Family Participation Scheme
Dear Golden Hill Steiner School Parents,
We warmly welcome you, your child/ren and your family to Golden Hill Steiner School. Please read through this outline of our Family Participation Scheme thoroughly and if you have any questions, please contact our GHSS School Coordinator or the P&F leader.
The participation of parents in school life is essential to the success of Waldorf education. In the past ninety years, Waldorf schools around the world have demonstrated the crucial importance of sustained parent involvement in building vibrant, forward thinkingand sustainable school communities.
Rudolf Steiner spoke to the parents of the Waldorf School in Stuttgart in 1921:
“…For it is upon the parents’ understanding that we must build. We cannot work, as do other schools, protected by the state or by any other authority. We can only work supported by a community of parents...
We love our children; our teaching is inspired by knowledge of man and love of children. And another love is being built up around us, the love of the parents for the true essence of the school. Only within such a community can we work towards a future of mankind able to prosper and withstand.”
Taking a genuine interest in your child’s school life, supporting his or her enthusiasm and effort in schoolwork, attending teacher/parent meetings, and helping to realise the many seasonal, cultural and social events of our school community will have a profound and lasting impact on your child’s life. For this, we need to rely on our parent body’s help and we are therefore re-launching the Family Participation Scheme. There are many exciting things happening at school: Market days, festivals, excursions, busy bees, craft groups and more. Family Participation Scheme (FPS) hours that you contribute directly, enable our school to provide the soul memories of your child/ren’s schooling life. They provide our school staff with the support they need to make wonderful opportunities and experiences possible for your child/ren.
Please find attached the information you and your extended family members need to enable you to participate in your child’s schooling life here at Golden Hill Steiner School. We look forward to the many things we can accomplish with your wonderful energy and enthusiasm here at our magnificent school.
2013 Family Participation Scheme Details
Every Golden Hill family has an obligation to contribute 20 hours of volunteer work for our school per year. Sole parent families are required to contribute 10 hours of volunteer work. Alternatively, families that are unable to contribute volunteer hours or wish not to participate can contribute by paying $200 in lieu of their 20 hours.
Family time is precious, as we all know, so there are many volunteer possibilities to suit a multitude of family scenarios. In addition to the lists below these may include: doing end of term laundry, painting, making play costumes, the school’s website and even washing dishes. All these volunteer hours, whether the jobs are big or small, have an immensely beneficial impact on all our children.
List of things you can do for the FAMILY PARTICIPATION SCHEME
Be part of the School Council: Council requires up to 10 members and a commitment of well over 20 hours per year. It is the governing body of the school. Before you can apply,one of your children needs to have been at school for at least 6 months and we require a statement from you summarising what you can offer the Council. In the case of an election for Council, this statement will be given to parents to help them decide on the best candidate. By being a council member you automaticallyfulfil your FPS hours for the year.
Be the FPS coordinator for the year.You will administer the details of the FPS. This includes having an overview of the needs of the school by coordinating with the teachers and busy bee organisers about potential jobs, then finding people to do them. At the start of each event, you will give the organiser a sheet to record all the attendants’ hours and he or she will complete both this form and the form every parent brings to that event. Although parents are responsible for keeping their own hours recorded and the office administrator will use the event sheet to enter these hours onto the database, you will be the final adjudicator on the number of hours worked. Being in this position will fulfil all your own FPS hours for the year. Contact Robert on 9848 1811.
Be a class representative: You can be the class representative for the class that your child attends. This means that you will be liaising with the teacher,helping organize excursions, camps andfundraising, class meetings and be the top of the phone tree. The final key task is to keep an awareness of the welfare of the other families and organize meals or other support at times of stress like the arrival of a new baby. This position willalso automatically fulfil your FPS hours for the year. If you are interested in being a class rep. please talk to the class teacher.
Be part of the Finance Committee: This committee reviews and sets school fees and related policies, wages and contracts of employment. Ithelps coordinate the annual school budget for approval by Council, reviews loans and investments, maintains a medium and long term financial focus for the school, educates the school community on financial issues and concerns, financial projections and comprehensive planning and writes grant applications. It is vital that you have appropriate financial skills to be on this committee. If you are interested, please call Genevieve ph. 0434 863 391
Be part of the Environment Committee:This committeehelps planfor the aesthetic beauty, form and functions of the grounds and buildings, their development and maintenance. It also includeslong-term planning for the school site and contributing to the preparation ofthe capital and maintenance budgets for the finance committee. This committee is accountable to Council and Teachers. For further details, please call Katie ph. 98409626.
Be part of the Parents & Friends Committee: P&F encourages the continuing development of a strong school community. It initiates projects and ideas for the development of the school, as well as advertising and promoting the school and its events in the wider community. For example, it can write media releases (with approval from School Coordinator),coordinate markets and festivals, promote the hall for the wider community, help with the organization of the library and much more. Contact Robert.
Help with office duties:We need help with collating/stapling/folding, envelope stamping, localdistribution of flyers/posters, newsletterphotocopying and distribution.
Help with the school maintenance:This includes carpentry,plumbing,electrical work, reticulation lay out and maintenance, general handyman work,building/playground construction work andpainting/sanding/varnishing. Please contact Katie on 9840 9626.
Help with theschool library:This includes stocktaking,liaising with all Class teachers andgeneral organization of the room. Contact Robert.
Help with fundraising:We need help with organizing and creating events then on the actual dayhelping set up, work at the event, thenclean up and finally,running small, individual fundraisers. Contact Robert.
Help with child care:Child minding is needed for meetings, relief staff, functions, Busy Bees, workshops, etc. Contact Sandra.
Help with the Busy Bees: These are generally held when we all need to come together for a big job, digging for drainage, cleaning up our grounds ready for Open Day, etc… Every family must attend at least 1 Busy Bee a year. Contact Mark Jones ph. 9848 2845.
Professional Skills:If you have skills which you think might be of benefit to the school community and that you enjoy using, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, paving, if you know languages, I.T., finance, music, entertainment, arts, building, architecture, management. Please call the office 9848 1811.
2013 Family Participation Scheme
Frequently Asked Questions
- WHAT TYPE OF ORGANISED/RECOGNISED ACTIVITIES/FUNCTIONS ACCRUESCOMMITMENT HOURS?
Time served as a Council member, work volunteered as a member of sub-committees, work done at Busy Bees and work done on the day of Open Day all qualify as FPS hours. If in doubt, please speak to your child’s teacher or the Class Representative or keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming events.
The Golden Quill, our fortnightly newsletter will indicate when and where your time and effort would be most appreciated
- HOW DO I FIND OUT HOW I CAN HELP AROUND THE SCHOOL? WHO DO I SPEAK TO?
You can let the Class Representative know that you are available to help; or speak to your child’s teacher to see if they need anything doing as there will be an ongoing jobs list located in each classroom. Alternatively you speak to our BUSY BEE coordinator who is always looking for helpers at school Busy Bees, held at least once per term. This year Mark Jones is the busy Bee coordinator. The dates for Busy Bees are always in the GHSS newsletter.
- DOES ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS ACCRUE COMMITMENT HOURS?
In general, yes. However, attendance at Parent / Teacher evenings does not qualify as FPS hours.
- CAN ANY FAMILY MEMBER ACCRUE HOURS?
Yes, especially at Busy Bees or Open Days or local Markets. For example, if two members of the same family are helping at a Busy Bee, they are both credited with hours for that family.
- IF MY FAMILY DOES MORE THAN 20 HOURS CAN THE REMAINDER BE CARRIED OVER TO THE FOLLOWING PERIOD?
No. This is a year by year commitment.
- CAN I PAY $100 FOR TWO TERMS AND THEN CONTRIBUTE 10 HOURS ONLY?
Yes, this would be acceptable; however your 20 hours minimum contribution would be preferred.
- CAN I PAY THE $200 AND THEN IF I’M ABLE TO WORK MY 20 HOURS DURING THE YEAR, CLAIM THE $200 BACK?
Yes, there is a provision for this to occur. However all FPS contribution hours must be recorded by the FPS coordinator, office administrator, a teacher or council member and then to the office on your behalf. Hours signed off by the fore-mentioned school representatives ONLY will be accepted as contribution hours.
- WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO FULFIL THE MINIMUM 20 HOUR ANNUAL COMMITMENT OR PAY THE $200, DUE TO GENUINE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES?
There is no fee relief option on the FPS scheme. Please discuss your circumstance with the school bursar (Maggie Wake). We are here to help, but it is vital not to leave communication to the last moment.
- WHERE DO I RECORD MY HOURS?
All FPS Contribution Sheets will need to be brought to the event/busybee to allow the hours to be filled in upon completion right there and then. At the same time, the event coordinator will write your name and hours worked on a second sheet that will then be given to the office administrator, who will enter those hours onto the school database. The record sheet included with this mailing is your family’s copy and you can check the accuracy of the event sheets which will be kept on file in the School Office. Hours should be recorded immediately after they have been worked and signed by the office administrator or the event’s coordinator.
N.B.: It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your hours are recorded. PLEASE CHECK PERIODICALLY to make sure that none of your family hours have been overlooked. This is your responsibility.
- CAN I CLAIM MY HOURS FOR TERM 1 2013 IN RETROSPECT?
Yes. Please have your hours signed off by Mark Jones (Busy Bee), Silvia Lehmann (Autumn Festival and P&F meetings), or your class teacher (classroom requirements).
- IF MY FAMILY JOINED THE SCHOOL PART WAY THROUGH THE YEAR, DO WE HAVE TO DO THE FULL 20 HOURS?
No. Whilst we would appreciate your contribution of 20 hours, if you are new to the school, your hours required will be calculated on a pro-rata basis – i.e. 5 hours per term.
- MY PARTNER AND I ARE SEPARATED – HOW WILL THIS WORK?
If you are separated but both engaged in the care of children enrolled in our school, each parent needs to contribute 10 hours or $100 per year and complete separate record sheets. If only one parent is involved in the care of the children then that family’s contribution is 10 hours or $100.
- DO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN ONLY IN PLAYGROUP HAVE TO COMMIT TO THE SCHEME?
No, we first want parents to build an understanding of the school, its pedagogy and how much parent contributions are valued before asking for a commitment to help. However, volunteering some of your time to the school would be really appreciated and would help the school and our children. It’s a great way to meet other GHSS families and to forge new friendships.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU RETURN YOUR FPS FORM TO THE OFFICE BY THE END OF EACH TERM!
1Version 2013/2
Family ParticipationScheme Hours Record Sheet - 2013
Family Surname: ______Name & class of eldest child:______
Area of FPS hours / Hours / Date / Main activity undertaken / Coordinator signature“Area of FPS hours” can include: committee hours, open days, festivals, markets, busy bees, classroom requirements and other events approved by the FPS coordinator.
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Area of FPS hours / Hours / Date / Main activity undertaken / Coordinator signature
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Version 2013/2