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School Council - April 2024

Edition 8

Archive: This Year Archive: Past Years

School Council - April 2024

Edition 8


Edition 8

Please click here to read the latest edition of the School Council News in it's orignal format

Welcome to our Eighth School Council Newsletter!

This edition will cover the April 2024 School Council Meeting.

This newsletter will be written by parents, to the parents, to create an open line of communication with the School Council and the important work it does.

Who are the current council members?

Staff –Susan Jackson, Michelle Mather (Treasurer), Andrea Smith (Secretary)

Parents – Rachel Jeffreys (President), Julia Kahan (Vice President), Lisa Cleland, Iole Issaias, Georgie Lye and Ray Van Haven 

This newsletter will

Provide updates about School Council decisions

Provide news on the work of Subcommittees

 

Provide a section dedicated to questions & concerns raised by parents

 

Do you have questions or concerns about general school matters?

We would like to invite parents to send us (the council members) any questions or concerns you have. We will raise any relevant concerns with management and/or at council, and provide responses in the following newsletter!

Please note – your privacy will be respected, and questions/concerns brought up anonymously unless you request otherwise. These questions should be relevant to general school matters, any personal concerns should be raised with your teacher or the school management. 

You can email Julia, convener of the Communications committee at julia.kahan@gmail.com or any other members on the emails below.

Council Decisions and Updates

As announced earlier in the term, Aaron Jones as accepted and started a new role as Assistant Principal at Ormond Primary.

Andrea Smith will take over the role of Secretary, 

The Parents and Friends Association meeting was well attended. 3 parents will finalise the Constitution and send to the Minister for approval. Then the PFA can be formed.

Conveners were appointed to the Sub committees as follows:

Communication and Engagement - Julia Kahan

Fundraising and Grants – Iole Issaias

Education and Policy –Sue Jackson

Finance – Michelle Mather

Building, Infrastructure and Grounds (BIG) - Ray Van Haven

Parents and Friends Association Liason (while setting up) - Lisa Cleland

 

Subcommittee Updates

We need YOU!

Did you know you can be a part of the important work of the School Council?!

The School Council has several sub committees that welcome any parents or community members. These subcommittees have the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of your child’s school experience. It is really up to us – there is so much we can achieve for our school and children through this work.

Fundraising and Grants Committee

Committee Convener: Iole Issaias - iole.issaias@gmail.com

The Fundraising and Grants committee is responsible for running and managing fundraising including the Farmers market, which is the major source of fundraising for the school, and investigating and coordinating applications for grants.

Committee Updates

  • The March market was attended by ~680 people, which was a drop on previous months. Stallholders reported that sales were marginally down for the day.
  • Tim, who also runs Elwood Market (same day as BFM) said they were also down in attendance and sales.
  • Our profit for the month of March was $3,298.
  • Discussion was had around starting more fundraising separate from the Farmers market. This will be further developed under the new PFA
  • Federal Grant application was unsuccessful. Investigation showed all but 6 schools awarded funds were regional so we will apply again next year
  • Current grants – Variety Community Grant and Mable grant. Estimated we need $500,000 to redevelop the front, Green Zone and the main playground. We will look to raise funds ourselves as the grants process so the school can have more control of the process
  • Michelle to include a redevelopment update in each Newsletter to allow families to be involved with the project

Please contact Iole on the email above if you would like to join the committee or would like to ask more questions about joining.

Communication and Engagement Committee

Committee Convener: Julia Kahan julia.kahan@gmail.com

The Communications and Engagement Committee is responsible for communications in two areas:

  1. Internal communications with school community – providing a Two-way engagement with the school community on issues resolution and ideas generation, messages from school committee; class reps and canvassing of volunteers and support for funding raising and initiatives
  1. External communications with school and wider local community to raise awareness in the community about what our school offers and increase interest in the school and the school activities such as fundraisers through promotions at community events, through social media and more, meeting with local government representatives, engaging with local kinders and other organisations. This is key to keep our school thriving!

Committee Updates

  • Open Day will be on the 15th Information regarding Open day has been circulated to school families and the committee is working on spreading the information as widely as possible via Social media, posters and hopefully billboards.
  • Current and Prospective families are welcome to Open Day, and there will be a free workshop run by Berry Street. See the school website and compass notifications for more details and to register!

Please contact Julia on the email above if you would like to join the committee or would like to ask more questions about joining.

Buildings, Infrastructure and Grounds Committee

Committee Convener: Ray Van Haven ray@havensgroup.com.au

The Infrastructure committee is responsible for making sure the school’s grounds and buildings are well maintained. This includes organising working bees, planning and implementing improvements to school grounds, reviewing quotes for works to the grounds and generating new ideas for the improvements of the school grounds.

Committee Updates

  • Playground – wood needs to go due to the school not getting the federal funding, it has been offered to the Men’s Shed. Aim to have it looking better for the Open day.
  • Glen Eira council is giving EPBS the offcuts from trees to create seating area
  • Each newsletter will have a redevelopment update to keep the community informed
  • Kinder – drainage has been fixed. Walls inside being fixed due to mold and their kitchen will be held in the old hall to enable work to continue. Very happy with how the kinder has been running so far. They are having an open day on the 25th of May.

Please contact Ray if you would like to join or run the committee or would like to ask more questions about joining.

Education Committee

Committee Convener: Sue Jackson – susan.jackson@education.vic.gov.au

The Education committee is responsible for settling and reviewing policies (guiding principles designed to

influence decisions, actions, that the school makes) and developing, reviewing and monitoring both the Student Code of Conduct (how the schools expect students to behave, how bullying will be managed and the school’s approach to managing student behaviour) and the School Dress Code.

Committee Updates

  • Georgie to join subcommittee.
  • Review of Uniform Policy – Georgie and Susan to meet.
  • Camp Australia Feedback – Rachel to send to Sue.
  • Holiday Program – Rachel surveyed and had 20 families say they would use it
  • Contract coming up so new providers can be interviewed, which the school council would be involved with

Please contact Sue on the email above if you would like to join the committee or would like to ask more questions about joining.

Finance Committee

Committee Convener: Michelle Mather - Michelle.Mather@education.vic.gov.au

The Finance committee contributes to the development of the strategic plan and to the financial

planning and annual budgeting.

Committee Updates

The Finance committee meetings monthly and would love some new members. This Committee meets during school hours. If you have knowledge/experience in Finance, this could be a great way to contribute your skills to our school!

Please contact Michelle on the email above if you would like to join the committee or would like to ask more questions about joining.