Melrose Primary School
Parent Council Meeting Minutes of Wednesday 1st May 2013 DRAFT
Attendees: Staff members; Gilly Innes (GI) Head teacher, Dawn Fernie (DF) –
Depute Head, Danielle Patterson (P7 teacher)
Miss Graham (P4 teacher), Caroline Santini (P2 teacher)
Parent members: Lori Thomson (LT), Ruth Magowan -Chair / acting
sec (RM), Giles Etherington (GE) Jenny Linehan (JL)
Peter Gibson (PG)
Pupil council reps; Mitchell Green (P7)
and Martha Barton (P5) - Pupil Council reps
Apologies: Emma Sowerby (ES) Depute Head, Sarah Dalrymple
(SD) secretary, Helen Whitaker (HW) treasurer, Jan McGowan (JM)
teacher,
Angie Temple (parent)
Minutes of Wednesday 6th March 2013
Outstanding action points –
RM now
following this
up – onDF – message to SBC requesting information on queries relating to
going
meat scandal –
HW to
confirm
It was agreed that Angela Wight, Emma Sowerby and Sarah
Dalrymple should be added as additional signatories. Rhona White
and Kerry Clark are to be removed as signatories. HW would lodge
the form with the bank and await confirmation of the change from
the bank.
ES – action to obtain ‘barometer’ from Leigh Riddell for raising funds
for staging
Matters arising from minutes of 6th March meeting:
•
Bereavement resources - Ruth and Jenny had both
found out about local resources and support available
to families and school who are affected by loss. These
are to be forwarded to Mrs Fernie.Possible “ links "
page on the website but it should include other
resources for families as well as bereavement links.
The information may also be put in the school
information book - Mrs Innes to decide where best to
keep these resources.
•
Sound system - we have a second quote and have realised
that first quote included a screen which is not needed and is
therefore approx. £3300 - it was agreed to get Mr Hart to
look at value for money and the PC agreed to fund this and
make this the focus of fund raising at the school fair.
Pupil Council presentation - Mitchell and Martha told the
parent council of exciting plans;
-To open a Fair Trade Tuck Shop to sell healthy fair trade
items. This will be held every 2 weeks and it is hoped that not
only will this be a good learning experience for children but
that it will also raise awareness of fair trade and link with Eco
school. GE suggested that a business plan would be written
and that in principle we would be prepared to lend the Pupil
Council money to get this venture started. Suggestions also
included that school should get a membership card for a
wholesaler - e.g. Booker Galashiels, and that children should
also approach the local fruit and veg shop. They hoped to
launch the shop at the school fair and sell smoothies and
other fair trade items.
Talent show - the Pupil Council are
organising a talent show for the whole school. They plan to
hold auditions during Monday meetings on 13th and 20th May.
P1-4 1045-1130 and p5-7 1130 – 1215. They asked for help
from parents to help with judging - 2 parents per session .The
final will be held on 17th June during the Monday meeting and
they discussed filming this and selling DVDs of the event.
The Pupil Council were thanked for their excellent
presentation and fantastic ideas. It was suggested that they
attend Parent Council meetings on a regular basis to report on
Pupil Council activities.
GI. /SMT to
decide.
Head Teachers Report:
Staffing update: E.Tod on sick leave.
- Supply teacher/short term contracted teachers - P1 Miss
-
Donella McCann until June, P3 supply cover available to
end of June, other P3 Laura Thomson (permanent
contract) every Monday, plus supply until end of May.
The aim is to keep as much stability as possible and
minimise disruption for the school. Recruitment of quality
staff is very hard and Mrs Innes reminded us that as
support staff retire that SBC are not replacing these staff this is the same for all schools but it also makes it more
important to encourage parent helpers and helpers from
the local community.
There are to be interviews in the next fees weeks for the
seconded post.
-Old School House Garden - by August the ground will be ready
and safe for school to develop a natural play area.
-Classes for next year -. There will be the same number of
classes next year, there will be some composite classes letter detailing this to go to all parents from school soon .
There will 13 classes, composite in P1/2,P5/6, P6/7. The SBC
composition class policy has been followed and Mrs Innes has
also tried to ensure that children who have previously been in
a composite class will not be next year.
-SBC follow up inspection is to take place on 28th and 30th
May to review progress in the past year. This is an opportunity
to showcase changes and developments. They will observe
each class twice, talk to staff, pupils, (p4 and p7) and parents.
They will report back to the staff at the end of the second day.
A letter reporting on progress will be sent to parents,
councillors and SBC Education department.
P7 to have different coloured sweatshirts to distinguish
them as senior pupils - for buddies and other pupils. Staff
to let pupils vote for a colour from a small selection.
They might also have" leavers” hoodies but this will be a
separate issue and not a formal part of school uniform.
The current p7 have received their hoodies and it has
been agreed they may wear these on Fridays or as
outerwear, not in class.
Treasurer’s Update: HW not present – from previous meeting
minutes
£4400-00 balance.
Funding possibilities
JL – Garden - Jenny reported that we had not been successful
with the Tesco grant but Jenny has linked the school to the
Royal Horticultural Society, which has lots of curriculum links
and good ideas. Login for site is melrose_1, password:
melrose.” Grounds for learning” can be viewed on Utube.
-
Summer Fair –Lori
Date for Summer Fair Friday 7th June 2013
LT – to get
caterer
quotes
LT – discussed possible police and fire engine
HW – to
investigate
Lori requested that all the classes decide what they are
doing and let her know, as she needs to plan the space. The previous
accounts
fair is planned to be outside and gazebos to be used if wet.
from summer
Caterers are organised - Andy Jack - food? Cost LT? Sandy Fairburn - bar LT will organise and request help fair
for tasks at the fair. Lori also plans to send out an email asking JM – to
contact EHS
for help - doodle poll suggested. The fair is to be officially
for hair
opened by the Melrosian and by dances - Mrs Kershaw is
braiding/
organising this and the Ribbon dancers will also perform.
styling
-
School Strategic Plan -GI
-
Mrs Innes shared the strategic plan for the curriculum for
next year. This is a part of a three-year curriculum plan
with different specific focus each year. As part of
curriculum for excellence this planning allows for specific
areas to be identified focusing on in the next three years
and demonstrates how all the areas of the curriculum are
interrelated. Next year focus topics include writing, and
science. A copy will be on the website when approved by
SBC.
Correspondence –none
AOCB
Everyone reminded school still recycling bottle tops .
Next meeting: - 5th June 2013 at 7pm.
All welcome.