(28-10-08 2008-8 P&C_NSR Aug Mtg Minutes)
Northern Sydney Regional Council
of P&C Associations
Web site: or
Northern Sydney Regional Council of P&C Associations1
Minutes Term 3 General Meeting: Monday, 25th August 2008
Office Bearers for 2008
President: David Hope
Vice President: Kathy Greer
Secretary: Alister Sharp
Treasurer: Di Butland
Publicity Officer: Vacant
Northern Sydney Regional Council of P&C Associations1
Minutes Term 3 General Meeting: Monday, 25th August 2008
Minutes of Term 3 General Meeting
Monday 25th August, 2008
St Ives High School
1.Opening:
The President, David Hope, opened the meeting at 7:55 with an acknowledgement of country, and explained that the two guest speakers would be heard before normal business.
2.Apologies and Attendance
2.1Apologies: Kathy Greer
2.2Attendance:
Jonathon O'Dea (MP for Davidson)
Jane Simmons (DET: Regional Director)
Guest speakers: Penny Verdich (Principal, Curl Curl North PS) and Geoff Wing (Principal Pennant Hills HS)
Helene Mountford (Normanhurst Boys HS),
David Hope (Davidson HS),
Alister Sharp (Hunters Hill HS)
Helen Jackson and Diana Bruce (Cromer PS)
Liz Stoker (Dee Why PS)
David Jordan (Gordon West PS and Killara HS)
Peter Gorian (Pittwater HS)
Daniel Zatz (Roseville PS)
Elissa Parkin (Freshwater NBSC)
Dianne Butland and Jan Butland (Turramurra HS)
MaryAnne Yeldham (Manly Campus NBSC)
Greg Dick and Greg Spencer (Wakehurst PS)
Greg Spencer (Hornsby Girls HS)
3.Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the Term 2 meeting, held Mon 30th June, were adopted.
David Jordan/Greg Dick
Business Arising: there was no business arising from these minutes
4.Guest speakers: 'Special Needs Students'
4.1Geoff Wing (Principal Pennant Hills HS):
Geoff described the way he has encouraged the integration of Special Needs students into Pennant Hills High since he became Principal there in 2001. Previously Pennant Hills High was a traditional, academically-focussed school, with one IM class in a demountable classroom, some distance from the other rooms. Using the opportunity created by a fire that destroyed part of the school that year, the school moved the Special Needs class into the main building, and began to build a school culture of acceptance of the students as integral members of the school
Over the period 2002 – 2005, three IO classes were added to the school, producing a school of four Special Needs classes (each with a teacher and teacher's aide), lead by a designated Special Needs Head Teacher.
Amongst other measures to foster integration:
members of the SRC visit Special Needs classrooms weekly, providing mentors, and some Special Needs students attend some general classes (e.g. home economics).
Special Needs students are included in all school assemblies and performances
Special Needs students participate in general school activities as there abilities allow, and have been particularly successful in Combined High Schools sporting competitions.
Where Special Needs students are not able to use general facilities (e.g. OH&S issues in using Industrial Arts workshops), facilities have been provided in their own classrooms.
The local commercial community has helped by providing work experience.
Some Special Needs students have participated in school excursions, including one to Fraser Island
Special Needs students are encouraged to remain at school through Year 12, enabling them to gain an HSC (e.g. by including Life Skills courses).
4.2Penny Verdich (Principal Curl Curl North PS):
Penny explained that when she came to the school, the (one) Special Needs class had a negative image. In this Special Needs class there are 5 – 7 students, with a teacher and teacher's aide.
Students attend the class four days a week for a year, spending each Wednesday at their home school, to retain continuity there. After a year they return to their home school, and generally re-integrate well there.
Under Penny's guidance, the previous Special Needs teacher took a year off, then returned to a normal class, and a Targeted Graduate teacher took over the Special Needs class with the help of an experienced Teachers Aide. In essence, the class applies standard teaching techniques rigourously on the principle that good teaching techniques work for all students!
5.Reports
5.1Jane Simmons (Regional Director, DET )
Jane's report is Attached
Jane offered to report to the next meeting on the predicted demographics of the lower North Shore.
5.2Reports from schools:
Normanhurst Boys HS will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on 30/31 August
Because of late hour no further reports from schools were heard, and the chairman was asked to ensure time was set aside for reports at the next meeting.
6.Future meetings, and closure
The last meeting of Northern Sydney Regional Council for 2008 will be held at 7:15pm on Monday 27th October
The Chairman closed the meeting at 22:25hrs
Northern Sydney Regional Council of P&C Associations1
Minutes Term 3 General Meeting: Monday, 25th August 2008