Livingston Village Primary School Parent Council Meeting 09-11-17

Attendees

Mrs MillWendy MurrayGordon Gilchrest

Mrs Smith Nicola FultonJodi Conner

Mr McCallum-McKaySophie RaeJennifer Falconer

Mrs Cooper Aileen Waddell

Apologies:

Vanessa SlaterLyndsay McDonald

Meeting discussion points

Christmas fayre

  • Plans are underway, there are items in the cupboard for the pocket money stall etc and there are arrangements in place for external stall holders.
  • Mrs falconer is looking into things and has set up an online registration for people to register their names to volunteer at the fayre. People will be assigned a stall from 10-12 and 12-2pm
  • Action Christmas Fayre :Fundraising members and Mrs Falconer

Treasurers report

  • The current fundraising balance is £614.30 less expenses leaving a total of £407.16 . The Halloween disco and Christmas mugs raised a total of £711-00. Gordon is currently looking into internet banking.
  • Action Internet banking : Gordon

Halloween Disco

  • Disco was successful and fun was had by all
  • Next year – parents need to be made aware that children will be kept in the school for collection and this could be communicated in the newsletter.
  • Register – Mrs Mill spoke to Mrs Young and a copy of contact details could be printed off alongside child’s name for emergencies. Contact details could be written on childs wristbands as another possible safety measure – in advance by parents.
  • The Disco is dark and some of the P1’s were upset so parents of p1’s should be invited to stay and could enjoy refreshments while they wait
  • There was a shortage of helpers so Mrs Falconer will use her app so parents can register and volunteer to help out
  • Food and drink would be better served in a separate area.
  • Older kids liked the DJ
  • Coasters delivered the equipment but the DJ was late so next time have some games like musical bumps on hand just in case.
  • Using the nursery and school entrances as an exit and entrance point would be better to alleviate congestion

Head Teacher’s report

  • Mrs Mill praised everyone and mentioned she was impressed with all the teamwork at the events and how everyone pulled together especially to get cleaned up and set up.
  • School has been working on the Vision Values and Aims – Copy of these will be on the new school website
  • School Improvement Plan has been completed and was shared with members– Key Priorities will be in Numeracy and Literacy in the school. Staff will be attending further training on Number talks and Seal. Concrete materials will be purchased for each class to match the Concrete, pictorial, abstract approach. A copy of the School Improvement Plan is on the school website for parents to see
  • Our new school website is live and we are one of the very few schools to have it up and running. A big thank you to Mr McCallum-McKay for putting this together. There is a section for the parent council to utilise too and offer of training was extended to members. Parents can link in and it connects to the blog feed.
  • Budget- Mrs Mill supplied a copy of the budget for members to view.
  • New Member of Staff- Mrs Mill has been interviewing and thinks they have managed to get a candidate for a full time position working 2 days Teaching, 2 days McCrone and 1Day PEF.
  • Currently have an additional 0.5FTE teacher which has allowed Mr McCallum McKay out of class to do some development work that is needed.
  • Parents expressed their pleasure by saying they had noticed a big improvement in the school and that the expectations had been raised and they felt that management were more visible. They felt communication was better and had improved.
  • Communication- Key communication this session would be focussed to the newsletter and the school website. Parents expressed they likes the e-mailed newsletters as they weren’t getting lost in the bag.
  • Eco committee- Mrs Mill and Mrs Cooper shared the “kids love clothes” charity flyer. The eco committee were arranging a collection day for clothing items to be collected and brought to school to be redistributed to children who would benefit. They are currently desperate for winter clothes, party clothing and underwear. They have a Facebook page which parents can look at. “River kids” is an additional charity we could support in terms of Eco. Children can earn community points for contributing.

Action ECO committee

  • Playground- Mr Glencourse the schools retired Janitor is willing to come in and do some voluntary work gardening and taking kids in small groups to help. The elders may also like to help with playing games, gardening baking and Mrs Mill has attended the community meetings as she is keen to set up more of these clubs in school.
  • A parent suggested that a section of “Did you know” was added to the newsletter to explain to parents the cost of things in the school eg a bus costs £290-00 to take the children to …Mrs Mill is going to add this to the newsletter

Action Mrs Mill

AOB

  • First Aid Night – Mrs Falconer had arranged a FIRST AID evening for parents and children to attend on wed 7 – 9pm. There were concerns that few people would attend. Reminder was to be sent out and Mrs Mill would check to see if anyone had spoken to Mrs Young.
  • School had requested whether a PA system could be purchased by the PC with the upcoming nativities etc. Mrs Smith was looking into costing and Mrs Mill would communicate cost to PC to see whether they were willing to purchase it.

Action Mrs Smith and Mrs Mill

  • Some discussion over the allocation of Parent council funds arose and this will be further decided at next meeting and could be added to the agenda.

Action Sophie Rae