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New committee members
Welcome to new committee members and thanks for filling in our Office Bearers form so that we can help you - our members! We hope this fortnightly e-newsletter is a good starting point, which is why all new members are automatically subscribed (once we receive your contact details via our Office Bearers form). Special welcome to Canberra's newest P&C at the Margaret Hendry School.
Take a look at our To Do list or post-AGM checklist for your first steps this year. Our Information Sheets also have a wealth of information and point to our useful resources and templates. Help is also available in our free workshops - see below.
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Out-going and continuing committee members
Thanks for the time you have devoted to your parent association. We are continually amazed by what our wonderful volunteers achieve.
So that we can continue to support your P&C, please click through to our Office Bearers' Form to let us know who your new committee members are, or pass the link on to the new crew - thanks!
Didn't fill all your positions? What happens now? Here's our answer to this most frequently asked question.
If you no longer wish to receive this e-bulletin, there is an unsubscribe link at the end.
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Free training for your committee role
We've been in the P&C game for a while and have learnt a few tricks. Come along to our workshops to answer all your P&C-related questions... and some you've not yet asked!
Effective P&C Workshop: the perfect workshop for all office bearers to find out more about running your parent association well. From 'what is our P&C all about' to employing staff; from promoting what you do to running meetings well; the session is a chance to hear from P&C veterans and meet others in the same position as yourself. Sign up here.
Thursday 2 May, 6:30-9:00pm, repeated Tuesday 21 May (6:30-9:00pm) in Stirling.
Treasurer and Insurance Workshop: all treasurers should attend to find out more about the insurance package Council coordinates for our members, as well as important considerations and details for performing the job of treasurer successfully and as easily as possible. Sign up here
Tuesday 7 May, 7-9:30pm in Stirling.
Constitution Workshop: if your constitution is out of date, this hands-on workshop is for you. Bring your own constitution and we'll go through the content and wording required, plus how to pass an amended document at your association.
Thursday 23 May, 7-9:30pm in Stirling. Sign up here
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Violence in schools
We are pleased to have partnered with the Education Directorate in the Building Strong and Safe Communities for Learning project which aims to improve systems and processes to reduce and better respond to violence and bullying in schools. Our involvement in the project was sparked by parent concerns brought to us over the last 18 months through our Parent Support Group on Violence in Schools. The Support Group is still collecting case studies (which can remain anonymous) if you wish to feed your family experience into our work.
The project begins with three workshops in Term 1. We sent an email invitation this week to P&C presidents for two people from your school community to attend a workshop. There are limited spaces available and we are compiling a wait-list. If you are interested in attending, see your president for the invitation or email or call or office (6241 5759).
An update on this project, and listening to parent input, will be a focus of our next General Meeting - see below.
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Early Learning Subcommittee meeting
The first Early Learning Subcommittee meeting for 2019 will address the current stage of the Early Childhood Strategy, the 2020 roll out of universal preschool for three-year-olds, preschool curriculum, the BeYou wellbeing initiative, and Council’s early learning plans for 2019.
The Early Learning Subcommittee invites interested parents and carers with experience caring for preschool aged children to listen to, and be, the parent voice for this often under-represented group. You needn’t be an early childhood expert, just be able to contribute your experiences and expectations of early childhood education.
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Upcoming events
- Executive Meeting, TONIGHT, 7pm start
- Early Learning Committee meeting, Thursday 21 March, 6:30-8:30pm. 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. All welcome
- General Meeting, with a special focus on our work with the Education Directorate on addressing violence and bullying in schools (see above for more information), Tuesday 26 March, 6:45 for 7pm start. Ends 9:30pm. 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. All welcome
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Traffic-management resources
Transport Canberra has a series of brochures, cartoons, newsletter and social media content to help promote road and traffic safety around schools within your school community, covering:
- Active travel
- Safe school crossings
- Road safety around schools
- Traffic management around schools
- School travel in 2019
Visit the Active Travel Toolkit on the Transport Canberra website to download the resources or contact the Transport Canberra Schools Program to request printed copies.
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You might be interested...
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Congratulations
Forrest Primary School's after school care program - run by the P&C - has been awarded an Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the highest rating a service can achieve and the first Outside School Hours Care service in the ACT to receive the rating (and only the third in Australia!). Managing a service like this is a huge task for parent associations, but obviously one that can be done exceptionally well! Congratulations to all involved in the program, both currently and in the past. Several years ago, we featured the service in this article.
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Year 7 health checks
The ACT Government is planning a Year 7 Health Check program with the aim of identifying the health needs of students during their transition to secondary school, monitoring risk factors for chronic disease, assessing emotional wellbeing and helping connect young people with appropriate health services. The proposed Check will involve:
- measuring weight and height
- an electronic survey about emotional wellbeing and associated risk factors.
Parents are encouraged to have their say on the design of the program, what matters to you and any privacy or sensitivity concerns via the YourSay page by 3 April.
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Reconciliation awards
Reconciliation Australia's Narragunnawali Awards 2019 recognise exceptional commitment to reconciliation in education across the country. Schools are encouraged to share their successes, challenges, and reconciliation stories.
Winners from each category will receive $10,000 in prize money to support reconciliation initiatives within their school or early learning community.
Nominations are open from 1 February – 10 May 2019 and can be submitted on the Narragunnawali platform.
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Cycling program for schools
Cycling ACT is offering a cycling program in schools, called Let's Ride.
- Let's Ride is a 6-hour curriculum developed by Cycling Australia that teaches kids to ride safely by developing their knowledge, skills and confidence.
- The Let's Ride program has been linked to the national PDHPE curriculum
- Sporting Schools offers grants which would cover the course cost, making the program free to schools and participants.
- There is flexibility as to whether the course is delivered in class time or after school, whether a whole class participates or just students who nominate to do the course, whether the course is delivered over 6 sessions or 4, and so on. They'll work with schools to find the best solution.
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