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Welcome back...
A massive welcome back to all the wonderful P&C volunteers!
Please remember that P&C Council is here to help you, so if you have any questions, please email or call (6241 5759).
... and if you're heading off
If you are finishing up on your P&C and no longer wish to receive these bulletins, please hit 'unsubscribe' at the bottom.
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AGM! OMG!!
It's AGM time, but don't panic! We have all the info, tips and templates you'll need to make preparing and running your AGM clear and simple.
Your AGM is a great time to brag about what your associations has done recently, so do include a quick President's report. The idea is to give new comers a good idea of what you do and why and inspire them to join in.
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Financial review
If you're struggling to find a auditor/reviewer to look over your P&C's finances this year, we still have a P&C looking to pair with someone in our Book Swap scheme to save you expensive auditor's fees. Contact us if you are interested.
The audit/review is requirement for all P&Cs. Find out more in our Treasurer's Handbook.
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Filling volunteer roles
There are lots of eye-catching graphics in our P&C Promo Pack that you can slot into your school newsletter, or use on social media, to help attract new helpers and advertise committee vacancies.
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Hand over well
You've taken a while to get the hang of this P&C business - don't let it go to waste!
Our research shows that only a quarter of new officer bearers get a good handover from the previous volunteer, and that this can take the steam out of their enthusiasm - and the P&C!
A set of short handover notes with key information (logins and passwords, account details!) and a description of the role and how it works is really important. We have handover templates for Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers to get you started - just customise for your P&C.
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Canteen news
Menu assessments
Nutrition Australia look forward to catching up with each ACT public school canteen once again in Terms 1 and 2 for menu assessments. This year a selection of schools will receive site visits, whilst others will be receiving a desktop assessment. They'll be in touch to let you know.
Food safety supervisor course
Food safety supervisor certificates are only valid for 5 years. A Food Safety Supervisor course is coming up on Tuesday 16 February.Tthere are 6 places remaining so be sure to register.
Texting Service
Not sure if that product or recipe is GREEN, AMBER or RED? Text the Nutrition Support Service on 0468734436 with any canteen enquiry.
Join the canteen conversation
Join over 80 Canberra Canteen staff and volunteers on the Canteen Connect ACT Facebook group. This group is designed to be a safe place for you to ask questions, learn from others, network and be informed about canteen happenings in the ACT.
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Traffic and parking
If illegal parking is a problem at your school, you could share the following:
Dropping or picking your kids up from school?
Please keep our kids safe by parking safely and legally around schools especially at school drop offs and pick ups.
It’s illegal and not OK to double park or park across pedestrian crossings, corners or nature strips as this reduces pedestrian visibility and blocks the ability for kids to see the road clearly. The consequences can be fatal.
You can also expect to be fined for parking in no stopping zones, bus zones, or in front of driveways.
Access Canberra inspectors including License Plate Recognition vans will be on patrol, so let’s work together to keep our kids safe.
See www.act.gov.au/schoolparking
For drop offs in the morning, why not park a little further away from the school and walk with your kids the rest of the way? Part-way points are a simple way to reduce congestion and increase safety around schools
For pick ups at the end of the school day, have a pre-determined meeting spot that’s nearby. This helps if you’re running late so your kids know where to wait and you don’t need to rush.
See the Active Travel Toolkit for more.
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Update on COVID regulations
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School operations
School sites are now open to families and carers, but note the following:
- maximum gathering size is 500 people (excluding staff and students)
- density requirement is one person per two square metres in schools (inside and out).
- staff and visitors should keep 1.5 metres apart from each other
- parents, carers and visitors to schools should check in at the front office as usual
- additional cleaning and the provision of hand sanitiser continue.
- anyone who is unwell should stay home.
See the Education Directorate's updated COVID restrictions for schools and FAQ for families for details.
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P&C meetings
These can now go ahead on school sites, as long as 1.5m physical distancing is maintained and the one person per four square metre rule is applied. If P&Cs use the Check in CBR app (or the school's Check in CBR App, check with your school to see if they have registered), the indoor density can increase to one person per two square metres.
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P&C events
Events like discos, working bees, info sessions and fundraisers can now go ahead, as long as measures are taken to ensure 1.5m distancing; and relevant gathering and density requirements are met. These are different depending on who is attending. (Events involving members of the general community are more risky than those which are only open to school families.)
Events involving only families and carers of students at the school:
Maximum gathering size = 500 (does not include students)
Outdoor density = one person per two square metres
Indoor density = one person per four square metres. This reduces to one person per two square metres if the Check in CBR App is used (check with your school, they may already have registered).
Events involving people from the broader community who are not the families of students at the school:
Maximum gathering size = 200. This can be increased to 500 if you write, submit to ACT Health and follow a COVID Safe plan for the event.
Outdoor density = one person per two square metres
Indoor density = one person per four square metres. This reduces to one person per two square metres if the Check in CBR App is used.
In addition, events open to the broader community must comply with broader event restrictions and guidelines as per ACT Public Health Directions.
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P&C services and operations
Cash
Cash can now be taken for fundraisers and P&C services such as uniform shops and canteens, but other payment methods are still preferred. It is up to P&Cs to manage the risk that cash presents, such as having separate people handling cash and stock/food, or washing/sanitising hands or changing gloves after any cash handling. Money collected for fundraising can be stored for a couple of days before counting and banking.
Volunteer and staff safety
The density requirement of 4 square metres per adult must be met for P&C volunteers and staff, as well as any adult customers at your services (eg uniform shops). Measures to handle crowds and queues of adults is still required to keep the 1.5m physical distancing.
Uniform shop tips:
- to maintain the 1.5m social distancing you could use signage, markings on the floor, a larger space than usual, additional volunteers to direct traffic, an outside waiting area, or 10 minute appointment slots to reduce crowding.
- practice good hygiene and make hand sanitiser available for customers
- consider not allowing students to try on clothes, but instead have a clear return policy for poor fit. Returned clothes can be put aside for 3 days before offering them for sale again.
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Canteens
Canteens must have, and follow, a written COVID Safe plan, available in the canteen for inspection by Health Protection Services Inspectors. To assist, we created this template last year for you to review and modify to reflect your circumstances. This can now include cash handling, if you choose to take cash, and the measures you will take to manage risk (such as those suggested above). (Sorry, we've not had time to modify the template to reflect this).
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Our activities
We have had further discussions with the Education Directorate about the make up of School Boards and the election of parent representatives, following the email they sent to P&Cs at the end of last year. In response to our concerns, the Directorate has written again to P&Cs with changes to the process and priority of P&C versus community representatives. We are still seeking clarification on a few points, such as whether the P&C is expected to be involved in the nomination of P&C representatives on the Board, and we will get back to you with a complete update as well as clear expectations and actions for P&Cs in relation to Boards.
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Upcoming events
- Executive Meeting, Tuesday 9 February, 7pm start
- General Meeting including presentation on eSafety, financial literacy and school banking. February 23, via Zoom, 6:55pm for a 7pm start. Ends 9:30pm. All welcome, but please register by email
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You might be interested...
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National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
The National Mental Health Commission has developed a draft National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 0-12 years olds and they'd like your views. Have a look and take the survey here.
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FEAST for year 5 and 6
OzHarvest’s primary school program FEAST is looking for schools to support, by providing the program at no cost! (valued at over $1,500). The Year 5 and 6 curriculum-aligned education program, inspires kids to eat healthy, waste less and become change-makers in their local community. Like any good FEAST, it’s designed to be fun, engaging and filled with good food! It runs for 7-10 weeks and is aligned to the Australian Curriculum STEM and English Learning Areas.
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