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 Quick survey - please share
We have a super quick survey (1-2 minutes!) for all parents.
And because your response will be a great help to us, you can go into the draw to win a $100 Gift Card as our thanks! (Redeemable at Coles, Myer, Kmart and Target.)
We'd also be very grateful if you shared this with parents at your school.
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School pics on social media
An important reminder for P&Cs running Social Media feeds, and to share with all parents, from Safe on Social:
 Sharing photos or videos taken at school or a school event may cause serious privacy issues for other students.
In the eyes of the law, a school is considered a private place, and the Principal is regarded as the manager of that place. Recently a child who was relocated with their family in a witness protection program was photographed at their new school by a parent during assembly and published on a community social media page.
Please be aware that you do not know what is happening in the lives of children in the background when you photograph your child at school. Parents are not authorised to use such images unless specific permissions are signed by the parents of each child. The simplest thing is to only post close ups of your own child where others are not visible.
Students also need reminding that taking photos of their friends at school and posting them to Snapchat, Instagram etc. is publishing without consent and can cause issues from a duty of care perspective if the photo is taken wearing school uniform, onsite at the school, tagged into the school or on an excursion.
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Grants
Another reminder about the Federal Government's Local Schools Community Fund. Each school will have received a letter from their local MP on how to apply for funding of $1- $20K for a small-scale project that improves the community. The school needs to apply, not the P&C, but parent associations are encouraged to assist.
Federal MPs are also taking expressions of interest for grants in the Stronger Communities Program. Funding of between $2,500 and $20,000 is available to P&Cs for small capital works projects that enrich your community. Organisations must match any funds requested (in-kind, including labour, is fine). You need to send an expression of interest to your local MP (check with your MP's office on their process) by end September so that they can endorse your application in time for the grant closure date of Oct 10.
Also closing soon are grants with the Communities Environment Program for community-led initiatives to tackle local environmental priorities. Again, your local MP will be looking for expressions of interest for these grants from organisations like P&Cs and a cash or in-kind contribution is encouraged.
ACT Participation (Multicultural) Grants are available for projects that enhance multicultural community participation and inclusion, strengthen and promote community inclusion, or promote and share the value of Canberra’s cultural diversity. Closes October 14.
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Reporting child abuse
Volunteers working in and around schools should be made aware of new laws which aim to improve the reporting of child abuse. It is now an offense to Fail to make a Report for adults who reasonably believe that a sexual offence has been committed against a child.
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Planning for 2020 election
In the past we have had success with getting our local politicians to commit to significant new ideas or programs for our schools in the lead up to ACT elections. We are now starting to plan for next year's election and would welcome input from you and your P&C.
If you could secure a promise from our politicians, what would it be? - please email your answer!
We also welcome you to join our Election Sub-committee to work on this further (send an email to request joining).
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Join us at our next meeting
Our next meeting, on Tuesday 24 September (6:45pm for a 7pm start, 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling) will open with a presentation on the Australian Early Development Census to tell us about trends in school readiness and vulnerability in ACT's school starters.
We will be giving a Virtual Tour of the Ideas Xchange that we ran earlier in the year with the Education Directorate, which focused on addressing violence is schools.
And of course, it is also our Policy Conference. This is an important a forum to discuss new policies and update others so that our policy document continues to reflect the Parent Voice in the ACT and can continue to guide what we do and say with confidence.
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Information from our last meeting
Catch up on what happened at our August General Meeting with our online summary, including the presentation given by Kate McMahon (Education Directorate) on the Positive Behaviours for Learning framework which is increasingly used in our schools to manage student behaviour.
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You might be interested...
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Art exhibition
There's a fabulous exhibition on at the Tuggeranong Arts Center until 25 September, called Learning respect and the meaning of reconciliation through art. At the heart of this exhibition by Bonython Primary School is an inquiry into what an Acknowledgment of Country means and what it is for: to make an Acknowledgement more than words that are simply said at assembly.
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Climate Strike
ACT Education Minister, Yvette Berry, has released a statement in support of students attending the Global Climate Strike on Friday this week (September 20). The strike starts in Glebe park, Civic at 12 noon.
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