Crossmichael Parent Council Meeting

Monday 24^th August 2020 7pm via Zoom

 

1. Attendees – Mary Lidstone-Scott (Head Teacher), Gilli Hodson (Chair), Ben Wild (Vice Chair), Shani McMiken (Treasurer), Debs Nelson (Secretary), Hannah Green, Katy Collins, Sarah Cooper, Jackie and Derek Kernahan, Heidi Gunther, Lindsey Smith

 

2. Apologies – Lucy Wilson, Zara Gell, Rachel Mair

 

3. Introductions – Gilli welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves and their children at the school.

 

4. Approval of Minutes of last meeting – From 29^th June Agreed as correct. Proposed – Jackie Kernahan , Seconded – Shani McMiken

 

5. Matters Arising – Mel’s Post – has this been advertised yet? Mary advised that 7 hours from this post are now additional hours for Mrs Benson (the Gelston admin person) so there is always someone in the Crossmichael office every morning which will be great. The remaining hours may well be filled via the interviews for Vicki’s maternity cover next week.

 

6. Chairperson’s Report – Gifts for Mel and Jess were presented on the last day of term and emails of thanks have been received which is lovely, so thank you to everyone for contributing. Susan’s gift for all her work for the Parent Council was also presented by Gilli at the end of term, and she thanked us for this. On the last day of term Jess Seivwright came and met with the leaving P7s. Each P7 came to see her and have a cupcake and Mrs Stevens also attended to say goodbye to them all. Thank you also to staff and pupils for the leaving assembly videos and Jess for the final quiz and awards ceremony, the children really enjoyed this. On behalf of the Parent Council we wish the leaving P7’s all the best. Thank you to all staff, parents and children for their efforts and patience last term at a challenging time.

 

Also, thanks to everyone involved in drafting our correspondence etc for the portacabin, thankfully not required to be used as we heard after the last meeting that we had the portacabin arriving, although not for the start of term but shortly afterwards.

 

Vanessa Morris sending weekly updates to the parent council email address – information came last week re Connect – all Parent Councils are a member of this and we are insured through this also. Vanessa will be forwarding details of our membership and insurance to us when she has received them from Connect. Training opportunities for all people to be available – let Gilli know if you would like to see the dates and opportunities. Gilli just joined the mailing list for NPFS – National Parent Forum of Scotland via the generic email so we will receive updates via that route also.

 

7. Treasurer’s Report – including Updating signatories/Internet banking

Opening Balance – £1637.73

Income

Parental donations towards presents – £305

Hoodie money into wrong account – £15

Restricted Income – Blackcraigs funding – £10,000 (Ringfenced for outdoor learning shelter

Expenditure

Leavers Presents and Ties – £103.60

Present Miss Seivwright – £60

Present Mel & Flowers Jess & Mel – £260

Adjustment for Hoodie money in wrong account – £15

Director of finance return of PC funding (to be transferred into school budget) – £150

Closing Balance – (incl restricted funding) = £11,369.13

 

Everyone approved that we apply for internet banking access to make things easier without having to access a branch ahead of meetings.

Additional signatories are required due to previously involved parents leaving the school and new volunteers were requested – Sarah Cooper and Jackie volunteered to be a signatory – Thankyou.

 

8. Head Teacher’s Report

Over the Summer Holidays – Our previous meeting was on the last week of the summer term.  At that point we were unsure if pupils would be returning to school on a full time or part time basis.

We had our contingency plan in place and pupils were allocated to be in school on either a Monday and Tuesday (Group A) or a Wednesday and Thursday (Group B) with a Friday being a flexible learning day.

Risk assessments were written and tweaked on a daily basis.  Preparations began to ensure that all pupils were maintaining a 2m distance from each other.  This involved displaying signage, moving furniture, installing hand sanitisers and considering how to stop pupils from mixing with other groups of pupils who were not in their ‘bubble’.

The emergency childcare hubs at Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas remained open during the summer and were staffed by Headteachers and Learning Assistants.

On 30^th July, we were delighted to hear the First Minister announce that all pupils would return to school.  This meant that new risk assessments had to be written and the preparations had to be re-done to reflect the new guidance that pupils could mix with each other, but adults still had to maintain 2m social distancing.

Unfortunately, members of staff were unable to access the school building because the new cleaning regime was not beginning until the first Inset day on 10^th August.  We had a very busy two days prior to pupils returning on Wednesday 12^th August.  We also managed to turn the hall into a classroom in that time.

 

The Return to School – It has been fantastic to welcome everyone back into school.  I am really pleased with how smoothly the transition has been for pupils and staff.

The measures we have in place seem to be working.  The children are used to washing and sanitising their hands regularly, especially when entering/ exiting the building and before/ after eating.  Although pupils do not have to socially distance from each other, we are trying to minimise the movement of children within the school building.  This helps to protect the adults as well as the children.  Each class uses a separate door and children can mix with each other outdoors where the risk is reduced.

We have copies of the ‘Phase 3 Covid-19 Risk Assessment’ available if any parent wishes to see it.

 

Effective Communication – I am very keen to ensure that we have effective communication with you, especially now that parents and families are not to enter the school building or playground.

It took a few weeks before we had the information that we needed from the Local Authority to be able to pass this on to you.  I would like to thank you for your patience and I really appreciated you contacting me directly with your questions and concerns as I was able to help find solutions.

Now that schools have returned, I would like to remind you that I will update the school blog every Monday.  (It would be useful if you could check it daily as sometimes new advice is shared that cannot wait until the following week.)   We will always send out a Group Call text if there is a piece of important information that we need you to be aware of.  I would ask that you contact the School Office via telephone (01556 670282) or email (gw08officecrossmicha@ea.dumgal.sch.uk ) if you have any general enquiries.

If your question relates to routines or class arrangements, then please contact teachers via their email addresses.  The class Facebook pages are a way of class teachers sharing information with you about your child’s class.

You can contact Mrs Glover (our Principal Teacher) or I if you need any other advice or support.  Our email addresses are on the website.  For urgent matters, my mobile number is 07741 686730.

 

Clerical Interviews – Mrs Glover and I are interviewing candidates for Miss Campbell’s Temporary Maternity Leave post (16.5hrs) on Wednesday 26^th August.  Mrs Benson (our Clerical Assistant at Gelston) will be at Crossmichael on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday morning from 8am to answer the telephone.

 

P1 – P7 Buddies – We have paired up our P7s with our P1s and re-started the buddying programme.

 

House Captains/ Vice Captains – P6 and P7 pupils have been asked to produce a short speech to explain why they would make a good House/ Vice Captain.  I will record these next week and the videos can be played in each class.  Each child can then vote for their House and Vice-Captain.  We hope to have a decision soon!

 

9. Update on Portakabin – due to weather tomorrow the portakabin is now arriving on Wed so access to school okay for tomorrow. Utilities etc. are to be connected and the handover should take place between the 31^st Aug and 2^nd It will be set up with IT facilities including a Promethian board that is a suitable size for the portakabin classroom.

 

10. Update on Outdoor Learning Shelter – Gilli updated that we were fortunate to receive some funding from Blackcraig community fund to build an outdoor learning shelter in the school grounds. Group of parents and staff met Larran Foss from the council at the start of the holidays to agree the site and location of the outdoor shelter and access to the community woodland. Gilli has spoken to Richard Middleton (from Crossmichael Community Council) and he is enthusiastic for the children having easy access to the woodland. Shani’s feedback re the shelter – it is a multipurpose space, work done has to comply with the regulations, the funding must be spent within 12 months and only for purpose specified. A completion report is to be sent to Blackcraig within 4 weeks of it being finished and if they request an update report we need to send this and they may also request a site visit. Photos or videos to update them on progress may also be requested. Foundation Scotland must be acknowledged in any publicity/media about it and should be invited to any launch, and recognise them in annual review.

 

11. School Transport – a few people impacted as the council are not giving grace and favour places a seat on the bus/taxi this year due to Covid 19. Affected various families who rely on this transport, where the routes are not safe for walking or cycling. Currently buses are driving past and people know there are empty spaces. All parents affected are encouraged to fill in NEP form – available on the school blog. An email has also been sent from the parent council to Lesley Heron (School Transport). The congestion outside school is also partly as a result of this change. Also some link with high school pupils and primary school not travelling on same bus as each other so to try and minimise mixing. This includes Siblings. Taxi transport is also being used for those entitled to transport but not able to get the bus at the moment. Parents should hear directly if they are being given a place.

Congestion very dangerous in the first three days of school but transport hadn’t sorted buses. Things seem better now buses have recommenced for more children and people are parking further from the school.

 

12. Safer Routes to School – It was asked Can we ask taxi to move forward to start of fence so parents at the gate have more space. The idea of a designated parking area for people collecting children such as the spaces in the Market Hill Car Park for CD Primary marked ‘Safer Routes’ Is this an organised/council thing? – Mary to speak to Dave Tyson and maybe speak to Richard Middleton about parking/village issues. Lindsey can ask Richard to add this to the next Crossmichael Community Council meeting.

 

13. Outdoor/Indoor shoes/PE – Usually ask people to bring indoor shoes for PE but as no indoor PE there will be indoor shoes for clean indoor use and outdoor shoes for PE and playtime. Main thing is about trying to keep carpets and indoors clean, to reduce mud/grass etc. Children get confused and come home in their other shoes. PE – Class Newsletters should tell details re days of week to come dressed in kit due to changing restrictions.

 

14. Ideas for Fundraising Activities in our current situation – Teatowels? – Debs will ask Louise at Playgroup re the company ?All Your Own Work. Mary will speak to Teachers about drawing pictures. Quiz – Sarah Cooper kindly agreed to compile an anagram quiz and we could sell them for 50p and PC provide a Prize.

 

15. Loch Ken Trust – Debs highlighted the recent adverts that encourage local people to get involved and have a say in the future of Loch Ken. Details will be shared via the blog when an electronic version is shared by Loch Ken Trust.

 

16. AOB – Blog, can we update the email address for the PC – to the generic email.

Online subscription for This Week – OK to fund from the PC as previously discussed.

 

17. Date of Next Meeting – Monday 5^th October 7pm