Present
Gillian Boyle, Anne Forsyth, Michelle Hynes, Charlie Jamieson, Mary Moore, Gerry Devenney, Marie-Claire Darroch, Brendan Docherty, Jackie Devlin, Mary O’Reilly, Lesley Garety, Callum Houston, Karen Kelly, Gary Bhatti, Joe McLachlan, Peter Hesset, Christine McCudden, Clare Bowes, Josephine McGrotty, Nadia Salim, Cllr Waters, Cllr Fletcher, Cllr Montague, Cllr Robertson, Cllr McAskill, Cllr Wallace

Apologies

A. Hussain, J. Taggart, A. Friel, P. Rogers, R. Spooner, C. James, M. McBryde, J. Heraghty

Approval of the Minutes for the December PC Meeting

Proposed- G. Boyle

Seconded- G. Bhatti

Update on Transition

C. Jamieson had received updates from F. Morrison and H. DeLombardi, stating that the tender was due back on 7th February and that the contract would be issued by late February/ early March, allowing time for the job to be finished by August.

C. Jamieson had had a walk around the Robslee building with a view to assessing what furniture and fittings would be required as most current furniture etc is being removed. He noted that eight classes would be available in the new building, five on the ground floor and three on the upper floor. There is also an assembly hall and stage, a cafeteria, two support-for-learning bases and some offices. There are also some large classrooms and a computer suite. He indicated that one hut may be retained.

Following extensive discussion by staff in the school, it is proposed that P4 and P5 pupils will be accommodated in the new building. It was felt best not to move P1-3 into the new building because thirteen classrooms would be required to accommodate P1-3, with five P1 classes next session.

It is anticipated that there will be regular movement between the two buildings, such as for IT and gym. This is particularly true for the P7 pupils in view of their responsibilities as mentors and wet-play / lunch monitors.  It is hoped that the P 5- 7 pupils will benefit from increased computer time following the transition.

C. Jamieson added that there are some smaller spaces in the new building that will prove useful too.

C. McCudden asked about the current P6 and P7 classrooms and whether there would now be no double bases. C. Jamieson replied that one partitioned room had been sound-proofed and would continue to be used but that the other two partitioned rooms would be used as bases.

C. Jamieson suggested that House assemblies might be a way of bringing together children who are in different buildings. It is also hoped that children will be able to move between playgrounds at break times. He also said that there would be clerical, janitorial and catering staff in both buildings.

M-C. Darroch asked whether the gym hall in the new building is smaller and whether it would continue to be used by Glenwood. C. Jamieson replied that Glenwood would continue to use the gym hall. He added that having the extra gym space would enable pupils to have two indoor PE sessions per week and only one outdoors.

M-C. Darroch asked whether a name for the new building had been chosen. C. Jamieson said that no decision had been made but that it would perhaps be linked to the House system.

J. McLachlan asked whether there would be spare classrooms. C. Jamieson said that there would not.

C. Houston spoke about the accommodation in the new building and wondered with the opportunity of a fresh start whether the layout and specifications might be altered in order to create a more aspirational environment. A. Forsyth asked what elements would contribute to creating such an environment. C. Houston replied that good natural light and ventilation would be significant factors and that the school should ask the Education department to review the position.

C. Jamieson explained that the rooms in the new building were pleasant and would be made lively and vibrant and that further changes would depend on what budget was left over. He said that he would bring up the matter at his meeting with D. Leask and the architect. A. Forsyth suggested that perhaps someone from the Education department could be invited to attend that meeting.

C. McCudden drew attention to the problem of masonry bees in the new building and suggested that the affected areas would need to be repointed.

M. Hynes asked whether it would be necessary to have a computer room if tablets were being used. J. Devlin replied that the school had been using individual lap top computers – ‘class in a box’ – a number of years ago but these are now obsolete   B. Docherty said that some schools were involved in a pilot scheme for the use of tablets. Cllr Wallace noted that Mearns Castle had set up a wifi system.

K. Kelly asked whether the break-out spaces in the corridors would be reappointed following the transition. C. Jamieson replied that items currently being stored in the corridors would be removed to free up that space.

M. Moore asked whether one of the P7 classes would be separated from the others in being located up the ramp. C. Jamieson referred to the communal forum area used by all P7 pupils so that there would be no feeling of isolation.

G. Bhatti asked about dining facilities in the new building. C. Jamieson said that the dining facilities would be upgraded. He anticipated an increase in the numbers using these facilities when the P1-3 pupils are entitled to free school meals. He said that the kitchens in both buildings would be used.

L. Garety asked about janitorial staff for the new buildings. C. Jamieson said that cleaning, kitchen and janitorial staff would be apportioned according to pupil numbers.

G. Boyle asked whether anyone had any comments on the decision to locate the P4 and P5 pupils in the new building. J. McLachlan said that he agreed that P1-3 should remain in the current OLM building and there were no other comments or observations.

C. McCudden asked about the plan for parents collecting pupils from the new building at home time. C. Jamieson said that possibly the children would be escorted down to the main building when the bus bell rang at 3.05 but that plans would be decided in the next few months.

G. Boyle said that it would difficult to be specific until the building plans are final as only then will we know the exact layout of the playground. She added that there would be various things to consider, such as how the building work might affect the summer fete and that we would continue to be involved in those discussions in coming months.

Wet Play Strategy

G. Boyle noted that a parent had raised the issue of the school’s strategy for dealing with wet play / lunchtimes with a view to understanding better how these are managed, including a query on the extent to which television is used during those times.  C. Jamieson explained the wet play strategy. He said that five bells ring to indicate to the pupils that it will be a wet play. The P7 monitors go the classes at break time. Pupils are permitted to move around the classroom and to go to the bathroom. The monitors can put a limited number of television programmes and games on the whiteboard for the younger pupils.

K. Kelly asked about whether the children had to remain in their own seats during wet plays and whether there are any games boxes for them to use. C. Jamieson replied that the pupils can move freely around the room and do not need to remain in their own seats. He added that the PSA had given some money to purchase games for classrooms. C. McCudden suggested that parents might be asked to donate games they no longer want. G. Boyle said that sometimes the school picks out some games for classrooms from donations at the Christmas/Summer Fayres.

K. Kelly suggested that it was not good for the children to be watching television during break times.

G. Boyle questioned how much time the P7 pupils devote to supervising wet plays. C. Jamieson said that there was a termly rota for the P7 pupils who volunteered to be monitors. J. Devlin said that changing the rota each term shared out the responsibility. B. Docherty added that towards the end of the year, some P6 pupils are involved in helping too.

G. Boyle asked about adult supervision during wet plays. C. Jamieson explained that there are twenty-two adults on duty, the same number that supervise in the playground, and that there are three adults allocated to P1. He noted that the monitors enjoy supervising younger pupils but are not required to do it too often.

M. Moore asked whether, with the additional space in the new building, the children would have greater opportunity for activities outside the classroom during wet plays. G. Boyle and K. Kelly suggested that there might be the opportunity for more clubs at lunchtime. C. Jamieson replied that there were already many lunchtime clubs, but that they were staff-reliant. K. Kelly asked whether parent volunteers might help out. J. McGrotty said that a request had been made for parent helpers .  G.Boyle noted that unfortunately the response had not been great.

M. O’Reilly asked about the policy for watching DVDs at the end of term and about the material being watched. C. Jamieson replied that the school policy is to keep pupils working in the lead up to any holiday and only show DVDs with a U certificate as an end of term treat.

School meals / tuck shop  Update

A working group will be set up shortly to look at the issue of nutrition in school meals and tuck shop.

Traffic Update

C. McCudden said that she, B. Docherty and Cllr Montague had had a walk round the school. She said that Cllr Montague had arranged for G. Brown to have the painting done and signs put up in the pavilion car park. B. Docherty added that a P6 pupil had won the traffic sign competition and that the poster would be installed in that car park to encourage use of the footpath.

C. McCudden noted that the bus bays at the front of the school would be reduced. C. Jamieson said that he had received £1200 to have the front car park re-lined.

G. Bhatti drew attention to the problem of the drains in the front car park flooding. C. Jamieson replied that they had been cleared three times already.

G. Bhatti also noted that Robslee parents are parking in the Robslee staff car park and that some thought might need to be given as to how to use and manage that in the future. C. Jamieson said that parents would be informed about how the car park will be used. A. Forsyth suggested designating the current staff car park at Robslee as a staff car park after the transition.

C. McCudden asked who was responsible for the overflow car park beside Robslee and Glenwood nursery and suggested that proper spaces should be marked out. Currently the wall and the wire fence prevent efficient use of parking space. Cllr Montague replied that the Community and Leisure department was trying to find the funding for it and that it was worthwhile remaining in dialogue with G. Brown.

Cllr Waters explained that the car park at the wall is part of the park. He said that the Allotment Association is responsible for the wall as it is part of their lease and that the wall is in danger of falling over. The Allotment Association has received a grant of £24000 and has put the job of replacing the wall out to tender, with work expected to be completed by summer 2014. Cllr Waters referred to the new football pitches and the issue of increased traffic flow and how to manage the whole park.

C. McCudden said that Cllr Montague was getting Eleanor Thomson at Community Safety and Roads Department to monitor the traffic situation at the gates at Eastwood Park and periodically to deploy parking attendants to stop people pulling in there.

K. Kelly noted that the problem would be highlighted on wet days when many more parents bring their cars to school.

It was suggested that the lighting in the pavilion car park could be improved.

K. Kelly suggested creating a zebra crossing at the overflow car park at the front of the school.

G. Boyle said that some money could be spent on creating road markings and parking bays in the overflow car park.

Headteacher’s Report

C. Jamieson explained that the newsletter had recently been sent out to parents and was available on the school website.

The Burns Federation Day had taken place and some children are going forward to take part in the Burns Competition.

A cameraman will be in the school to make some recordings for the Journey to Excellence website, for Education Scotland. OLM had been highlighted as a centre of excellence and the website will have a range of information and activities for sharing good practice in promoting Catholic identity within schools.

The PSA had funded the Edinburgh science group, Generation Science, to come into the school to run various activities for the pupils.

Catholic Education Week- a range of special activities has been arranged to mark this, such as the Fair Trade day. Also, the P6 and P7 pupils preparing for Confirmation can nominate themselves to work towards a Pope Francis Award. Ninety pupils have volunteered. This will be a two-year process.

Ride and Stride and the Fair Trade days will take place in the week beginning 24th February.

Parents Evenings will take place on 19th and 20th March.

Standardised Testing is to take place in the school for pupils in P3, 5 and 7.

Some P6 pupils are taking part in the K’nex Challenge at St Ninian’s.

As part of the P7 transition, a ceilidh will take place and Mr Docherty, Headteacher of St Ninian’s has visited the school.

There are lots of after-school activities arranged for this term, staring at 4.10pm as well as 3.10pm.

C. Houston referred to the Radio 2 story-writing competiton and asked whether OLM would be participating. B. Docherty replied that the P6 and 7 pupils had done that last year and it would be up to individual teachers if they wished to do this with their class. C. Jamieson added that the children would be taking part in World Book Day and that some pupils would be attending the National Book Awards in the Mitchell Library.

M. Hynes suggested that it might be difficult for pupils to submit their stories online for writing competitions. C. Houston said that pupils could submit their entries at home.

AOCB

C. McCudden drew attention to the issue of parents bringing dogs into the playground and suggested that perhaps some signs could be put up to remind parents that dogs are not allowed in the playground.

G. Devenney complimented staff and pupils on their performance during the P5 mass.

Cllr Montague added that perhaps the pupils could contribute to parish masses, through singing or reading, as part of their work towards the Pope Francis awards.

Date of next meeting: Thursday 13th March 2014 (changed from 27 March due to conflict with first confessions)