Crossmichael Parent Council Meeting
Monday 8th June 2020 7pm via Zoom
Apologies – None received
Attendees
Mary Lidstone-Scott (Head Teacher), Gilli Hodson (Chair), Ben Wild (Vice Chair), Shani McMiken (Treasurer), Debs Nelson (Secretary), Susan Hall, Jackie and Derek Kernahan, Heidi Gunther, Hannah Green, Sarah Cooper, Zara Gell, Louise Cumbley, Katy Collins
Previous Minutes – From 3rd March Meeting. Agreed as correct. Proposed – Susan Hall, Seconded – Ben Wild.
Matters Arising – Blackcraig Application- still no news regarding this funding application but hope to hear in next two weeks.
Chairperson’s Report
Since AGM in May, Gilli sent AGM Minutes, details of new committee and updated constitution to Vanessa Morris at Education Dept, and with new generic email this allows more direct contact with her rather than school having to forward emails etc. DGPCF took place on May 26th and the main topic of the meeting was the return to school. Minutes are available for anyone who wishes to see them. Anything sent from Council of interest to all parents will be posted via the School Blog. There is a CONNECT survey on the school blog for parents to fill in and submit, and other useful national and local information – go to Crossmichael Parent Council Updates section.
Head Teachers Report
Thank You to our P7 Parents
I would like to thank our P7 parents for their support over the years. I have really enjoyed getting to know you and wish you all the best when your children move on the secondary school. Our loss is their gain!
Learning at Home
I would like to thank all parents for your engagement with us during the school closures. The closed class Facebook pages have proved popular with us all and have been particularly useful for parents/ carers with younger children. Older children have become very adept at using GLOW email groups and Microsoft TEAMS to access weekly activities.
Pupil Health and Wellbeing (HWB) Surveys
Each week we send a questionnaire to older pupils via their GLOW email address. We email this to all parents too and parents help younger children to complete it. We have had a return of approximately 75% each week. Each week, I speak to staff and we identify any pupils and families who may need our support. The Principal Teachers and I then contact families to see what we can do to help.
Digital Devices
So far, we have distributed nine devices across the partnership for pupils.
Stationery Packs
Crossmichael opened for a few hours and I handed out packs to families who dropped by to collect them.
Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) in 2020/2021
Allocations are:
Crossmichael = £18,797
We are also carrying forward £6,645.59
In session 2020/2021 we plan to employ a full time Learning Assistant for PEF interventions – Closing the Literacy Gap (CLG), Closing the Numeracy Gap (CNG) and Fastlane (P4-7 Literacy intervention). The remainder of this money to support equity for all pupils during Covid-19.
Budgets
Crossmichael
DSM = -£2495
School Fund = £2149.45
Treasurer’s Report – No transactions since the last meeting, therefore opening and closing balance of £1637.73.
P7 Leavers and Leavers Assembly
Video recording from those who are leaving of a short speech each is being arranged to collate into a leaving assembly. Gifts arranged. Doorstep deliveries of their gifts by Mrs Scott, with social distancing of course, to see them in person will be arranged. Discussion followed about the options to help the P7s celebrate and remember their time at school together – possibilities include a virtual take away, for staff and P7s on Fri 26th June, or wait until into holidays to see if restrictions are eased and allow the P7s to regroup and say farewell to Primary School. Mary to email P7s and their families. Update on the Hoodies from Susan – not here yet, company recently opened up again so hoping they arrive soon.
Members of staff leaving
Due to current restrictions we cannot have a money collection for people leaving and we are really keen to continue to contribute and show our appreciation to those staff members who are leaving us – Mel Martin who has been part of our school community for so long and supported so many children and their families, and Miss Seivwright who will have completed her probationary year with us at the summer break. Gifts will be arranged following the collections and Hoodies have also been ordered for them.
Mary will compose an email to go out from School to all parents asking those who wish to contribute to do so by donating money directly to the Parent Council bank account using internet banking/online transfer, using the name of the staff member for whom the contribution is for as the payment reference (Mel or Jess). This will then help the parent council to identify donations easily and be able to purchase gifts.
Crossmichael Community Rainbow Snake
Lots of stones have been decorated already and the snake is now winding its way around the fence of school. This is a bright, cheery new addition to our community and is getting everyone involved so please all who can decorate stones please bring them along to allow children to see the snake and contribute to the school community while we are apart. Mrs Scott reminded us that Mrs Martin also wishes to create a permanent rainbow of painted stones in the school grounds once we have returned to school and each class will be given a specific colour to paint their stones.
Update on Portacabin
The council report that this will not be in position before the return of school. Discussion followed and the parent council agreed we need to contact the council about this. Gilli will draft an email and work with Zara on this. Debs and Ben will contribute also.
Mrs Scott reported that the council are aware of and committed to ensuring equity across the region in terms of ability to access school.
Update on Return to School
Staffing – vacancies across the partnership – Gelston have recruited to a Mat leave with a full year mat cover – Nicole Drummond, redeployed full time permanent teacher for their youngest class. Ros Stevens increases to 5d per week based at Crossmichael. Advertising for 4th teacher at Crossmichael currently and hope to recruit before the end of June. Miss Campbell, Clerical at Crossmichael is also going on maternity leave, in September so this temporary cover post will be advertised and recruited to over the summer. Mel Martin’s post has not been advertised as yet but will be when Mrs Scott has the go ahead.
Crossmichael Classes next year currently look like
P1-2 Vacancy
P2-4 – Mrs Burton 4days, Vacancy 1day
P4-5 – Mrs Glover
P6-7 – Mrs Stevens
However, we will not see classes as above initially as they return to school, with siblings likely to be taught within the same classroom to maximise capacity while social distancing.
Meeting new teacher for P1s will be very important and the need for information for all families about the return to school as soon as things become clearer was highlighted to reduce anxiety all round. Mrs Scott will be attending meetings in coming weeks and will report back at next parent council meeting planned for before the holidays, given return to school and recruitment uncertainty. Option for new and existing pupils to see into school, even virtually, would be welcomed.
A variety of thoughts and questions were shared, some with answers, some still uncertain. Themes included
What support is there/will there be for parents & children, including educational psychologists?
Who is in charge of their learning next term, the ‘in classroom’ teacher they have each week or the ‘class’ teacher for their year group?
What about the idea of later start and finish times, transport, days of week in school, locations of learning, additional spaces such as village halls etc?
Resources for learning, how are we going to manage cleanliness of activities/books?
Support concerns – same adults in same rooms, support
Managing siblings together – for those who wouldn’t want this
Some options/ideas
Reading books – leave ‘fallow’ in a box once used, deep cleans between groups of children/days
Use of volunteers for cleaning and additional cleaning staff with support for this
Remain Full-time Home Learning – still an option if preferred
Everyone agreed the Local authority needs to keep everyone better updated about the plans for managing home schooling and the regional plans about home learning
There are no plans to finish the term early so previous dates apply with term ending on Fri 3rd July
Everyone agreed we, as the Parent Council, need to support Mary, and each other with the uncertainly of all the issues so to have another meeting before the end of term would help have a forum for collective questions and support.
AOB – None
Meeting closed at 8.45pm
Date of Next Meeting
Next Meeting will be last week of term Monday 29th June at 7pm on Zoom. Please email crossmichaelparentcouncil@gmail.com if you would like to attend.
