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Avoch Primary Parent Council Minutes450850338577 Monday 4th March 2019 ItemAction1In Attendance: Kate Lackie (Chair) Julie Davidson (Secretary), Phoebe Dickinson, Lorna Sim (Head Teacher), Jacquie Ross (Fortrose Academy), Inga Ballantyne, Stef Rankine, Councillor Gordon AdamApologies: Asia Kuchararczyk (Treasurer); Carolyne Wilson; Iona McMillan; Carrie Mudge.2Review of last meeting’s minutes and update on actions: Minutes agreed Bottle Fundraiser: Iona & Kate progressing this, the fundraiser will run in conjunction with the Summer Tea Party.Depute Head Interviews: in Head Teachers Report.Lighting in Car Park: Derek Martin in Community Centre - interested in doing something. More meetings to be arranged - ongoing - KateVarious Playground Equipment points - will be discussed under this point in the meeting including updates.Kate - Meet with Derek Martin re: car park lighting.3Head Teacher UpdateSchool ImprovementA reminder that our three main priorities for improvement this session have been-The Learners’ Journey (pupils knowing themselves as learners, strengths and what and how to improve; how we and the children share learning with parents etc) Continuous improvements in literacy and numeracy (a must do from the Scottish Government)A sharper focus on Health and well being of pupils and especially building stronger mental health These projects are all progressing well and tonight staff from all the schools on the Black Isle joined Avoch staff for the first of 4 weeks training in Cognitive behaviour therapy- which we plan to incorporate in next session’s school improvement plan under well being of children.What do parents think we should be improving next session?- there will be an opportunity for parents to give us their thoughts on this at the upcoming parents nights. Improvement ideas:Kate to email Parent Council for online discussion & views to Lorna by end March3Head Teacher Update continued ….Next sessionWe currently have 39 children enrolled for Primary 1. This is less than expected due to a number of children, born in January and February, deferring until next year. We are still within the numbers for 11 classes but the sizes of some classrooms, means space will be very tight and we do not have any spare rooms. Since January I have been having discussions about possible solutions and I will update the Parent body if and when I get any concrete decisions. In addition there has to be some kind of increased accommodation for nursery to allow for the increase of hours being implemented by the Scottish Government. To allow for this we need a second nursery room. Staff UpdateOur new depute, Miss Wanda Clark has begun to relocate to the area from Edinburgh, and will start at Avoch on April 1st. Thank you to the parent Council for supporting this appointment. Your input to the interview was helpful and much appreciated.I’d like to say a thank you at this stage to both Katie Munro and Karen Patience for stepping up. Ann Mardon, our specialist drama teacher came back today after a long illness. She is on a 4 week phased return.Miss Mackenzie and Miss Christie are planning a return from maternity leave later in the next term. Our supply teacher/parent- Sarah Byham- has stepped in fulltime to cover all the gaps that have occurred and she has done a great job in all the classes she has taken on, as well as the much loved after school Adventure Club.Out of school careThe numbers have been creeping up and they now regularly have in excess of 12 children attending. I appreciate it offers parents the opportunity to work. The ladies running them are very creative in what they offer the children and the feedback has been positive. Lorna Sim March 2019 4Playground Project UpdateProgress continues on this large and time consuming task. Separate bank account not required for grant application.Awards for All Scotland (Lottery), Co-op, Scotmid & Global Highland have funding opportunities - Kate to investigate. Nursery needs to be extended in size, awareness of this for Playground planning.When we have the final picture of the garden plan, the meeting with the maintenance officer can be arranged, then grant can be submitted.We are going to hold a Spring Clean day to tidy up playground/outdoor spaces of the school: sweeping, tidy, painting, make new top for sandpit … advertise throughout the community. Will have team leaders pre-arranged for specific jobs. Lorna will speak with the Pupil Council and the Janitor to get a list of jobs that need doing. Date for the Spring Clean 11th May Summer Tea Party 25th MayHoping to have a display at parents evening next week to show progress/plan of the playground.Other business: Avoch & Killen Community Council have ?300 in an account for maintenance of Woodland Trail. Lorna wasn’t aware and so will contact the CC to be able to access this money.Thanks again to Inga for all workInga to email Julie with plan. Lorna Sim: with Pupil Council make a list of any jobs that need doing in playground for tidy-up day .Phoebe to get another quote for comparison.Kate to look at Scotmid & Coop Community Grant sKate to contact Di Agnew to submit application to ward discretionary budget for money for school sign on fence. 5Treasurers Report6Well-being on the Black IsleMany thanks to Jacquie Ross for attending. Well-being on the Black Isle group was formed 1yr ago. Staff in the Academy were approached by local people, police and suicide prevention asking to work together to devise a plan to support the community in Well-being. A core group was created and launched with Conversation Cafe event, attended by: many agencies as well as families affected by suicide & worried parents. cont….6Well-being on the Black Isle cont/..Following the launch event, Community Councils, Police, Primary Mental Health Workers & Academy staff all met to brainstorm the needs of community. A survey was circulated to identify mental health needs in the community and to raise awareness. The Well-being group are visiting all Parent Councils to raise awareness.Survey results showed the highest area of needs was social isolation in older generation, 2nd was social isolation because of transport issues, 3rd area of vulnerability was mental health. No CC had any specific focus for MH, though lots of activities go on in our local area that would help e.g. rowing club. Empowerment event in May to highlight results of survey, mapping event, speakers to help address specific issues.Jacquie will forward additional information to us.Look at survey and see how we can adapt it to meet our school demographic and extended community.Parent Council to have Wellbeing on our Agenda on a regular basis7After School Club Query raised re: storage for equipment, Lorna has informed them there is storage planned. After school club to contact Lorna directly if any issues.8Disco Feedback Despite smaller numbers attending the discos due to chickenpox and other bugs, we still made a profit of ?239.New this time was selling Glo-sticks and necklaces, which were popular. We bought in bulk so have more for future discosFeedback from children was that “it was the best disco ever”. Games were played in the junior disco, but not for the seniors, which worked well.9StaffingLorna informed the PC that Mrs Jack is leaving at the end of this term. There is currently a recruitment freeze: so there will be a period of time after Easter where there are no clerical staff working on a Monday, Tuesday & part of Wednesday. This will have a significant impact on the running of the school. Discussion held trying to think of ideas on how this can be managed. Lorna to contact the Academy to ask if they are able to help at all. TKate: Leaving card & collection for parents to sign at Parents EveningAPC Newsletter to reinforce need to limit contact with school office10Chrome BooksQuestion from parent: do chrome books need to go back & forward between home and school every day? They are concerned re: weight of carrying them in bags, especially if have lots of other things to take to school.Lorna advised that pupils can leave their chrome books in the classroom overnight if they are not needed for homework, but they cannot be charged at school.11BikeabilityNo update on whether any other parties are able to provide Bikeability training. Iona - do you know any more?12Any Other BusinessGiven that P7 parents are making arrangements for leavers event/hoodies, thought it useful to remind all that it was decided last year that due to all the financial pressures, no future P7 classes will be given money from either the School or Parent Council towards the cost of whatever activity they arrange. With more recent cutbacks School will not be able to photocopy Autograph books as they have done in previous years. Online Payment for school meals: any news on start date? Lorna informed us that all the equipment appears to have been set up since October and looks ready to go. Will advise when informed of a start date. If there are any queries in relation to lunch payments, please contact Lorna who can provide an email address so it can be discussed on email with Cook. After School Club Staff member is carrying out a piece of research for her dissertation and is looking for parental responses. We will offer to post it on the Parents of AP facebook page.It was agreed that there was sufficient information to warrant an APC Newsletter. Subjects for inclusion were: Summer Tea Party and bottle fundraiser; Playground Project and Spring Clean; supporting the school office; and information on the after school club.Kate - contact & ask if she would like thisJulie with input from Kate, Inga and Phoebe13Date of Next Meeting & CloseNext Meeting: 29th April 2019, 6.30pm, Avoch PrimaryJulie: Active Schools wish to attend next meeting
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