Opportunities for parents, carers and the community to help Florey Primary recognises the importance of parents, carers and the community in educating children and provides a range of opportunities for parents, carers and the community to be involved in the school. Any assistance parents, carers and community members can offer is valuable. Helping in and out of the classroom This can involve a range of in class assistance (such as changing readers, sharing knowledge about a topic) or assistance outside of school hours (such as special events, making flash cards). It may be a regular activity or occasional. If you are interested in helping out teachers in or outside of the classroom, please fill in the attached form. This information will be used to create a register of volunteers. Volunteers will be contacted when opportunities arise for them to assist teachers. Opportunities to help in the classroom tend to occur once the children have had an opportunity to settle in to the new school year – after a month or so. Florey Primary Parent and Community (P&C) Association The P&C provides a forum for parents to engage with and contribute to the school community. The P&C provides a number of services to the school community, including running the canteen and uniform shop. The P&C also host a number of events throughout the year to support the school to purchase additional resources and to improve the school grounds. Meetings are held twice a term, generally on Tuesdays in weeks 3 and 8 from 7pm in the administration block. Come along and find out what has been happening at school, contribute ideas you may have and find out about how you can help raise funds for the school. P&C meeting dates are included in school calendars and the newsletter. Helping in the canteen The P&C operates the canteen, providing a valuable service to the school community. The canteen operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Parents and other community members are welcome to help in the canteen. The canteen also hosts a disco every term for the school community. The canteen relies on volunteers to help the canteen manager provide over the counter snacks at recess and prepare lunch orders. Volunteer shifts are for two hours either in the morning (9.30 to 11.30 am) or over lunch (11.30 am to 1.30 pm). Volunteers are also needed to support the discos that run each term on Fridays in Week 7. To volunteer, speak to the canteen manager, Jackie Thornton, or fill in the volunteer form available at both the front office or on the website, www.floreyps.act.edu.au. Florey Primary Board The Florey Primary Board oversees the strategic direction of the school. The Board includes the Principal, two teacher representatives, three parent or community representatives and one independent member appointed by the ACT Government. The board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school, monitoring its performance, approving the school’s budget, developing and reviewing the school’s guidelines and procedures, overseeing implementation of the school’s curriculum and supporting community engagement, including encouraging parent participation in the school. In 2014, one parent board member position will become vacant. Nominations from the community will be sought in February. Helping teachers – Volunteer registration form Florey Primary encourages parents, carers and community members to be involved in the education of children attending the school. Any help parents, carers and community members can offer is valuable. If you can help, please indicate how in this form. This information will be used to match volunteers with opportunities to help teachers as the need arises. It will be made available to the school, the volunteer parent/s helping to run the register and, if you select options that involve the canteen, the canteen manager. Please return completed forms to the front office by 21 March 2014. Details about you Name Phone number Email address Connection to the school (Please fill out if applicable) This information can help match volunteers with opportunities in their child’s class or year level. Child/ren names and class Relationship to children (For example: mother, neighbour, grandfather) What can you help with? (Please tick one or more options) In the classroom / during school hours Outside of school hours I can help during school hours with: Changing readers Listening to reading General helping in the classroom Art and craft Special events Share skills / knowledge / culture Helping in the canteen No preference I can help outside of school hours with: Covering books Preparing school resources Working bees Discos No preference How often can you help? (Please tick one or more options) Weekly Fortnightly Monthly Once per term When I can (ad hoc) Special events Which day/s suit? (Please tick which days suit) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Who would you like to help? (Please tick which option applies) My child’s class My child’s year level Another year level Wherever help is needed Please specify: ______________________________ Sharing your culture, skills, knowledge and experiences Primary education covers a vast range of topics across the curriculum learning areas: English; mathematics; science; history; geography; visual and performing arts; physical education and health; Indonesian; sustainability; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures; and Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia. These topics can provide an opportunity for parents, carers and community members to share their culture, skills, knowledge or experiences with the children. For example, in 2013 a parent shared their knowledge about composting with the Year 1/2 children. Please indicate below what you are interested in sharing about your culture, skills, knowledge and experiences. Where your skills, knowledge or experience match a topic being covered in class, you may be invited to share your skills and/or experiences. Do you have a Working with Vulnerable People card? (Please tick the option that applies) The ACT Government requires all people working with children on a semi-regular or regular basis to have a Working with Vulnerable People card, including volunteers. This card requires a thorough police check, helping to protect our children. Semi-regular or regular basis means more than seven times a year or more than three times in a four week period. If you would like to volunteer more than once per term, you will need a card. If you would like to help out with an overnight excursion you must have a card. Working with Vulnerable People card obtained and the school has a copy Working with Vulnerable People card obtained but not shown to the front office Working with Vulnerable People card applied for I intend to apply for a Working with Vulnerable People card I am unable to volunteer on a semi-regular or regular basis so I do not need a card If you have a card, please take the card to the front office so a copy can be taken for the school’s records. If you do not have a card, they are free and the process to get one is reasonably simple. To apply, obtain the form from the Office of Regulatory Services website, www.ors.act.gov.au, or pick one up from the front office. Once completed, take it to a Canberra Connect shopfront (there’s one in Belconnen), together with identification, to submit it OR get copies of your identification certified and send the completed form, passport sized photos (one of which must be certified as being a photo of you) and certified copies of your identification to the Office of Regulatory Services. Thank you Thank you for your interest in supporting our school. Any support you can provide is valuable. If you have indicated that you can help on a regular basis in the classroom you will be contacted in coming weeks. If you have indicated that you can help at special events or out-side of school hours you will be contacted when opportunities arise.