Carr-Bridge School Parent Council
Minutes for Meeting held on
Monday 5th October 2009 from 6.30pm
In Attendance: Catriona Reid Pam Page Jennifer Smith
Gillian Gordon Carol Bradley Janey Hastings
Ann Mackintosh Lara Campbell Jillian Kean
Mary Grant Becky Badger Carol Ritchie
1. Apologies
Apologies recorded for David Whyte, Zee Thompson, Shona Patterson, Stuart Black, Clare Lake, Alison Hepburn & Jeremy Roberts.
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting & Matters Arising
Jillian pointed out she had mentioned that some schools arrange a trip for their P6/7 classes every second year –not Deshar/Nethybridge as recorded in the last minutes.
The minutes of the previous meeting were proposed correct by Pam Page and seconded by Becky Badger.
3. Porridge Making Championship Sun 11th October
Jillian confirmed that having been approached by Linda Jolly the school was holding a ‘Porridge Breakfast’ on Friday (9th) from 8.30am. Thanks to Margaret for agreeing to cater for this event and for donating the porridge herself.
It was agreed to run the Tea Tent from 9am – 4pm. Two tables will be required from the hall. Marquee/gazebo will be put up for us the night before. We have been asked to make a donation –agreed to wait and see how much is raised before we decide how much, approx £20.
4. Halloween Fun & Games
Friday 30th October, 10am till lunch. Kids to come to school in fancy dress – teachers and helpers also to dress up. If anyone can think of an activity they would like to run, please let Jillian know.
Carol & Lara – Apple ducking & doughnuts on a string
Mary & Gillian – Lucky Dip
Ann – Mask making
Becky – Spooky stories
Jen – Halloween biscuit decoration
Pam – Colouring print-outs
Jen to ask Rhona re face painting
Fancy dress competition
Parent Council to purchase apples, doughnuts etc. Hall to be decorated Thursday after lunch.
5. Cycle Shelter Update
Still waiting to hear re funding from Sustrans. The travel plan being done by the Eco Schools group is almost finished. All work to be carried out has to be done by approved contractors. Nethybridge and Deshar’s cycle shelters were looked at. Sustrans paid for all of Nethybridge’s.
There is no idea of price as yet - £10.000 very rough guide.
Becky wanted to clarify if it was a school or Parent Council project. Decided best to describe it as an Eco Schools/Parent Council collaboration. Becky confirmed she has written to Karen Derrick re help with funding if needed.
Jillian confirmed they would like to apply for their green flag at the end of the spring term.
Thanks to Catriona and Becky for their on going work on this project.
6. Fundraising & Other Events up to Dec 09
Porridge Breakfast – Friday 9th October from 8.30am
Tea Tent at Porridge Making Championship – Sunday 11th October, 9am – 4pm
Halloween Fun & Games Day – Friday 30th October
Parent Evening – Monday 2nd November
Tree Day (Hug a) – Tuesday 10th November.
Christmas Fayre – Wednesday 2nd December, 6 – 8pm. Janey agreed to speak to last year’s stall holders. Jen proposed a change of stalls – more variety. Gillian to speak to a chainmail jewellery stall holder. It was agreed to charge £15 per table. Parent Council to do their usual stall with home baking donations from parents. Background music to be played. It was decided to serve the mulled wine/tea/coffee and mince pies in the open area. Due to the new licensing laws only non alcoholic mulled wine will be offered.
Christmas Party – Details tbc
Christmas cards – Mary reported that she had spoken with Grover re fundraising Christmas cards. We have two options, both A6 and include envelopes:
‘Litho printing’ – Cheaper but vat to be added on. We would be restricted to one run of one design. Would work out at £1.98 per pack of ten.
‘Digital printing’ – We could choose four designs for this, which would enable us to choose one design per classroom. This option would work out at £1.92 per pack of ten.
It was decided to go with the digital printing. Becky suggested notelets with a non Christmas theme which could be sold anytime – all agreed this was a good idea. Pupils are to choose best design from each classroom.
T-Towels – Agreed to go with this if a reasonable price was found. Design to be pupils’ drawings of their own faces with their names written below.
Virgin V – Mary suggested holding a Virgin V night as a fundraiser. All commission (40%) would go to the Parent Council. Jen agreed to hold it at her house. Catalogues to be circulated prior to the event. Wed 25th November?
On behalf of the Carr-Bridge Under 5’s group, Shona Patterson had asked if they could distribute the Yellow Moon Catalogue and order forms for Christmas cards via a school bag drop. It was agreed this would be ok as neither would clash with our own fundraising plans.
7. Update On recruitment process for appointment of Head Teacher
Mary reported that the post has been advertised. Applications are to be in by the 16th October. The selection process will then begin with final interviews being held around the 24th November. Three councillors will be present at these and the parent council are allowed three members also to be present. Prior to this John Bruce will meet with either the parent Council as a whole or preferably just the three members chosen to discuss questions to be posed by the parent council members. Agreed just the three nominated to be present.
All agreed Mary, as chair, should be one of the three involved in this process. Anyone else also interested in being on the panel should email Mary. If there are more than two, names will be put in a hat and two members of the Pupil Council will each draw one out. David Whyte to be asked if he can be present for this. Jen and Mary to do a school bag drop to go out on Wednesday informing parents/carers of this process.
8. Treasurers Report
Accounts attached. Gillian reported there are still some unpresented cheques from a while back, including the BSSA one. Jen suggested the cheque be cancelled and the money put towards this year’s travel.
Tom Burns’ invoice is in and has been paid.
It was agreed the parent council would still pay for the panto trip and travel costs for two trips per classroom for now.
Panto trip – Wednesday 16th Dec. After discussing travel options it was decided to go for the Stagecoach Double Decker bus + one car. Approx 72 seats are required. It was agreed to ask for £2 per child towards travel costs.
Outdoor Shelter – Completion certificate has been done. After looking into antislip paint for the flooring it was agreed to leave for now and review it next year.
9. Head Update
Jillian discussed November parents evening and written report. A decision was made that we would continue to have the November parent interviews where parents will receive the opportunity to have the parent/ teacher meeting. We would change the written report (which repeated information given at interview slots) to another opportunity to meet with the teachers in the spring term. The summer term reporting arrangement will continue as normal, parents evening and report card.
Change to infant hours. Jillian brought to the meeting an alternative suggestion for changes to hours but it was decided to go with the original proposal and change the infant day, i.e. that of primaries 1-3 to a finishing time of 2.50pm on Mondays to Thursdays. Staff, parents and Highland Council have all been consulted.
10. AOCB
Road Safety Week 23rd – 29th Nov – Jen wondered if there was anything we could do to tie in with this.
Road markings in school grounds – Mary to speak to John Bruce.
Cycling in school grounds – Becky wondered if the ban on cycling between the gate and cycle stand could be reconsidered. To be discussed next meeting to give Jillian time to look into before passing judgement.
11. Date of Next Meeting
Monday 9th November at 6.30pm in the staff room.