school mins june 08

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NORTH KESSOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 2ND JUNE 2008


Present

Helen Barton (chair)
Hazel Henderson (head teacher)
Graeme Lyon
Anne Graves
Alan McDiarmid
Julia Sinclair
Jo Hazell
Susanna Leslie
Ian Mackenzie
Lesley MacLachlan (clerk)



Minutes of the meeting held on 17th April 2008

These were confirmed as a true record of the previous meeting.


Matters Arising

Ventilation/Heat Issues The staff advised that it was still warm upstairs possibly due to slow movement of air. Highland Council had previously stated they would look at the possibility of fire doors being opened to encourage movement of air. Helen Barton advised she would contact Highland Council in this respect. It was suggested temperatures be monitored again via pupils, who could undertake this task as a school project.

Bellfield Housing Development It was noted that HC had previously indicated 13 houses being built a year in this development. HC Planning Committee and Tullochs met a couple of days ago and Helen will contact Highland Council to ascertain if any proposed start date for construction and timescales for building have been confirmed and up-date the Parent Council in due course. Isobel McCallum, local councilor, is taking a close interest in the situation and to date she has advised that 30 primary school age children are expected to reside in the new development based on current data available.


School Fete Up-date

Funds raised by this event currently stand at £1,788.97; taking into account expenses owed a final sum of £1,664.67 is anticipated. Mrs Sinclair congratulated the Parent Council on behalf of the staff and well done to all who contributed to the event. It was encouraging to see that a large number of pupils volunteered to help out at the fete. If another fete was to be held in the future it was agreed that it would be beneficial to involve pupils more.

Some bottles that were contributed have been kept back for future events.

Discussion then took place as to how funds raised would best be utilised. Earlier in the year a consultation process took place to establish a parent and pupil wish list.





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· £500.00 is to be ring-fenced for summer trips and transport costs for the following school year.
· Playground markings were also deemed a high priority. Helen advised she had looked at a number of websites, one in particular being www.sportingplaygrounds.co.uk. There may be an opportunity to use the school janitorial services as the school has a line-marker machine. Miss Henderson advised that she would ask the nursery staff if there were any markings that they would like. Helen had costed traverse walls and these cost between £300 and £800.


Head Teacher’s Report

Miss Henderson advised that 9 pupils were going out of the school to Fortrose Academy and 8 pupils were coming in. 98 pupils is the current role for 2008. Mrs Munro has been made a permanent member of staff, as Mrs Sinclair is to retire at the end of the current school term. There is likely to be a 5th member of teaching staff appointed, a probationer, subject to written confirmation from the Area Education Manager. Mrs Macrae has been appointed as permanent head teacher of Strathdearn Primary School.

There are 5 classes proposed for 2008/09:-

P1/2 P2/3
P3/4 P5/6
P7

Miss Henderson thanked the Parent Council for purchasing dictionaries for the outgoing P7 pupils.


Correspondence

Culbokie Primary School has written to a number of Parent Councils re the impending loss of the Highland Council library service. Following discussion it was agreed that North Kessock Parent Council would provide lobbying support to Culbokie. Helen advised she would contact Culbokie to ascertain who they have been in touch with and what steps they are going to take.

The Community Council advised that they had a cash surplus and had donated £300 for OAP Xmas activities in Munlochy and North Kessock.

Fortrose Academy had invited members to attend a meeting to discuss transitional pupil issues. No-one was able to attend, however North Kessock has a transitional programme in place and this has been well received in recent years.










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Any Other Business

Ian Mackenzie enquired about energy costs for the school. Miss Henderson advised she would find out and advise him in due course. Ian advised he would look into solar power energy as an alternative option for the school.

It was agreed that it would be beneficial for the Parent Council to meet with the Pupil Council to gain a better understanding of each respective Council’s activities. Miss Henderson will discuss the possibility with Mrs Mabon and Mrs Munro.

Graeme enquired if new buddies will be allocated to younger pupils following the out-going P7 at the end of this term. Miss Henderson advised there is a system in place in this respect.

As Mrs Sinclair is retiring a new teacher representative requires to be nominated. Miss Henderson will check with her staff who wishes to take up this position.

Lesley advised she would replace Susannah Leslie temporarily on the fund-raising committee.

Graeme Lyons will take over as treasurer from Anne Graves with effect from next term.

A circular will be issued to all parents and carers next term to enquire if any individuals are interested in becoming a member of the Parent Council.

Helen and the other Parent Council members took the opportunity to thank Mrs Sinclair and Mrs Graves for their valuable contribution to the Parent Council and School Board over previous years.


Fund-raising

Graeme advised that he had looked in to the mail order bulb scheme for schools. £11 of orders would generate £3 towards the school. Graeme will distribute a flyer and order forms in the school bag mail to allow orders to be made in September/October.

Graeme also advised that longer term, the next proposed event might be a race night, possibly in the autumn.


Date of next meeting

This being all the business to be discussed the meeting closed. Lesley will liaise with Helen and a date for the next meeting will be agreed after the summer holidays.








A G E N D A


A meeting of the North Kessock Parent Council will be held on Tuesday 30th September 2008 at 7.00pm in the staff room of the North Kessock Primary School



1. Present


2. Apologies


3. Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd June 2008


4. Matters Arising


5. School Educational Trips Funding


6. Fund-raising Up-date


7. Head Teacher’s Report


8. Correspondence


9. Treasurer’s Report


10. Any Other Business


11. Date of next meeting

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