08

These are the minutes of a parent council meeting held by prior arrangement on Monday 25th November 2013. The parent council office bearers at this time were; Co chairs Abigail Burnyeat & Ailsa Macintosh, Co-Secretaries Claire Gillespie & Dana Givan; Co-Treasurers’ Fiona Cameron & Kirsten Donnelly.

Comhairle nam Parant, Bun Sgoil Taobh Na Pàirce

Monday 25th November 2013 7.15pm to 8.55pm

Appendix one:

Overview of actions to be taken from this meeting

Action reference Details of action required

Responsible person/group

Timescale

1 Share C1M teacher post on social network

Co-Secretary DM Within few days. Completed /11/13.

2 Issue email(s) for volunteers, donations and raffle prizes for Fair

Parent council & CnP By end of w/c 25/11/13

3 Provide brief outline of posts available before AGM by email and on website

Parent council End of term

4 Request trestle tables via recycling website

Co-secretary Within few days. Completed 26/11/13.

Abbreviations used in this document:

GME-Gaelic medium educationASL-Additional support and learning needsAGM-Annual General meetingPC-Parent CouncilCnP-Comann nam PàrantJGH-James Gillespies’ High School

1. Welcome and Apologies

A brief welcome was made by one of the Co-chairs. As it was a small turn out, all people present at beginning introduced themselves and stated their children’s classes.

The Co-secretary gave two apologies.

2. Minutes

Two attendees of the meeting approved the minutes; they had also been in attendance at the meeting on 23rd October 2013. This information is held in parent council archive.

3. Ceannard

2

Teachers have recently been having their personal review and development plans updated. This was to see what areas they would like to teach the children and learn over the next term. There has also been training in ‘Heinemann mathematics.’

Ms MacPhail informed us that C1M’s teacher had resigned with effect from Christmas. This was sent out via Parent Mail letter on same day. Co-secretary raised parents concerns about the loss, and asked if possible that it be ensured that the new teacher recruited will be Gaelic speaking. Ms MacPhail advised that all classes from C1-3 are given priority for Gaelic teachers. The plan would be that if no teacher could be recruited who spoke Gaelic; one of teachers of C4 or up would be redeployed to C1M. The post has already been advertised on my job Scotland and Gaelic website and very soon there will be advert in Stornoway Gazette and Oban times. Ceannard encouraged word of mouth, as per newsletter, which will be issued by the end of the week.

The Co-chair echoed that we have great social networks via word of mouth, as per what happened with our wraparound care provider to recruit staff. Co-secretary asked if it was ok to circulate job post link via networking sites, Ceannard agreed this would be helpful. It was stated that this is difficult being mid term and because Sgoil Glaschu are requiring 1.8 staff at the same time. There does not appear to be enough qualified Gaelic teachers at this current time.

Ceannard said she had an encouraging time with her mentor, the Ceannard of Sgoil Glaschu on a recent visit to their school. The two Ceannard’s shared issues that are common across the board. In their school, numbers have grown considerably, which lead to them taking step to ask all parents to actively learn Gaelic to support their children. A parent asked whether it had capped numbers, Ceannard did not know the answer to this question. The approach was to aid fluency. A parent commented that personally learning Gaelic was of a great benefit and Clì Gaidhlig were offering help with funding.

Ceannard has worked to get a new psychologist appointed after previous person being ill. The psychologist will work with the children who need assistance as part of the ASL team.

There was positive feedback from parents at consultations. Some parents did miss appointments, so the school will be contacting them to make suitable alternative arrangements.

Ceannard has been involved in James Gillespie transition evening for C6/7 parents. Found it a worthwhile and informative evening. Pupils will be preparing for JGH with Benmore trip in the New Year.

Active schools programme is running well, with the aim of further dates for football to be added later. Ceannard is awaiting total attrition number, however she knows that there has been a good uptake. Parent commented that feedback from children is very encouraging.

Ceannard thanked all who helped to make Halloween party such a great success, and that the decorations made the school look the part.

66 pupils are currently noted registered for the August 2014 intake. Parent asked if this was manageable and Ceannard advised that number could change due to deferrals/people going to other schools instead.

3

Council has now confirmed the 2013-14 budget, which was late due to undisclosed reasons. Although tight, the Ceannard is optimistic that the school will run within budget this year.

Sgoil Àraich now has 100 pupils enrolled, which is 30% more than capacity. Management have taken the decision that as of August 2014, the sessions provided will be 5 morning and 5 afternoon to bring levels back to what is possible. All nurseries in Scotland will be having ways of providing the hours changes, with three different options. This is due to Scottish Government raising free hours from 475 to 600 hours a year. There will be a survey monkey consultation running to gain parent’s feedback for this.

School has had more visitors recently, one being a teacher from Stenhouse Primary who is originally from Stornoway and has an interest in Gaelic teaching. Tim Armstrong, the science fiction author has also been around to gather more background for his next book on the history of GME within Edinburgh and moving from Tollcross to Taobh na Pairce. He will be meeting with depute head as well soon. Dè a-nis will attend the school very soon, to record children’s singing and views on Christmas time. Gillian Tee will visit the school on December 13th. Minister of Education from the Isle of Mann will come to see school on the same day as the Pantomime.

There is a rapidly expanding Christmas programme, which includes service at Greyfriars Kirk on Tuesday 19th December. Plans for buses taking children and teachers there and back are underway. There may not be a lot of attendance from JGH pupils, as their rehearsals for concert in the Usher Hall in the evening will be that same morning.

Depute Head

Depute Head explained that at recent training session they were looking to find out views on how best for the children to learn. The short survey was distributed to those present at the meeting.

There was a discussion from different parents on what they felt were potential learning barriers, such as Gaelic being immersive, the use /lack of use of English, and children’s rights.

Co-chair asked if Depute Head would like the survey to be e-mailed out. Response was not at the moment, unless needed more answers after returns.

Co Chair update

Found budget meeting interesting and a little disappointing due to cuts in management time. Our Co chair liaised with other parent council chairs and councillors at that evening, and got to know some issues better at a lower level. It was a creative session, where majority felt cuts should be made elsewhere in the budget, i.e. energy saving measures rather than education. The council could potentially use their buildings such as schools as sources of revenue like a business, and to share resources.

Co chair also recently attended Neighbourhood meeting and asked those present whether or not we should remain with South meeting, as JGH is within this, or if we should be in North with our geographical

4

location. Consensus was to remain in South but still share North resources and join meetings where possible to build our community contacts.

JGH new build was raised as a worry for a parent, asked what could or is being done to influence the building before works beginning. Advised that topic would be raised at CnP meeting this Wednesday evening, where this issue among many will be on the agenda.

4. Treasurers’ update

There is £3426.67 in account, with £319 being profit from Halloween party. Approximately £120 has been written for reimbursement cheques.

EES logos and Kinloch Anderson invoices total £519.50 to be paid this week.

5. Funding strategy

Co chair advised she had volunteered with one other parent to initially start fundraising group. Welcomed others to join them, especially with experience in fundraising previously. Asked that if parents know of anyone who is could help to get in touch.

Other Co chair informed meeting of a survey to be issued to parents to gain feedback on termly contributions as other schools do, and talk of other fundraising points. Concern was voiced by a few parents present – community aspect of fundraising important. Co chair assured that fundraising would continue and that parent’s feedback will be considered very carefully.

Normal fundraising events would also continue throughout the year.

6. Christmas Fair

Our first Taobh na Pàirce Fair will be on Friday 6th December 2013, 5.50pm to 7.30pm (which is a slight change to calendar time issued before). Flyers have been sent out via parent mail at start of week, and school bag flyers will follow as soon as possible. Events team has been very busy canvassing local businesses for raffle prizes. Parent council to email out asking for donations, prizes & volunteers to help it run smoothly.Ceannard advised a lot of teachers have signed up to help, but is sure can involve more teachers. Secondary pupils will also be supporting us.

7. Christmas Party

This much awaited social event (not fundraising), is being held by CnP and the Pc again this year on Saturday 14th December 2-4pm in the school.It was decided due to previous feedback that all children would have the party then, to make it easier for families to attend.CnP Chair called for volunteers and advised that it would be as fair as possible regarding distribution of tasks. Directions to the volunteers will be given out closer to the time. E-mail to be issued this week via Parent Mail system.

Parent suggested that we could use self-employed parents businesses to bring in revenue. It was agreed that a ‘table sale’ type event would be good to consider another year, however it wasn’t felt appropriate for the Christmas Fair, as could take proceeds away from school.

5

Another parent offered to enquire about trestle tables for Fair. Co-secretary volunteered to put advert on recycling website for tables, either on loan or donated.

Tea towels will be on sale at the fair as a fundraiser.

8. Upcoming AGM

Co chair advised that next meeting would be our AGM. All positions will stand down and anyone can put himself or herself forward/vote for others to fill positions.Recommended shared positions as current committee found this very useful.Parent requested ‘one line’ on each post; available before the AGM.Need a certain number of people, or quorum (of 10) AGM to proceed and for voting to be valid.

It is also important that ordinary members are still present.

9. Any other business

Parent asked who was leading on the MOD. Ceannard advised that a request was sent out for volunteers via newsletter but there had been no response to date. The letter will be sent out again to C6/7 parents.

Playground group advised that they have been very busy behind the scenes. Have a parent helping with funding application for equipment. Consultation with the children finishes tomorrow.

10. Date of next meeting

Wednesday 15TH January 2014 (AGM).

6