St Mark’s Primary School,
Parent Council,
Minutes of Meeting,
18/4/18
Attendance
Emma Cuthbert, Councillor Paul Aitken, Lynne Cooper, Natalie Fitzsimmons, Christine Healey, Cara Geddes, Paul Townsend, Louise Kennedy, Ruth Lancaster.
Apologies
Anna Marie Johnston, Nicola Brooks, Father Paul, Gillian Hamilton, Lyndsay Kelly, Karen Cumming, Dawn Smith.
Chair’s Report
Connect
Connect (formerly Scottish Parent Teacher Council) provides support to Parent Councils and Parent Teacher Associations across Scotland. Connect run free training sessions for parents and provide support over the phone, email and social media. Connect has lots of great parent friendly resources to try and make parental involvement in a child’s education as good as it can be.
Last month Emma took part in Connect training and found it interesting and informative. Luckily Connect have created more dates in East Renfrewshire, please follow the links below if you are interested in attending…
Connect’s last session attended by Emma Cuthbert proposed we a have a suggestion box which may help involve other parents and increase involvement. A suggestion box supplied and organised by the school was handed around at the Easter Bonnet Parade. Emma will feedback suggestions at our next meeting.
Louise Kennedy has been added to the St Mark’s PC Facebook administration to help Anna Marie Johnston with its management as mentioned at our last meeting in March. However the schools website should be the go to site for current information on school events. St. Mark's Primary School
School Photographs
With further discussion it was felt that it was maybe not suitable for St Luke’s Photography Club or friends and family to be involved in school photographs and St Marks will be focusing on professional alternatives. One which has been highlighted is ‘Little Stars’ which has the option of family group photos not just St Mark’s pupils. please have a look at their website, we are hoping that the PC can help the school come to a decision regarding photographs before the school finishes for summer. At present the school uses Tempest Photography, they will be visiting in September 2018. All feedback and suggestions are very welcome.
Treasurer’s Report
No change to Account balance, the amount remains approximately £2,034.79.
Secretary’s Report
Ruth is to create a PC article to be submitted for the schools newsletter.
Many apologies for the lateness of the PC Minutes.
Mrs Fitzsimmons has kindly offered to print off any agendas, minutes or information to save PC resources.
Anna Marie Johnston has been working hard and reviewed the PC Constitution; this will be reviewed at the next meeting in May.
Head Teacher’s Report
Staffing
St Mark’sare delighted that Miss Kennedy, Mr Farrell and Miss Mc Flynn were all successful in gaining permanent appointments and a new member of staff, Mr Steele, will also be joining St Mark’s in August.
Goodbye and good luck toMrs McCluney as she is leaving St Mark’s and starts a new position at St Clare’s Primary School.
Road Safety
Primary 4-7 and 1-3 each had an assembly with Community Police Officer Michael Goldie. General road safety and good road side behaviour was discussed.
The Junior Road Safety Officers along with St Mark’s Art Teacher Mrs McIntyre will produce a road safety flyer.
Church Report
Dates for the diary include…
2nd of May 2018 Primary 7 make their Confirmation.
12th of May 10am First Holy Communion. This year there is a good uptake of photographs.
Forthcoming Events
P7 Leavers Dance
This year’s Leaver’s celebration will be held in the Columba Club Barrhead on Wednesday the 13th of June at 7pm. This event is for the pupils only, but parents and carers are invited to join the last 15 minutes of the dance. The P7 Leavers Mass will be held separately on the 22nd of June at 2.15 at St Mark’s Primary School.
Similar to last year the PC will donate money for the purchase of Scientific Calculators as the P7 leaving gift.
A Photo Booth has been booked by Cara Geddes.
Cake and banners are being arranged by Emma Cuthbert.
DJ has been booked and balloons will be organised by Ruth Lancaster.
Chair covers and Buffet are being organised by Janet at the Columba Club.
Volunteers needed for the night of the 13th of June, please contact us if you are available to help or have any additional ideas to help with the night.
P1 Induction
Carly Mc Gurn, Paul Townsend and Louise Kennedy have all volunteered to man a stall at the P1 induction morning on the 31/5/18 between 9.30-10.30am, hopefully they can entice some new members to join.
Summer Fair
This year the Summer Fair is on Saturday the 2nd of June 2018. 10am to 12noon. Volunteers are welcome to come along from 9am to help set up and the PC are hoping to do the majority of setting up on the Friday evening.
Hot dogs, tea and coffee to be set up in the main hall this year as last year they were in the Family Room and many people didn’t realise they were there.
If you are free to volunteer to run a stall or just help out then please get in contact with us. St Luke’s pupils will be asked to help out again.
‘Bring it to win it’ scheme worked really well for the Christmas Fair, so the PC will be running it again. Leaflet will go out ASAP.
The 1st of June is a ‘dress as you please day’ and every child, if they can should bring a donation for the Fair on this day.
At the Christmas Fair we were a bit short of home baking so this summer we will make sure lots more tweets, emails and texts are put out to remind everyone.
Hot Dogs – Lynne Cooper and Sharon Alford, Bouncy Castle, Beat the Goalie, Glitter Tattoos – P7 girls (TBC), Remote control car race – Paul Townsend (TBC), 100 Square, Bottle Tombola, Fancy Goods are just a few of the stalls. So if you and your friends / family are free come along and help please let us know.
Risk Assessment will be done by Emma Cuthbert. Emergency Services have been contacted by Ruth Lancaster and Let of the school done (TBC) Donation Letters have gone out.
Next meeting will be held in St Mark’s Family Room,
Wednesday the 9th of May 6-8pm