Oban High School Parent Council Meeting
11 May 2015 (postponed from 27 April 2015)
OHS library at 6.30pm
Present
Vivienne MacArthur, Peter Bain, Morag Brown, Nan Johnstone, Iain Fulton, Helen
Hennessy, Nicky Campbell, Gordon MacNab.
(Minutes – Nicky Campbell)
1. Apologies
Joan Reynolds, Derek McLeish, Jamie Houston, Murray Hamilton, Colin Johnstone,
Marri Malloy, Elaine Robertson, James Kane, Alison Boyd, Alison MacDonald, Linda
MacGregor, Rebecca McKinnon.
2. Minutes of last meeting approved by Helen Hennessy
3. Matters arising
a) Minibus is due to arrive on 15 May 2015. Mr Bain will let Gordon know of its
arrival so that we can arrange handover photo with ABCD and others with the
Oban Times. Action – Mr Bain/ Gordon MacNab/ Joan Reynolds/Colin
Johnstone
b) Show my Homework – cheque handed over tonight for £3120 as previously
agreed.
4. School Improvement Plan – Mrs MacDonald sent apologies so deferred to next
meeting.
5. OHS website – this is now progressing well. The existing website has a lot of
information but it is difficult to navigate. It was felt that an up to date website would
give a positive image about the school and would make it easier for parents to find
relevant information. Oban High School and Hermitage Academy have negotiated
with MTC to develop website for both schools. Mr Fulton gave a demonstration on
the new website and showed how much easier it will be to find relevant information.
There were a number of suggestions from Parent Council members which were
taken on board by Mr Fulton. There will be a Parent Council section on new website.
The website is due to go live in Augsut 2015.
6. Reports
a) Head boy/head girl – no report -apologies received as exams
b) Hostel report – no report -apologies received in retrospect from Francesca
Bischard
c) Treasurer report – Funds in Parent Council account - £8172.70. Cheque for
£3120 paid for “ Show my Homework” programme.
7. Sub groups
a) Fundraising – Newsletter to parents (+ text message) to be issued soon
outlining fundraising carried out by Parent Council and where money has
been donated so far plus future projects for fundraising – minibus
maintenance and traditional school of music. Also promoting how to sign up
for easy fundraising and the weather lottery. Charites day 6 June – need to
get volunteers to man the stall to sell baking and raffle tickets. Stall booked by
Gordon. Mrs McKinnon has agreed to do baking.
Oban High School Grand Raffle – draw date 28 August 2015. Need to
organise raffle prizes, tickets in time for charities day. It was agreed that the
Parent Council provide £250 as first prize.
Gateway meeting P7—S1 transition evening Wednesday 10 June 2015 to sell
raffle tickets.
ACTIONS
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b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
School to issue newsletter + text to parents
Helen to liaise with Mr Fulton re OHS Facebook access by Parent
council to make posts
Fundraising group to co-ordinate raffle prizes/ tickets
Volunteers for Charites Day 6 June Stall – sell baking/ raffle
tickets – Nicky will email parent council members to request
times anyone can help.
Gateway meeting to represent Parent Council – newsletter and
sell raffle tickets – need couple of volunteers
Health and Wellbeing group – no update
Supporting Parents – no update
Curricular architecture group – no update
New School – Mr Bain showed drawings about what the new school will look
like and went through the architects plans. There was lot of positive feedback
about the layout of the school and the much larger outdoor recreational area
for pupils.
Teachers Staffing – Nicky has written to Mr Cleland Sneddon, Head of
Community services asking for confirmation of the number of teachers for the
year 2016-2017. He has passed this to Ann Marie Knowles Head of
Education. We expect a reply by the end of term. We want to be certain that
there are not going to be any cuts in teaching staff which is detrimental to
pupils as previously occurred in 2013. Action – Nicky
AOCB
a) Parent Council funds – it was agreed at start of the year that the Parent
Council would support the Traditional School of Music. As it was the last
meeting before the end of this school year, It was agreed that the Parent
Council would donate £3000 to the Traditional School of Music. There was
also discussion about alternative sources for funding this and this will be
explored again. Gordon suggested the Traditional School of Music producing
a CD, which could be sold. Mr Bain will discuss with Ms McKerrell.
b) Letter from Mrs Miller – regarding damage to Kilmelford and Kilinver
community Hall by party hiring hall after OHS Jingles. It was agreed that the
Parent Council would not be able to support her request for help to recoup
money for damages as this was not a school event.
Action – letter to Mrs Miller -Nicky
c) Date of parent council meeting – poor attendance at meeting noted. Some
parents have indicated that Mondays can be difficult. Next meeting currently
arranged for Monday but felt that it will be difficult to find day that will suit all.
Date of next meeting - Monday September 7 September 2015 at 6.30pm in OHS
library