2010.

School Library

Miss Henderson advised that shelving has now been built in the library area. All staff and the Parent Council would like to thank David Howell for providing a joiner to carry out this work. A library unit and display unit is to be ordered together with appropriate seating. The costs of this equipment is estimated to total £1,500. These monies will come from capitation. Additional improvement costs to the classroom anticipated over the foreseeable future are £400 to remove the blackboards, £2,100 for 3 smart boards (buy one get 2 free) and £300 to fit each board.

School Christmas Trip

The whole school, nursery-P7, is going to the cinema to see Planet 51. The cost is

£3.50 per child, parents are welcome to come along if they wish. Miss Henderson thanked the North Kessock hotel for paying for the buses, which are to transport the children to and from the cinema.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Graeme Lyon advised that the Fundraising account has a current balance of £962.68. No monies have been spent to date. The parent Council Account has a current balance of £277.39, two items of expenditure have been paid from this account i.e. SPTC annual membership of £38.00 and the clerk’s wages for 2009 of £97.50.

The recipe book will be up for sale in the coming weeks and to-date 50 copies have been ordered with sales totaling £202.00.

FUNDRAISING

The draft cookbook was passed around members to view. The books require to be bound and Ian Mackenzie, Susannah Leslie and Lesley Mac Lachlan will carry this out. Lesley will speak to the Spar shop to see if they would be prepared to display books for sale.

All pupils are to take part in carol singing in the playground on the afternoon of 18^th December. Parent Council members will offer teas, coffees and mince pies for sale to raise funds.

Vicky Bicknell advised that Halloween discos for the pupils had not taken place due to the prohibitive costs of a DJ. However she is looking into a Valentines disco, as she may be able to source a less expensive DJ for this event.

A provisional date of Saturday 22^nd May 2010 was proposed for the Spring Fayre. Helen Barton advised she would make advance enquiries as to the availability of ponies for this date as the pony rides had been a great success.

Lorna Reid reported to the Parent Council on the Nursery’s ideas for improvements, which would benefit the children. The nursery staff feel that the children would make good use of the proposed outdoor area but would benefit specifically from large play equipment and/or a fenced are where children could play and equipment could be left outside safely. The nursery staff would also like to purchase a washing machine to comply with health and safety guidelines and wonder if the Parent Council could contribute to this purchase in any way.

It was agreed that Lorna would liaise with the nursery regarding the play area in conjunction with the eco-committee’s plans for gardening plots. Lesley MacLachlan will speak to the nursery staff re the cost of purchasing and installing a washing machine/dryer.

The nursery also requested additional grids be painted on the playground, which would help re-inforce learning numbers through active play and sound activities. Painting of these grids will be looked at in springtime once the weather improves.

It was agreed that the Parent Council would contribute £200.00 to the school library for the purchase of books. Miss Henderson and Mrs Mabon will compile a list of desired books.

ECO-COMMITTEE UP-DATE

Lorna Reid, Vicky Bicknell and Johnny Martin have been working with this committee. Six plots are to be created, one for each classroom and it is proposed the vegetables grown will be used by the canteen. This work will commence in January, weather permitting. The willow structures are to be erected on 27^th November.

CYCLING PROFICIENCY

Jo Hazell has made a number of phone calls to the Road Safety officer regarding the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme. This scheme focuses on the older children with P5 children undertaking the Ready Steady Bike initiative, P6 children carrying out training in the playground and P7 children carrying out road training. The school should have been issued with a Scottish Cycling School kit and Jo will look through this.

A minimum of 6 parent volunteers are required. The Road Safety officer would arrange training for these parents. This would involve six 45-minute training sessions. Playground markings, cones etc may be funded under this scheme for use in delivering the scheme to children.

CORRESPONDENCE

Susannah outlined the items of correspondence that had recently been received: -

Abbreviated copy of Curriculum for Excellence.
HMIE Learning Together – Opening Up Learning.
Puffin Book Club.
SPTC – receipt for annual membership.
SPTC Backchat newsletters.

She advised that no response had been received from the Highland Council re the changes to cleaning procedures within the school. She will chase this up.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Susannah enquired why the cost of school snacks had increased from £0.25 to £0.45 per day. Miss Henderson advised this query would have to be taken up direct with the canteen staff.

Susannah advised that the Parent Council had been approached to provide a stall at the North Kessock Community Market. Due to the short notice given this was not feasible but the Parent Council may consider a stall at a later date next year due to the busy school events calendar over November and December.

Miss Henderson advised that she is meeting with the Highland Council’s clerk of works to discuss the possibility of replacing the school sign, which is looking tardy.

Graeme suggested that a programme of internal and external events involving the school be drawn up to ensure a balance of planned activities over the coming year.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

This being all the business to be discussed the meeting closed at 9.00pm. The date of the next meeting is to be held on Tuesday 19^th January 2010 at 7.30pm.