PARK ROAD PARENT COUNCIL MEETING 27th August 2009
Attendees: Dougie Wood (Chairman), Libby Seath (Headteacher), Marilyn Bowman
(Staff Member), Morag Crawford (Community Member), Hazel Ballantine, Kim Roberts,
Jo. Freeman (Secretary), Maureen O’Neill (PTA secretary), Douglas Chapman
(Councillor).
Welcome : Dougie Wood
Minutes from last meeting (25th June) passed.
Feedback from action points arising from last meeting.
1. SWINE FLU – letters have been sent to parents with advise on what action they
should take and what action the school is taking. Libby spoke to Liz Stuart.
School has bought tissues and anti bacterial wipes (for the computers). (Mrs
Clark cleaned them all in the holidays). There are to be wipes and tissues in
classrooms. Children are being encouraged to wash hands regularly, ‘handy’
posters have been made and are being sited around the school, and access to
soap is a priority. Teachers are actively reminding the children to wash their
hands and they are advised to stay off for 48 hours if they are unwell (48 hours
after they are feeling better). Children are especially to wash hands when they
leave the IT suite.
2. HOT WATER TEMPERATURE – although this has been an intermittent fault it is
important to have water available for the children to wash their hands, especially
after point 1, Wendy Findlay has been and inspected the taps and has
recommended that the pupil toilets have thermostatic valves fitted, finally getting
somewhere with this!!
3. INFANT TOILETS – DONE!! Over the summer holidays the floor was replaced in
the smelly infant toilets and the soil pipe was replaced. The school was given
money for carpeting, so some of this was able to be rerouted. Now Libby needs
paint!
4. WEEKLY PARENT SURGERY PLAN – Going to be monthly, Thursdays 3 – 6,
last Thursday of every month Libby and Julie Journeaux will be available for
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parents to drop in for a chat. Starts end of September, announced in next
newsletter.
5. SCHOOL WEBSITE PROGRESSION – Helen and Libby going to do it next
week, should be up and running for the start of September. Parent Council
information and minutes will be on it as will PTA. www.fifedirect.org.uk/atoz
** As of 24th September still not up and running.
6. SCHOOL LETS – Libby still looking into it will check costs and free-let status,
**Douglas Chapman tried to phone another councillor to check, he will get back
to us. **
OTHER BUSINESS
7. Class teacher for Class 6 has left, Mrs Bowman and Mrs Gilfillan taking over
meantime, job has to be interviewed for.
8. PTA 2008-2009 ROUND UP – Mo McNeill
PTA have raised 1300 pounds over the last year.
Robin has resigned as chairperson of the PTA. AGM on Monday 31st, Mo may
take over as she is secretary just now. Discussion about changing PTA to be a
Parent and Friend(?) Association to avoid needing the PTA (please tell me if this
is not what was said I can’t read what I wrote!).
PTA always looking for new ideas, some parents have been complaining the
events are too repetitive.
** Hazel to find out about money back from Asda scheme to support school
funds.
9. ADMIRALTY CROSSING UPDATE – Hazel Ballantine
Transport Scotland has proposed an extended pavement on the Harley St side,
an island has been proposed for the end of Fairykirk Rd to stop people
undertaking and making things even more dangerous at this crossing point. The
point was made that there’s no lollipop man when the nursery comes out. No
prams or pushchairs taken into account. Needs more support from the school
and PC. Lollipop man now has keys to turn on the signs which he didn’t before.
Douglas Chapman has spoken to Transport Scotland to possibly resite phone
box to increase visibility, Transport Scotland have money available for
improvements.
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School Travel Action Group who led the work on the parking situation outside the
school etc are no longer around, the group has fizzled out and all the members
dispersed.
Question – how many children are coming from that area (AFTER MEETING
LOLLIOP MAN COUNTED 44 ONE MORNING).
Perhaps try and revise the Travel Action Group.
** Jo to put a letter together from PC to Travel Scotland.
10. OUTDOOR LEARNING – Previously the children have been sucessfully involved
in creating 2 gardens at the school, the school is keen for the children to have
more outdoor experiences. Mrs McLure (Co-ordinator) and Mrs Niven (Science
Co-ordinator) are heavily involved. School had written to Lord Elgin asking if they
could use the fantastic wild space right behind the school wall, but he hasn’t even
acknowledged the request. A proposal has been made for the use of the area of
woods along Park Road next to the surgery. Douglas Chapman, Julie, Mrs
Mclure, Lynn Hoey have all been out to see it. There has been lots of discussion
throughout the holidays and a site meeting revealed a huge potential in that area.
Inside it’s a very varied environment with light and dark areas, lots of different
species of plants and wildlife for the children to discover. The rubbish and some
vegetation is to be cleared away by Community Service people to make it safe,
hasn’t been cleared yet this is in the pipeline. Opinions of parents are going to be
sought. Plan is to be cleared up and fences down to give access before next
spring. The Council have agreed to give funding of 7000 pounds. Community
Council had proposed flattening it. Hoping to get the community on board and ex
pupils (to avoid them trashing it).
** check how long dog faeces takes to become safe after clearing ground.
Is there anyone else we could get funding for this project from?
Fife Woodland Trust? BBC Breathing Spaces?
11. TRIM TRAIL – school got 10K lottery money for it.
12. PC and PTA minutes and details are to go in a folder at school reception and
also on the school tv when that is installed in reception. ( As well as on the
website).
13. IDEAS FOR THE COMING YEAR – ** Libby to email the School Improvement
Plan so that we can discuss our next step for the following year. Possible email
to parents for feedback.
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14. CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE – Staff had a ‘Health and Wellbeing’
Inservice at Inverkeithing Primary School to support staff. Parent Education
Initiative Co-ordinator Evelyn Wilson may come out to speak to us. **
NEXT MEETING WILL BE THE ‘ANNUAL MEETING” and will be on the 29th October
2009 at 630pm .
This will include a report on the work of the PC. It will be an open meeting and a notice
of the meeting has to be posted 4 weeks before.
** Libby going to give us copies of the constitution as only Dougie has been a member
since it was decided and given out.
Parent Information site:
www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk
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