Shawlands Primary School Parent Council
Minutes of Meeting held Monday 10 November 2014
Present: Elaine Hutton,Jane McClounan,Laura Gilpin, Jo Cook,Kirstie Corbett,Jose Hernandez,Alex Young,Alex Robertson, NahrumahHuq, Sarah Reid, Peter McPeake, Ross Goutcher, Karin Goodwin,Marie Ward
Apologies: Jim Gemmell,Julie Smith,David Kelly.
Minutes from Previous Meeting: Proposed by Laura Gilpin; Seconded by Alex Young
- Introduction
Alex Robertson opened the meeting as chair. Jim Gemmell was attending the GPCF meeting to discuss the GPCF response the recent consultation on Glasgow City Council’s Food Policy.
- Food Festival
It was agreed that the Food Festival, held on Saturday 8th November was a successful event. The food was considered to have been excellent and the layout of the 3 areas worked well.
Total income from the event was £1080 (compared to £584 in 2013), which included £812 from ticket sales (compared to £350 in 2013). After deduction of final costs, the food festival is expected to contribute approx. £774 to school funds.
Ticket sales were not significant for P1 parents. As one of the main aims of the food festival is to welcome new P1 parents, and new families who have joined the school, it was agreed to look for additional ways to encourage new families to join in.
A feedback form will be circulated to gather feedback on the food festival from the Parent Forum. Jo to send questions to Elaine.
There was one incident on the day which the subcommittee are going to discuss with a view to capturing learnings to avoid future occurrences. The subcommittee will also take the opportunity to refresh the Parent Council’s procedures for risk assessments and health and safety at events.
Kirstie to review information from SCVO and HSE
Karin to send Kirstie RA/HSE information on events from charities sector
Marie to review information from GPCF and SPTC (including insurance)
Elaine to circulate the school’s template for risk assessments.
- Feedback on Glasgow City Council Management Review
Elaine advised the meeting that the timeline for the Management review has been extended. A decision is not expected before the New Year. The Management review is a result of Glasgow City Council’s requirement to extend cost reductions and savings into 2016-17. Elaine explained that Shawlands Primary has lost 0.5FTE teaching staff as a result of the August school roll census and is currently 2 points over its allocation of Management staffing points.
Glasgow City Council are not expected to alter their current formula for teaching staff in order to maintain teachers in front of pupils. Savings will therefore need to be found from other areas. Discussions are ongoing with the unions, in addition to ongoing union discussions on teachers’ workload.
Elaine reminded the meeting that Shawlands Primary is in a relatively fortunate position, with respect to eg PSAs, clerical staff and EAL teachers.
- Playground Update
Laura advised the meeting that further issues with GCC Procurement have held up placing the order of the Playground fixtures and installation. The issues are now expected to have been resolved. Laura to work with Mrs Watson to push the order through.
The pre-installation visit from Scotplay is still to occur. Jo expressed concern at the delay to the order as changes to the weather and a drop in temperature will impact the progress of the installation.
Agreement on the Memo of Understanding between the Parent Council, SOOSC and the School was sought: Elaine requested that a minor change be made to the timings of lets – After school clubs generally run from 3.15-4.15, therefore it would be more appropriate for SOOSC to have exclusive use from 4.15pm. All other points in the memo were approved by the Parent Council.
- Finance
Jo advised that the role play area will hopefully be delivered next week and offered to circulate some photographs of the construct round the Parent Council.
Jane advised that a Primary 2 mum is working with pupils to design and produce a range of backdrops for the role play area.
The total unallocated funds are £1284. With a predicted c.£1000 from the Whisky Tasting event, and c.£2000 from the Christmas Fair, there is a potential for £4000 funds available to spend this year (see below for ideas for projects to fund).
- Fundraising Priorities
- Playground Phase3 – the development of an outdoor learning/sensory area has previously been discussed and agreed to be a worthwhile project. Designs and timelines to be determined.
- Laptops would still be a much welcomed addition to school resources, however Elaine advised the issues with the Refresh programme should be allowed to settle before laptops are purchased. The Parent Council were in favour of funding an external IT company to review the wireless issues within the school and propose solutions.
- Elaine indicated a wish from the school to have a projector installed in the Assembly Hall to replace the current option of the portable screen. Internet access in the Assemble Hall would be a great asset to the pupils, who often prepare and deliver powerpoint presentations to school assemblies. The lack of internet access means the pupils are not able to deliver a complete multi-media presentations as hyperlinks are not available.
- Painting of the Assembly Hall was suggested, again. The Parent Council are in agreement this is a much-needed job, and were largely motivated to deliver it.
- Karin suggested funding external experts and resources to deliver different projects for pupils eg radio station, newspaper.
- Marie suggested funding a reward scheme for healthy eating. Jane suggested a meeting with the Pupil Council to discuss ideas. Marie to meet with Pupil Council in New Year. Alex suggested linking with external groups to arrange presentations to pupils to encourage healthy eating.
Jane to ask the Pupil Council for their ideas for Parent Council Spending.
- Whisky Tasting
Whisky Tasting event has been booked for Friday 29th November in The Bungo. It was decided to circulate flyers to adults only at Parents Night. Laura to print tickets and sell through the School office from Monday 17th November.
Ticket prices agreed as £15 per ticket.
Kirstie has picture quiz for the evening.
Helpers required for the night. Contact Alex.
- Christmas Fair
Laura praised the contributions of the first-time members of the Christmas Fair subcommittee – Peter, Sarah, Eleanor Young.
The Christmas Fair needs everyone on board to deliver a successful event.
Jane requested a table for the recipe book orders. There will also be tables for the eco committee and a fairtrade stall, in addition to a table for YorkhillChildrens Charity.
Advisory letters of the date and tickets sales will be circulated this Friday. Flyers for tickets to go into school bags on 25th November with tickets on sale from 26th November
Some feedback from last year’s event was that the Open Area could look more Festive, and that the signage, and queues for Santa’s Grotto could be improved.
Laura to circulate an email requesting PC help.
Following feedback from the dinner school after the Food Festival, Laura reminded all Parent Council members that any tables borrowed from the dinner school must be returned clean. The dinner school are subject to unannounced inspections and must not be compromised by the return of messy tables from Parent Council events.
- Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Subcommittee are hoping to have their first meeting in the next few weeks. First priorities for the subgroup will be to discuss a fundraising event for 1Q 2015, and devise a fundraising calendar for the year ahead.
Alex provided feedback from pupils that Parent Council events are largely directed towards adults and that the Parent Council could look to deliver more child-centered events eg Halloween disco. The Fundraising subcommittee agreed to devise a fundraising calendar involving pupil events in addition to parent/family events.
- Parent Council Admin
Marie has agreed with Laura to use the playground noticeboards for Parent Council notices. Marie to add the notices including names of PC members, contact details, meetings schedules, and a calendar of events (when developed).
Jo suggested Parent Council surgeries. The logistics of these will need to be further discussed.
The issue of the storage of Parent Council items within the school, and the storage of Parent Council items in members’ homes was acknowledged. Marie and Jo to work with Laura to scope out options for rearranging, or purchasing additional storage for the Parent Council cupboard.
- Progress of School Sheds
No further progress has been made on the school sheds, despite continuous follow-ups from Peter, the Janitor. It was agreed that the Parent Council should progress their letter to GCC to express concerns at the delay in the survey of these structures. Karin offered to help in the drafting of the letter and will contact Jim to progress.
- Conclusion
The meeting was concluded by the chair due to time constraints. Discussions on Charitable Status and Zig Zag parking will be carried over to the next meeting.
Alex to circulate findings on Charitable status research to Parent Council, and a useful link on Brighton and Hove’s programme to tackle Zig Zag parking.
Next Parent Council Meeting: Monday 12th January 2015