Welcome
Stacy Morgan opened the meeting by welcoming new parents and returners at the start of the school year.
There was agreement that the Speech Day at the end of last term, was a great event and Mr Phelps was thanked.
She gave a brief description of the role of the PA and class reps within the school.
Feedback on Welcome coffee
The feedback was positive. There was also the suggestion that the PA have a presence at the induction morning for new families.
Class Reps
By the time of the meeting only 6RB needed a class rep. Reps were thanked for their support and time.
Used Uniform
There is a large stock of used uniform in cupboards by the finance office. All items are available for a donation to PA funds of $5 per item. Al (school bookkeeper) is happy for parents to go and look in the cupboards for items that they need at any time. Used uniform may be left with Sita at the front desk.
The following suggestions were made to support the sale of uniform:
· That the school advise parents that not all uniform must be purchased from Land’s End. The school logo is optional and so alternative uniform may be purchased from places such as Gap or Marks & Spencer! Only the plaid skorts and jumpers must be obtained from Lands End
· Delays in delivery are often experienced, with Lands End, especially near the start of term.
· Uniform sales be held at the orientation coffee.
· Leavers be prompted to make uniform available, during the last week of term.
Library
Ms Grayson is looking for volunteers to help in the library on a regular basis, to help with various projects. A sign up sheet was passed around.
Facebook
Ed Hill, Manager of Admissions & Outreach, has asked that a few parents review the school on Facebook to raise its profile. Other media were discussed including the twitter feed and the question of security.
Events
Ø Mum’s Night Out – the date would need to be changed due to a clash with a school event. November 13 was suggested and Alison Topen and Lesley Radford agreed to chair the organization of the event.
Ø Dad’s Night Out – Paul Peacock agreed to chair this
Ø There was an inconclusive discussion about possibly organizing a parent’s night out.
Ø Halloween Decorating – a sign up sheet was passed around for volunteers to help decorate the dining room for the week of Halloween
Ø Operation Gratitude – is the collection of candy from Halloween to be passed to the service men and women. Lesley Radford would chair this.
Ø The Unicef coin collection, also happens around the same time. The idea is that people donate coins rather than candy at Halloween, Lesley would organize this.
Ø International Fair – It was suggested that this be held on the Friday (7 November) of International Week, in order to give a bit more time for organization. It was suggested that the children be encouraged to wear the colors from their national flag on that day, rather than ask them to wear a specific national costume. A chair was needed to organize the fair and book the various dance troupes who come to entertain the children. There was a discussion about moving the dancing to the afternoons, but it was felt that logistically this would be more difficult for the school and to get dancers to come in and so it would be the mornings. Carrie Hodgson would organize the musicians/dancers
Ø Ronald MacDonald Fun Run – this is a great event for the children to get involved with on November 8th. The charity raises money for children affected by cancer and their families.
Nurse’s notes
Nurse Maureen came to the meeting and advised as follows:
· The school was able to 100% comply with the medical forms and vaccines
· The school is officially nit and lice free. Any new children must go to Licenders if they start school before the next check at the start of the winter term
· The children were being reminded about hand-washing etc in the light of the new virus spreading from the Midwest. There would be notes in the newssheet, to explain the schools exclusion policy in case of illness.
Mr Phelps
· The Newsletter would in future go to MYP children as well as their parents.
· The Record of Achievement Books were going digital
· Jason Morrow (new Head from summer 2015) would be visiting the school during the last week of term. There would be a meet and greet and subsequent appointments made available for those parents who wished to meet him privately. It was also likely that he would be visiting again in May and taking over fully in July.
· Due to congestion in the turning circle and the need to keep the children safe, The Emmanuel buses would be leaving between 3.30 and 3.45. The larger DoE buses would need to wait until 3.45 to enter the circle and so would leave the school around 4.
· The school had started in a very positive and efficient ways this year.
· There would be a test of the one call system on Tuesday
PA Website
Paul was in the process of revamping the website. He was looking to know what parents wanted on the site and there was some discussion about how to access the site quickly and easily whilst retaining appropriate security levels.
Open Floor
· The PA fees would in future be invoiced and collected via the TADs system, which would make it more streamlined and efficient. Invoices would be going out shortly, but if you have already paid by check a credit will then appear.
· It was suggested that Emmanuel Transit consider a bus that picks up at 4.30 and perhaps goes to a central drop off point, to make after school club pick up easier for some parents. Cynthia Coulson agreed to take this up with Harrison Jean at Emmanuel.
· There was some discussion about the introduction of ID tags for all parents and carers who might enter the school building, especially at pick up time. A number of pros and cons emerged and Mr Phelps agreed to consider the matter further
· The minutes of PA meetings would go out to parents with the Headmaster’s newsletter
· It was asked that there be a general reiteration of good manners with the children at the start of the school year.
Children in the older years learn an instrument at school and it was asked why they should change instruments, rather than become more proficient at one. Mr Phelps explained that the principle was to expose children to as many instruments as possible during their time at BISNY but that they could select to keep an instrument.
Stacy Morgan opened the meeting by welcoming new parents and returners at the start of the school year.
There was agreement that the Speech Day at the end of last term, was a great event and Mr Phelps was thanked.
She gave a brief description of the role of the PA and class reps within the school.
Feedback on Welcome coffee
The feedback was positive. There was also the suggestion that the PA have a presence at the induction morning for new families.
Class Reps
By the time of the meeting only 6RB needed a class rep. Reps were thanked for their support and time.
Used Uniform
There is a large stock of used uniform in cupboards by the finance office. All items are available for a donation to PA funds of $5 per item. Al (school bookkeeper) is happy for parents to go and look in the cupboards for items that they need at any time. Used uniform may be left with Sita at the front desk.
The following suggestions were made to support the sale of uniform:
· That the school advise parents that not all uniform must be purchased from Land’s End. The school logo is optional and so alternative uniform may be purchased from places such as Gap or Marks & Spencer! Only the plaid skorts and jumpers must be obtained from Lands End
· Delays in delivery are often experienced, with Lands End, especially near the start of term.
· Uniform sales be held at the orientation coffee.
· Leavers be prompted to make uniform available, during the last week of term.
Library
Ms Grayson is looking for volunteers to help in the library on a regular basis, to help with various projects. A sign up sheet was passed around.
Ed Hill, Manager of Admissions & Outreach, has asked that a few parents review the school on Facebook to raise its profile. Other media were discussed including the twitter feed and the question of security.
Events
Ø Mum’s Night Out – the date would need to be changed due to a clash with a school event. November 13 was suggested and Alison Topen and Lesley Radford agreed to chair the organization of the event.
Ø Dad’s Night Out – Paul Peacock agreed to chair this
Ø There was an inconclusive discussion about possibly organizing a parent’s night out.
Ø Halloween Decorating – a sign up sheet was passed around for volunteers to help decorate the dining room for the week of Halloween
Ø Operation Gratitude – is the collection of candy from Halloween to be passed to the service men and women. Lesley Radford would chair this.
Ø The Unicef coin collection, also happens around the same time. The idea is that people donate coins rather than candy at Halloween, Lesley would organize this.
Ø International Fair – It was suggested that this be held on the Friday (7 November) of International Week, in order to give a bit more time for organization. It was suggested that the children be encouraged to wear the colors from their national flag on that day, rather than ask them to wear a specific national costume. A chair was needed to organize the fair and book the various dance troupes who come to entertain the children. There was a discussion about moving the dancing to the afternoons, but it was felt that logistically this would be more difficult for the school and to get dancers to come in and so it would be the mornings. Carrie Hodgson would organize the musicians/dancers
Ø Ronald MacDonald Fun Run – this is a great event for the children to get involved with on November 8th. The charity raises money for children affected by cancer and their families.
Nurse’s notes
Nurse Maureen came to the meeting and advised as follows:
· The school was able to 100% comply with the medical forms and vaccines
· The school is officially nit and lice free. Any new children must go to Licenders if they start school before the next check at the start of the winter term
· The children were being reminded about hand-washing etc in the light of the new virus spreading from the Midwest. There would be notes in the newssheet, to explain the schools exclusion policy in case of illness.
Mr Phelps
· The Newsletter would in future go to MYP children as well as their parents.
· The Record of Achievement Books were going digital
· Jason Morrow (new Head from summer 2015) would be visiting the school during the last week of term. There would be a meet and greet and subsequent appointments made available for those parents who wished to meet him privately. It was also likely that he would be visiting again in May and taking over fully in July.
· Due to congestion in the turning circle and the need to keep the children safe, The Emmanuel buses would be leaving between 3.30 and 3.45. The larger DoE buses would need to wait until 3.45 to enter the circle and so would leave the school around 4.
· The school had started in a very positive and efficient ways this year.
· There would be a test of the one call system on Tuesday
PA Website
Paul was in the process of revamping the website. He was looking to know what parents wanted on the site and there was some discussion about how to access the site quickly and easily whilst retaining appropriate security levels.
Open Floor
· The PA fees would in future be invoiced and collected via the TADs system, which would make it more streamlined and efficient. Invoices would be going out shortly, but if you have already paid by check a credit will then appear.
· It was suggested that Emmanuel Transit consider a bus that picks up at 4.30 and perhaps goes to a central drop off point, to make after school club pick up easier for some parents. Cynthia Coulson agreed to take this up with Harrison Jean at Emmanuel.
· There was some discussion about the introduction of ID tags for all parents and carers who might enter the school building, especially at pick up time. A number of pros and cons emerged and Mr Phelps agreed to consider the matter further
· The minutes of PA meetings would go out to parents with the Headmaster’s newsletter
· It was asked that there be a general reiteration of good manners with the children at the start of the school year.
Children in the older years learn an instrument at school and it was asked why they should change instruments, rather than become more proficient at one. Mr Phelps explained that the principle was to expose children to as many instruments as possible during their time at BISNY but that they could select to keep an instrument.