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New to the P&C?
If you are new to your P&C - Hello! and Thanks for volunteering!
Our free P&C training workshops have now been run, but there is a huge of resources, templates, info and advice on our website to help you run your P&C well. We're also more than happy to have a chat over the phone and run through the essentials of your volunteer role and answer any questions, and P&C members are always welcome to drop into our office for help. Contact details here.
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Term 2 reminders
As the end of term 2 approaches, make sure your P&C has:
- Reported to Government on last year's activities. This needs to be completed before the end of June to avoid late fees.
- Completed our Office Bearers form so that your P&C's membership details with us are up to date and we can support your committee.
- Completed and returned your insurance questionnaire (as emailed to treasurers) to Civic Insurance (due June 1). Insurance invoices will be payable by June 30. (Similarly, wages estimates forms for workers compensation cover for P&Cs with paid staff). More info on insurance paperwork.
Keep our To Do list on hand to make sure you fulfil all of your association's regulatory obligations this year.
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Wondering about your constitution?
Your P&C's constitution is an important document and should be a useful to guide to you and your committee (find out more in this Constitution Q&A). If yours is out of date, however, come along to our Free Member training: Constitution Workshop to find our how to review, rewrite or amend your constitution. It's online from 7-9pm on Tuesday 15 June (Week 9). Details and registration here.
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New grants!
Growing Good Gardens Grants provide schools with $1000 to encourage young people to get gardening, growing edible plants and learning healthy eating habits. Applications close Friday 18 June.
Mental Health Month Reimbursement Grants provide up to $1,000 to help ACT organisations host a mental health focused event during the month of October. Applications close Friday 18 June.
See more grant opportunities and tips for applying.
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Support for media spokespeople
There has been a focus in the Canberra media lately on schools and several P&Cs have been approached by journalists for comment on everything from demountable to suspensions. One role of the P&C president is to be a spokesperson for your association but the decision to speak to the media can be fraught! If you'd like to talk through the pros and cons of having your say, or need support to say what you want and to feel confident doing so, please contact our office. Our Comms Officer can assist with crafting your message and even attend your media interview with you to help.
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Fetes & large events
If your P&C is planning a fete for this year, remember that COVID restrictions still apply to ACT events and the school setting. See our COVID Information page for up-to-date advice and templates. All events require a COVID-safe plan and use of the Check-in CBR App (it is the event organiser's responsibility to ensure all visitors use the App). If more than 500 people attend, the COVID-safe plan must be submitted to ACT Health, and an exemption must be sought in advance for more than 1000 people.
If seeking an exemption, you will need to plan well in advance – there are currently many exemption applications being considered and the system takes time. We suggest that until your exemption is approved, the P&C should not incur costs for the planned event. You might like to join our our closed Facebook Group - Canberra P&C Leaders Network - to see how others are approaching this. There has recently been some discussion on this point.
Council believes that at this time, the best approach for P&Cs may still be to focus on smaller, more targeted events that stay under the 500 attendee threshold.
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Plastics ban
We've been able to help some P&Cs re-home plastic cutlery from their stores which are soon to be banned in the ACT. If you'd like help to off-load your supplies of banned items before the ban comes into effect on July 1, please contact Janelle.
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Preschool enrolment feedback
Have you - or someone you know - enrolled a child to start preschool in 2022?
Council is collecting feedback about the process... Come to our next Early Learning Committee meeting on June 29, now online from 7.30pm (please register your interest), or email your experience.
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Sharing canteen expertise
Council is re-activating our Canteen sub-Committee. This is a great place to discuss canteen-specific issues and share the wealth of expertise we have amongst our P&Cs running canteens. The first meeting of the re-invigorated group will be on Wednesday June 23 at 7pm via Zoom. Already on the agenda is Waste reduction and Flexischools.
Thanks to those who have already put up their hands to be involved. All subcommittee members will be sent the Zoom link a few days ahead of the meeting. If you'd like to join the sub-committee, or suggest an agenda item, please email us.
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Upcoming events
- Executive Meeting, Tuesday 8 June (Week 8), 7pm start
- Constitution workshop, Tuesday 15 June (Week9), 7-9pm via zoom
- General Meeting, Tuesday 22 June (Week 10), 7pm start, via zoom
- Canteen sub-committee meeting, Wednesday June 23 (week 10) at 7pm via Zoom
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P&C Cultural integrity workshops
The ACT Education Directorate is organising and funding cultural awareness workshops specifically for P&C committee members. Workshops will be held at the Centre for Teaching and Learning in Stirling and children are welcome to accompany you. The topics are:
- Indigenous food and medicines. Tuesday 8 June 3.30-5pm; or Tuesday 15 June 3.30-5pm.
- Children’s literature, picture books and young adult fiction (Thursday 2 September)
- An introduction to building cultural integrity through the Engoori process (Thursday 4 November)
Details in this flyer. Register by email.
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Cultural competence training for P&C members
The ACT Education Directorate is organising and funding 20 places for Cultural Competence training specifically for P&C committee members. It's a 10 hour online course, with flexible learning to complete in your own time over a semester. Details in this flyer. We are very grateful to the Directorate for funding this initiative.
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You might be interested...
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Lucky dips
Congratulations to Sarah May and the Lyons Early Childhood School P&C, the lucky winners of our big bag of small toys for consolation prizes/lucky dips (we've sent you and email to arrange to get them to you). Thanks to others who also put their hands up and those who completed our Office Bearer's form!
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 Student wellbeing and career resilience - parent webinar
COVID-19 has caused labour market disruption and job losses for many young people, while many students have missed important milestones and struggled with the isolation of lockdowns.
In MyFuture's free webinar, psychologist Dr Lyn O'Grady will explore impacts of the pandemic on student emotional and psychological wellbeing which may create obstacles for students facing complex career decisions and transitions. Lyn will offer practical advice, strategies and resources for parents and carers supporting students. It's on Friday 4 June, 12-1pm. Register here.
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