Burwood Public School P&C Association

Minutes of the General Meeting

Tuesday 23 August 2011, School Library

Attendance: Mark Burfield (Chair), Troy King (Relieving Principal), Fatma Akyol,

Martin Bain, Sabiye Ensari, Ruby Gunawan, Janet Huang, Rachel Millard

Apologies: Amanda Ng

The meeting commenced at 3:05pm.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

Minutes of the previous Meeting of 20 July 2011 were accepted as a true and accurate record.

Business Arising from Previous Minutes

Treat Day

It was decided not to hold a Treat Day on Wednesday 14th September due to the “Let’s Celebrate” School Performance nights on 13 and 14 September, and to reschedule a Treat Day for early Term 4.

Canteen

Sakuntala Reddy gave sudden notice to resign immediately on Tuesday 16 August by a phone call to Mark. She has been the Canteen Manager since September 2005. Arathi Elamurugan, who became the Assistant Canteen Manager at the same time, has been able to become full-time. Two volunteers are happy to be casual workers and are being trained to become a paid casual assistants who can also fill in for Arathi if she is unavailable for whatever reason. It was noted that the minimum shift for a paid worker is 2 hours. Concern was expressed that the canteen communications book went missing from the day Sakuntala resigned. Rachel had phoned her the next day regarding this but received no response to her call.

The next canteen committee meeting is tomorrow.

An email had been received from Paul Bates today requesting that the canteen prepare for a possible audit. The intent was ambiguous as the canteen is audited as part of the P&C Association’s annual audit. The email also had attachments regarding Munch Monitor, an online canteen ordering service that had approached the P&C Association over the years, but would require that the canteen use a cash register, have internet access, and pay a commission for the service. The P&C Association can of course continue to consider the possibility to use this service.

OC Class

A letter was sent to local MP Charles Casuscelli regarding an OC class for Burwood Public School, and his office responded quickly requesting more data and anecdotal evidence so Mr Casuscelli can represent our request to the appropriate government authorities.

Road Safety

There has been no recent additional action since the improvement to the crossing point across Hornsey Street next to Conder Street.

Interview Training

There is still an intention for interview training of more parents in due course.

Air Conditioning in the Class Rooms

It is understood that there is insufficient power to run extra air conditioning units for the kindergarten block. Alternatively we may need to upgrade the ceiling fans (etc.). Troy is to investigate costs and funding.

School & Sports Uniform

The SRC are suggesting options for change of the school uniform.

Social Activities for Parents

These are starting to happen at least through occasions such as the School Disco and School Performance Night (see below).

P&C Funds Assistance – Burwood RSL

Following the discussion at the last meeting, Bruno Diodati has drafted a letter to Andrew Anderson, General Manager of Burwood RSL, to seek funding support for smart boards in the school. He did note that we have missed the deadline for the current round of grant applications, but nevertheless, we can still try for funding.

Pancakes & Coffee Morning

This was held on 9 August and went well with about 40 parents attending, fewer than in previous years (possibly due partly to the relocation of the school hall).

School Disco

This is on this Thursday 25 August in the school hall. There will be 2 sessions like last time (K-2 from 3.15-4.15; 3-6 from 4.30-5.30). Pizza and poppas will be available prior to each session. Pizza options must include ham and pineapple, meatlovers and vegetarian options. Martin is ordering the pizzas. Garry Fuller is picking up the pizzas (and has been negotiating prices). Glow sticks and glow rings will be available for sale ($1 and $2 respectively).

It was decided that parents would not be invited to the library during the sessions, but rather we will arrange for refreshments (tea, coffees, biscuits) to be available from the canteen and parents can be seated under the COLA next to the hall and socialise there. They will not be allowed into the hall.

Wristbands will be distributed to the classrooms before the end of school. Sabiye and Fatma volunteered to do this.

Annual Burwood School Festival

The Burwood School Festival is to be on Friday 25 November (3.15-7pm) and will include cultural performances/student talent, food stalls, white elephant stall, carnival rides, other stalls and activities. The SRC has provided feedback on preferred show bags and rides for the Festival (etc.). The detailed organisation for the Festival will from the next P&C Association meeting.

Book Fair

A letter of thanks to the P&C Association was tabled from Martin Bain (school librarian) for their generous help with the annual Book Fair on 15-17 August. There was about $5,100 in sales yielding about $760 in books for the library.

Father’s Day Stall

The Father’s Day Stall is on next Monday 29 August (3-6 classes) and Tuesday 30 August (K-2 classes) from 9-11am. There may also be a final session for parents & co from 2.30—3.15pm on Tuesday. Father’s Day this year is on 4 September. Donations of gifts are being sought and Mark has delivered baskets to the classrooms for these. Sabiya volunteered to collect the baskets on Friday. Ruby, Fatma and Sabiya are able to help at the stalls.

Ethics Class

Troy has spoken with Primary Ethics who are seeking volunteers to be trained to teach and manage ethic classes in schools.

There is still political uncertainty, but for now the plan is for these classes to proceed.

The P&C Association is still underwriting (with a budget of $3,000) the provision of 8 boxes of books (and trolleys) for the students in the non-scripture classes.

Badges

Two more badges are to be ordered – for Fatma Akyol, and Janet Huang.

Shoe Man

Anne Ho and Ruby Gunawan are to meet with the Shoe Man to check the quality and pricing, and decide on whether to proceed. There is the possibility of sampling a range of stock at the kindergarten orientation and sell to parents.

Parent Handbook

The idea of putting the Parent Handbook on the school website, and revising it on the website, is to be pursued.

Signage outside the Toilets

Troy is to research to cost of signage outside the toilets informing that access is restricted to students (along with signage for the gates). The P&C Association can underwrite costs.

Haberfield Public School P&C Association – Request For Support

Following discussion at the last meeting, the P&C Association wrote to the Premier, Minster for Education, and Minister for Planning & Infrastructure, supporting the Haberfield P&C Association’s concern about the compulsory acquisition of a section of their school’s playground for private enterprise. However, despite our representation, this acquisition is to proceed.

President’s Report:

Tea & Coffee for School Performance Nights

The P&C Association has been requested to provide tea and coffee to parents from the canteen on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 September, prior to the “Let’s Celebrate” Performance Nights (K-2 on Tuesday, 3-6 on Wednesday) from 5.30m. Parents are required to drop their children at 5pm at preparation rooms, so the intention is that parents will have somewhere to go (and to socialise) prior to the performances. There will be a gold coin donation for the shows.

Development on Oxford St/ Railway Pde

The P&C Association is once again invited to respond (by the end of August) to a Development Application for the proposed construction of a seven-storey apartment block at the corner of Oxford Street and Railway Parade. There are concerns regarding noise, traffic congestion, safety, privacy, etc.

Secretary’s Report:

No report

Treasurer’s Report:

The balance of accounts at 31/7/11 were:

General: $ 5,606

Canteen: $ 45,477

Uniform Shop: $ 45,447

Principal’s Report:

(Refer to report).

Additional points:

Rachel and Ruby with children involved in the Tournament of the Minds were not aware of the competition on this coming Saturday. Although this was mentioned in the newsletter, no separate note was distributed.

The annual Year 6 excursion to Canberra was excellent. It was noted that teachers attending these excursions are not paid for their additional time.

Festival of Instrumental Music (FOIM) – excellent evening

“Let’s Celebrate” Performance Evenings – encourage parents to come.

Ruby commented that the TEN parent session this morning was very informative/

Fundraising Report:

Janet has been checking through the range of fundraising ideas forwarded to the P&C Association and in the 2011 Fundraising Catalogue. Prior to this meeting, she met with a representative from Fundraising Australia (and we could sample some cookies at the meeting). One idea she promoted was for the sae of sunscreen products and sunglasses (possibly through the Uniform Shop and/or at the Festival).

General Business:

Signage at Gates

It was proposed to put signage at the school gates: “No Pedestrian Access”.

Gates are now being locked at 9.30am and unlocked at 2.30pm, except for the office gate and carpark gate.

“Day of Chaos”, 8 August

Martin explained to the P&C Association about proposed changes to State law that will adversely affect industrial relations conditions of government-employed workers, including public school teachers. As a consequence, these workers are proposing a “Day of Chaos” to oppose the changes that are seen as very detrimental. It is likely that the school will be closed on this day.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday 21st September, 3:00pm in the School Library.

The meeting closed at 5:40pm