Ceres Primary School Parent Council
Minutes of the Meeting held at 6.50pm on 5 October 2015
Present: Lorraine Brown, Lisa Burns (Chair), Sarah Cameron, Kirsty Cooper, Fiona
Eason, Lisa Gilroy (Head Teacher), Linda Knight, Kirsty Lawrie, Linda McIntosh,
Laura McNeilly, Jan Smyth
Apologies: Angela Baker, Sarah Buttercase, Dave Conacher, Sarah Duncan,
Helen Holden, Claire Luxford, Leigh McPhail
Minutes of previous meeting:
following amendment:
These minutes were approved subject to the
The comment regarding the P1 child feeling intimidated by parents outside the P1-P3
classroom is to be expunged from the records.
Matters arising
a. Workshop for Literacy Books – This remains ongoing. Mrs Gilroy is taking time
to assess current stock and ensure any money spent will be put to the best use.
b. Science and Technology – Miss Hanton, the P2/3 teacher is working with the
Bell Baxter cluster schools on this project. There is a meeting in November and this
matter will be discussed once further information has been received.
c. Police Community Award – No further information available and this matter
remains ongoing.
d. Shows – Mrs Gilroy advised that the children had been spoken to and wanted
everything to take place as normal. Mrs Wooldridge is speaking with the P6/7 class
to try and get the children to rethink this. As previously discussed the children and
teachers will have the final decision on this matter. Matter remains ongoing.
e. Climbing Wall – In the minutes of 8 June Mrs Thompson said that she would
check with the building inspector to see whether the outside could be used as a
climbing wall. Mrs Gilroy would check whether this had happened.
f. After School Clubs – Mrs Gilroy confirmed that the Chess Club and Stay and
Play would be returning after the October holidays. Mrs Margaret Martin who was
helping out with the Gardening Club has also intimated that she would like to discuss
with the school whether a running club hopefully also involving parents would be of
interest. It was also hoped that football would be able to restart after the holidays 3
parents have shown an interest in taking this on.
g. Hen Update – Mrs Gilroy advised that the money was now available to purchase
the hens and the Egloo. Miss Oliver would be meeting with Jocelyn Scott in the
October holidays to discuss the purchase. Mrs Gilroy also mentioned that £4,000 of
eco funding had been granted to the school and this would be used to purchase
outdoor seating, outdoor picnic mats, outdoor toys for outdoor soft start and sensory
items for the garden.
SPTC Parent Council Health Check and Workshop
The Chair and Jan Smyth had attended the workshop which they had both found
extremely useful. They were asked to complete a health check questionnaire to see
how the school were communicating with the parents and the following matters that
they had picked up were discussed:

Parent Workshops – it was felt that it may be a good idea to have parent
workshops to show how for example English and Maths are taught in the
school. A number of parents are concerned that they may be showing their
children incorrect methods.

Homework Policy – it was felt that there were differing homework policies
between the classes and it might be a good idea for parents to be given an
understanding of any homework policy in place.

Videos – An idea shared was for Sharing the Learning lessons to be videoed
to allow parents unable to attend the session to see what took place. This
would give the parents a better understanding of what the children are
learning and the methods of teaching undertaken. Some other schools in the
area use a secure invite only youtube link to allow this to be shared with
parents. This would be looked into carefully and parent permission and views
sought before posting any videos. This method could also be used to video
and share the workshops discussed above.

Reports – It was felt that the end of year reports could be explained better to
give parents more of an understanding of how their children have performed
throughout the year. There is a help sheet available on the SPTC website
called “A list of acronyms used in Scottish Education” which may prove
helpful.

Positive Messages - Mrs Gilroy explained that the action of teachers sending
home positive messages about pupils on a regular basis was geared more to
Senior School. We are a growth mindset school and do speak to children
differently, encouraging rather than praising all the time.

Internet Safety – Mrs Gilroy was speaking to the Police regarding this matter
and it was hoped that someone would come in and speak to the whole school
regarding this matter.

Homework Hotline/calendar/planner – This could possibly be incorporated into
the school website.

Development of Website – There is a need to update the School website and
Croft Primary was given as an excellent website to view for ideas.

School Policies – More integration required.
School Improvement Plan – Parental Involvement
Mrs Gilroy provided a booklet detailing what the School Improvement Plan is for
2015/16. There were 3 priorities that the school wished to focus on moving the
school forward. These are
1. ensuring numeracy pathways and planned and taught at all stages inc nursery
2. Embed and extend growth minset to inc emotional health and well being in
school and nursery.
3. Continue to develop summative and formative assessment practices across all
aspects of learning. Inc self and peer assessment
The following areas were also discussed
Communication with parents – Mrs Gilroy indicated her desire to improve
communication with parent and made it clear that she operated an open door policy.
To give parents an opportunity to see what is going on in the school and leave
feedback. An interactive board had been set up in the hall near to the school office
and parents would be encouraged to put their views up on this board when visiting
the school. It was agreed that the website needed to be more up to date and become
more user friendly.
Curriculum guidance – taking numeracy and literacy the matter of how to support
homework would be looked at for the whole school.
Policy and guidance – it was hoped to involve children, parents and teachers when
devising school policies and a small working group of parents has already been set
up to look at this. They were also looking into the anti-bullying policy and restorative
approach.
It was suggested that a questionnaire be sent out to parents for them to let the school
know what they wished to see happening and the school would then look at this with
the working group to try and adopt some of the measures.
A question was asked why Sharing the Learning had not taken place this term and
Mrs Gilroy advised that due to staff illness it was felt that it should be postponed to
the beginning of next term.
Fundraising
Sarah Cameron had looked into the alternatives to Christmas Cards as a fundraiser
for the school. She had found tea towels and bags which could be decorated with
the childrens’ artwork. The bags would cost £2.20 if ordering 100 or £1.85 if ordering
200. Sarah would order an art pack and get the ball rolling.
Sarah had also found out that certain banks and post offices supported their
employees at fundraising events. If their employee worked on a stall at a fundraising
event then the company would match whatever was made on that stall. It was felt
that this was worth promoting to the school.
Jan said that the Under 5’s group would be doing the Christmas Fair this year.
Kirsty Cooper was still looking into alternatives for bake sales. She mentioned that a
parent of a nursery child had commented that perhaps bake sales were not a good
idea as it isn’t the best way of making money due to it not being the healthiest option.
Also the nursery are currently looking into healthy eating and it was felt that it may
portray mixed messages.
Parent Council Communication Ideas
This matter would be discussed at the next meeting.
Trees
The Chair advised that a parent had brough it to her attention that some of the trees
next to the road had died and it had been suggested that a couple of trees; possibly
cherry could be bought by the Parent Council and planted. Mrs Gilroy had heard of a
free planting initiative and she would look into this. If this is not available it was
agreed that the parent council would donated funds for the trees and the gardening
club would take the lead in purchase and planting. Hopefully the children could be
involved in selection. This matter will be taken further when Mrs Gilroy reports back
about the free planting initiative.
Treasurers Report
Please refer to AGM minutes
AOCB
Mrs Gilroy advised that the school were one of only a few in Fife where the children
did not order their food for lunch. This meant that on occasions there have not been
enough hot/cold options for children at lunchtime. After the school holidays there is a
new menu starting and the school will be getting the children to decide what meal
they would like for lunch in the morning and then order the requisite amount of food
for lunchtime. This will not only ensure that each individual gets what they would like
to eat but it will also save on wastage.
Kirsty Cooper asked whether any school trips organised could be more educational.
She would come back to the next meeting with suggestions and any other ideas
could be passed to the Parent Council.
Date of Next Meeting – Meeting Dates for the Year
The dates for future meetings were set and are as follows:
Monday 7 December 2015
Tuesday 2 February 2016
Monday 18 April 2016
Tuesday 24 May 2016