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Getting ready for the end of year
Term 4 is flying and it really is time to start thinking about the end of year for your P&C! Some Council resources that can help:
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Child safety
As you may be aware there have been several child approaches near schools which have been reported to police this year. Police encourage parents, guardians and educators to make sure children understand how to keep themselves safe, particularly when walking to and from school, and to teach children about stranger safety. Information on ways to help children to stay safe is available on the Constable Kenny Koala website. Education and care services are reminded to remain vigilant when supervising children in outdoor environments, particularly large areas such as in OSHC. If you become aware of an incident, or notice anyone acting suspiciously around a school, education and care service or a child, contact police immediately.
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Canteen menu planning workshop
This FREE 90 minute workshop has been specially designed for ACT school canteen managers, staff, volunteers and committees to help inspire healthy menus that meet the National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines. It is on Tuesday 27 November from 3:30pm in Chifley. See more information and book your place online.
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ACT early childhood strategy
The ACT Government is currently consulting on a strategy to ensure every child participates in quality early childhood education and care prior to them starting school, including 15 hours per week free universal education for every three year old. The strategy will focus on:
- increasing access, equity and affordability
- enhancing workforce and qualifications
- ensuring seamless transitions from education and care to school
- maximising the benefit to children from money spent
If you are interested in having your say and being involved, contact our office.
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Pass it on!
We strive to provide information of interest to all school parents in the Council Communicator. If you think any of the items above are of interest to parents at your school, please pass them on via your school newsletter or whatever other means you wish. We would be grateful if you would share the information on child safety in particular. We now have a template page for school newsletters to make it easier for you to cut and paste items to submit to your school newsletter under the P&C Council banner if you wish to do so when sharing with your school community.
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P&C Photo Competition results
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Everyone is a Winner!
We had a fabulous response to our P&C Photo Competition. There were so many fabulous entries that the judges really struggled to choose!
The real winner here is ALL P&Cs. Just a take a look at the whole collection of photos and see the colour, fun, connectedness and learning that P&Cs bring to our schools. Bask in the warm glow of being part of something amazing!
(If you are not on Facebook, we'll have the whole collection as a slideshow at our AGM).
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Lucky-draw prizes
We are so pleased to have eight fabulous prizes chosen by lucky draw from amongst all those who entered. The lucky winners of a CountRight coin counting tray - to make your next money count quicker and easier - are:
- Caroline Chisholm School P&C (photo submitted by Fiona Green)
- Franklin Early Childhood School P&C (photo submitted by Robyn Smith)
- Pearce Preschool Parent Association (photo submitted by Carolyn Dunphy)
- Maribyrnong Primary School P&C (photo submitted by Ros Riddle)
- Malkara Specialist School P&C (photo submitted by Kylie Arora)
- Mawson Primary School P&C (photo submitted by Pamela Proud)
- Ngunnawal Primary School P&C (photo submitted by Emma Prime)
- Southern Cross Early Childhood School P&C (photo submitted by Kristie Brown)
Congratulations, and your prizes are on their way!
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The winners
It really was incredibly difficult to choose, but eventually we came upon the two photos which best illustrate what the P&C contributes to the school.
Second Prize of $250 CASH for your P&C goes to:
Charnwood-Dunlop School
for a photo submitted by Julie Grice.
We reckon it shows the fun of being part of the P&C but, ultimately, how it is all about giving back to the school - for the kids and their learning.
First Prize of $500 CASH goes to:
Gowrie Primary School P&C
for a photo submitted by Carolyn Graham.
What do P&Cs add to schools? Colour, fun, community. And smiles on little faces.
Congratulations and we will be contacting all winners today.
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Council AGM
Do come along to our next meeting on 27 November. It will be our AGM and will begin with an address from the Education Directorate’s Director General, Natalie Howson. She will give us an update on the Directorate’s implementation of the Future of Education plans, particularly those that will involve parents/carers and students. She will also be happy to take questions.
See here for more about the meeting, agenda and committee positions and representative roles to be appointed at the meeting.
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Audit Workshop
Council has been working on ways to help P&C treasurers find suitable auditors that do not charge excessive fees. We have now developed a short workshop on how to audit a small P&C. At the conclusion of the workshop, we hope that treasurers will feel confident enough to enter into bilateral agreements to conduct neighbouring P&Cs annual audits, thus saving each P&C hundreds of dollars and improving the standard and timing of your annual reporting. Note that this arrangement is not suitable for P&Cs running businesses such as canteens.
The workshop includes an overview of the audit process and regulatory requirements, a checklist for auditors and working through a sample set of accounts and producing the necessary documents and letters. It is on Thursday 29 November, 7-9pm, Centre for Teaching and Learning, 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. To book your attendance, call 6241 4547 or email.
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Upcoming events
- Executive Meeting, Tuesday 13 November, 7pm start
- Annual General Meeting including presentation from Natalie Howson, Director General of the Education Directorate (see above), Tuesday 27 November, 6:45 for 7pm start. Ends 9:30pm. 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. All welcome.
- Audit Workshop (see above), Thursday 29 November, 7-9pm, 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling.
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You might be interested...
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Pathways out of poverty
Millions of Australians, and tens of thousands of Canberrans live in poverty. The Together Creating Pathways out of Poverty films tell the stories of people who have created their own pathway out of poverty, and people who have used their resources and networks to create pathways out of poverty for others. The stories shared show that poverty is created by adverse circumstances, and lack of options, not individual failings or choices. The positive message of the films is that people’s resourcefulness in difficult circumstances and the thoughtfulness of others create real and lasting pathways out of poverty. They are well worth a look, or sharing. See also the trailer.
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Minimising drug and alcohol harm
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) is now accepting Expressions of Interest for the Local Drug Action Team Program. This Program supports organisations to build or extend partnerships in their community and develop activities to prevent and minimise the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs at a grass roots level. Register an Expression of Interest online.
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