Minutes of Gelston Parent Council Meeting

Wednesday 22^nd September 2021 at 7.30pm via Facebook Messenger Room Facility

 

1. Welcome/Apologies

 

Pam Shuttleworth

Kay Davies

Emma Howard

Justine Hunter- Brown

Abbie Robertson

Mary Cruickshanks

 

2. AGM – see separate minutes

 

3. Approve previous minutes and any matters arising

Only outstanding items –

Online banking protocol – has been compiled ready for committee approval

Finalising Christmas Market Plan

All other matters have been closed

 

4. Chairperson Report

 

Advice from Education and Learning Directorate remains that Parent Council meetings should continue to take place online where possible.

 

Partnership Update from previous meeting is the paper is going to committee in October 2021 to review. No changes will take place this academic year but any changes will be in place for August 2022.

DGPCF meeting Tuesday 21^st September 2021

 

• Return to school Covid guidelines covered in brief- regarding vaccinations for 12-15 year old as well as 16/17 year olds
• SQA update- secondary schools
• School meals – DGPCF have been liaising with DG First regarding common complaints about school meals

Quality of the meat- same supplier of meat so as far as they are concerned the quality hasn’t changed- supplier Pioneer based in Carlisle

Lack of local produce – it has been difficult to use Scottish meats due to the tender process in bidding for the school meals contract as it favours larger producers. This has been addressed and a simpler tender process is being developed to make it simpler for smaller producers to bid.

Lack of red meat on the menu- In April this year the Government Nutritional guidelines changed favouring a reduction of red meat- climate change being part of that decision.

DGPCF and DG First are coming together to compile a survey for all parents prior to the menu changing after the October break to gain feedback on any issues they might have around the school meals – let’s get behind it

There were conversations around the uptake of school meals and the wider implications for the school.

Subject of online payment for primary school meals was brought up as it seems to be making slow progress –

Update from DGPCF since our meeting –

‘there will be a phased approach to this initiative and all Head Teachers will be notified in due course. Monday 27^th September 2021 will see Penninghame and St Ninians Primaries, Gretna and Kirkcudbright Primary Schools going live. All families will be notified in due course’

• Carol Broll DGC Services Manager for Facilities Services, Catering, Cleaning & Janitorial within Economy & Development

 

• Mental Health in schools group have been developing a document which will clearly signpost where to go for the right help for specific mental health issues children are dealing with.

The aim is to be able to get the right help for the child at the right time eg child may wait 6-9 months if not more after a CAHMS referral only to discover that they weren’t the right agency to help them and are then referred on to someone else with another waiting list and the child being no further forward. Initially the document will be tailored to school staff and teachers then a parent/pupil edition will follow.

• School nursing team to attend DGPCF meeting in November to explain how their role has changed and how they fit into the school structure
• Brilliant response to the outdoor learning survey – around 300 responses- I shared results but can do again if it is of interest
• DGPCF can set up zoom meeting for us if we need to use the facility
• How the PC allocation of funding has changed. Vanessa Morris has taken over this – process explained later.

Pam to follow up on the email when received in order to receive the allowance for this year- this will be fed back at next meeting in the autumn term.

 

Sadly Pam had hoped to be able to feedback on the Respect Me Training but she was unable to attend due to illness.

Pam to post links & info when received on Parent Council Facebook page

 

School Meals update –

P1-4 school meals are now funded

P5 will be funded from January 2022

P6-7 will be funded from August 2022

 

 

5. Treasurers Report

As per AGM report. Kay has sourced the correct forms to apply for online banking access. Once the Online Banking protocol has been signed off by the committee Kay will complete the forms and return to the Bank of Scotland for processing.

 

6. Head Teacher Report

The Lockerbie Manor trip for P6/7 in February 2022 has been provisionally booked. Under the current COVID restrictions this trip would not be able to go ahead but hopefully by the time February comes around  the restrictions will be such that the trip can go ahead. Lockerbie Manor has agreed a full refund in the event of cancellation due to COVID restrictions. This will be at a cost of £156.61 per pupil. Mary asked if the Parent Council would be happy to pay for the excess if the cost was rounded to £150 per pupil. The committee agreed to this – total contribution being  £59.49.

 

 

7. Grant Applications for Outdoor Classroom update

 

• Contacted Cash for kids – had to raise £1000 in 5 weeks to keep half of it- school that raised the most would get cash prize – too small to make it worth entering
• Rotary are hoping to be able to donate after their race night in October
• Currently applying for Tesco grant – up to £5000 plus ‘token’ thing- that could take up to a year to come around to us. Part of the application requires a permission to build statement from the council. Mary supplied the email address of best contact.

Pam to email Larann Foss for help with this and update PC at next meeting

 

• Pam spoke to Galloway Glens re their Heritage grants. We need to work on heritage links and how we incorporate that into our outdoor classroom. They are hopeful the heritage grants will be open again next year as the uptake has been considerably smaller due to the impact of COVID. Anna is going to keep Pam updated.
• Kay approached Co-op concerning their grant scheme but the closing date had already past but they agreed to donate their book takings for August & September 2021

Pam to look into new date for Co-op grant scheme- Kay to keep us updated on Co-op donation

 

• The Old Mill in Palnackie – exhibition space, bookshop & art studios got in touch with Pam over the summer looking for the best way to reach the Gelston community with the free workshops for children they were running. Pam has kept in contact with them as a possible interested party in using our outdoor classroom. Lucy has also offered any help they can be to the school with any art projects that they may need.

 

We discussed opportunities that our local area may present to help the school make links with the local heritage. We came up with a few avenues to explore

• Moat at Ingleston Farm
• Stewartry Museum in Kircudbright may be able to help
• Gelston Castle – local knowledge

 

8. Christmas Market Plans

We discussed the format of the Christmas Market and came up with a few ideas.

• To be held in Castle Douglas Parish Church Hall as higher footfall

Update – hall now booked for Saturday 27^th November 2021 10am-2pm at a cost of £8 per hour

• To be held on a Saturday as opposed to mid week evening
• Ask local businesses to donate to hampers to be raffled off

Pam to apply for licence to sell tickets prior to the day from the council

 

• Festive photobooth – email photos

Kay to ask Mandy to help? Emma offered to help with photos too

 

• Charge entry fee with mince pie & non alcoholic mulled wine?£3? TBC
• Sell churros / other Christmas food? Ideas?
• Charge £10 per table for craft/Christmas gifts

One table booked already- hall fits 8 in total

• Children to design poster to be distributed around the various notice boards around Castle Douglas/Gelston as well as Facebook.

 

• Children singing carols with donation bucket at the entrance?

 

Another fundraising idea suggested by a parent was Christmas cards made by the children. Pam sourced a printer who has sent a pack already to be completed. Once they have received the drawings they send us a link to a unique portal for Gelston School where parents & friends can order a variety of gifts (including packs of cards) with their child’s design. The items are paid for at the time of ordering via the portal. The school receives 20% of the sales. There is a possibility that the Parent Council could order some cards and sell them at the Market too but this has yet to be decided.

All proceeds of the fundraising around Christmas will go towards the outdoor classroom fund.