If your P&C runs a canteen, you're invited to come along to this great event to network and hear success stories, tips and tricks from other canteens. The event is run by ACT Fresh Tastes and the Healthy Kids Association. It's on Monday September 5 from 3:30-6pm. Find out more and register here.

Your canteen could win big cash prizes in a photographic competition designed to get communities thinking and talking about health. Encourage students at your school to grab their mobile phone, tablet or trusty camera to capture images that promote 'Healthy Life Healthy You'. There are great prizes for the winning photographer - from laptops to holidays - and their school canteen is rewarded too (up to $3000)! Closes November 1.

Council will be running training on auditing financial records at 7pm on Thursday November 10 in Hackett. The training is designed for any P&C treasurers, assistant treasurers or general P&C members, particularly those interested in participating in an 'audit swap'. The swap is designed to overcome the difficulty of finding someone to do the end of financial year audit at a reasonable cost. The idea is for treasurers from different P&Cs to audit each other’s books. This is permitted, without needing the auditor to be formally qualified, as long as the P&C has gross receipts less than $400,000pa and fewer than 1000 members.

The training will be delivered by Council's bookkeeper. More details later this term, but do save the date!

Applications are now open for the Preschool Matters Grants Program which aims to strengthen parent engagement with preschools and develop partnerships with families and communities. Grants of up to $500 are available. Applications close Friday October 14.

Education Directorate has begun a three year program to implement the recommendations of the report on Students with Complex Needs and Challenging Behaviour.  To keep parents up to date with progress, they will hold Parent Forums once a term. The Term 3 forum is on Thursday September 15, repeated at two venues: 9:30-10:30am at UC High School Kaleen's Library, Baldwin Drive, and  5:50-6:30pm at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Fremantle Drive, Stirling.

The ACT Chief Minister's ANZAC Spirit Prize is a competition for Year 9 and 10 students. Part of the ACT Government's activities during the centenary of World War 1, the competition winners will represent the ACT on a funded study tour of the Western Front, France and Belgium, in April 2017.  An information session for parents, students and teachers will be held on September 15 at the Centre for Teaching and Learning  in Stirling  from 5.30 – 6.15pm.

Entries comprise an original creative response that explores the connection between the people of France and Australia.  More information: email or call Jan Herold (6205 8528).

To celebrate Biodiversity Month the Australian Association for Environmental Education invites your school to participate in a biodiversity colouring competition. It is open to all ACT primary and secondary students of every age and ability. There is over $4,000 worth of educational prizes to be won, with both class and individual prizes. More details here. Entries close September 23.