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Another new grant!
The AusPost Community Grants Program offers up to $10,000 to community-led, local projects that connect individuals and communities to improve mental health and wellbeing. Applications close 4 July. You must have an up to date ABN to apply.
See more grant opportunities and tips for applying.
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Early Learning Matters Week
Early Learning Matters Week (26-30 July) is a great opportunity to talk about how high-quality early education and care supports children to be confident, enthusiastic learners, building a foundation for wellbeing and achievement throughout their lives. There are lots of ways to participate. Visit the website for more ideas and to take part.
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Learn to build wicking beds
The Actsmart Schools team have a couple of upcoming events that P&C members are welcome to attend. If your P&C is involved in setting up a school garden, the first will be of particular interest.
Learn about wicking beds and more at Chisholm School Networking meeting, 16 June at 4pm.
Hear about biodiversity opportunities and the benefit of green spaces at North Ainslie Networking meeting, 17 June at 4pm.
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Canteens and food allergies
The National Allergy Strategy has released FREE online food allergy training for staff and volunteers working in schools. The All about Allergens course is designed to help you understand more about food allergies and how to keep kids safe. The 1-1.5 hour course covers managing allergies, communication tools, reading labels and avoiding cross contamination of food allergens when preparing and serving food.
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From the Tax Office
If you employ staff, please note the latest news from the ATO:
Is your organisation ready for the super guarantee rate rise?
The super guarantee rate is increasing from 9.5% to 10% on 1 July 2021. Find out how to work out the correct amount of super to pay your employees.
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Feedback opportunities...
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School cleaning
Does your P&C have any feedback on school cleaning, particularly in relation to a canteen or OHSC program you run? Coucil is currently collecting feedback - please let us know.
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Curriculum review
 The Australian Curriculum is being revised and parents have a chance to have their say. A fair bit of background reading is needed to make sense of the parent feedback surveys, but this is a great opportunity to respond specifically about a learning area that you are most interested in.
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Families in Australia Survey
How are you and your family going as you travel the ups and downs of family life? How you juggle family life with other commitments? This 20-minute survey helps paint a picture of what life is like for families across Australia and will help inform government and service providers. Participants can opt-in to a random draw for one of five $500 shopping vouchers.
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Young People have your say
Young people aged 15 to 19 are being urged to take part in Mission Australia’s 2021 Youth Survey. The largest national survey of its kind, it covers topics that affect young people such as mental health, employment, and education.
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Understanding Problematic Device Use in Early Childhood
Deakin University wants to understand how young children’s use of mobile touch-screen devices may be related to their wellbeing and development. They invite parents or guardians to complete a 25-35 minute survey for one child aged one to six years. There is a prize draw for one of ten $50 vouchers in recognition of your time.
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General Meeting
Join us for our next meeting at 7pm, Tuesday 22 June (online via Zoom). The meeting will begin with a presentation from Deb Efthymiades, Deputy Director General at the Education Directorate on planning for future enrolments and the infrastructure/capital works framework for ACT public schools. There will be time for general questions, but if you have school-specific questions, please send them to Terry Sanders who will seek individual answers.
RSVP to receive your Zoom meeting invitation.
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Early Learning Committee Meeting
Note the later start time as requested by our parents of early learners! Join the meeting to hear about, and comment on:
- quality and staffing in preschool
- How preschool reps are responding to young learner family needs
- Councils early learning policy review
- Early Learning Matters Week.
It's on Thursday 29 July, online from 7.30pm. Register for the Zoom meeting. A confirmation email containing information to join the meeting will be sent after registration. Contact Marina Spurgin, Early Learning Officer.
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Canteen sub Committee Meeting
Our sub-committee is up and running and meeting for the first time online on Wednesday June 23 (week 10) at 7pm. It's a forum to raise issues in P&C canteens, share ideas, and collectively move forward! We have about 10 schools involved so far. If you'd like to join - let us know! Some agenda highlights:
- Flexischools – difficulties, glitches and is it still meeting your needs?
- Reducing canteen waste – Aranda P&C’s experience
- Request to lobby suppliers to change from plastic packaging – Aranda P&C
- Canteen policies and procedures – what do others do? – Arawang P&C
- Your canteen issues
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Upcoming events
- Constitution workshop, TONIGHT Tuesday 15 June (Week9), 7-9pm via zoom
- General Meeting including presentation on enrolment planning and infrastructure (see above), Tuesday 22 June (week 10), 7pm, via zoom. RSVP
- Canteen sub-committee meeting, Wednesday June 23 (week 10) at 7pm via Zoom
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Read all about it!
Find out what other P&Cs – and Council - are up to in our Term 2 magazine! Including...
- Spotlight on our volunteers – why do they do it?
- Info on the ACT’s plastics ban
- How to make your P&C more inclusive (sign up more volunteers!)
- Reminders for P&Cs and FAQ on your Constitution
- Work towards evidence-based consent & sex ed in schools
- A chat with two P&Cs who are strengthening community connections with after-school playdates.
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Celebrating the achievements of Fresh Tastes schools
Congratulations to Fresh Tastes schools who are working hard to create a healthy food and drink culture! From 2014 – 2018, 39 ACT primary schools completed their three-year involvement with Fresh Tastes. Key results from the Fresh Tastes Interim Report are that: 93% of participating schools have embedded a healthy food and drink culture; 92% of schools have seen a positive change in attitudes towards healthy food and drinks, and 89% have noticed a change in the demand for healthy food and drinks.
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