For full minutes of our most recent Parent Council (28.10.19) see the attached link but here are the main points: Please let us know your thoughts by commenting on the blog.

• New App for Communication

The school are launching a new app “school app for parents” to help keep in touch with parents and carers. This is already used by a number of other schools including Greenfaulds High School and will be launched on 7^{th Nov.  Miss Ferguson and Mr Green will be available at parents evening to ensure that all parents can access this app. Parents/Carers are encouraged to ensure the school has up to date email details for all families. This app will replace the trialled Expressions app which it is acknowledged has not been working as hoped.}

• Communicating with the Parent Council:

The parents council will now take control of one of the noticeboards at the main entrance. Meeting agendas and a summary of minutes will be posted here as well as on the parent council blog.  Similarly the Parent Council Twitter (@WParentcouncil) will be updated regularly and parents can contact the parent council via the blog or email address (^{woodlandsparentcouncil@gmail.com).}  

• Nursery Path:

The parent council will contact the local authority to request consideration of a handrail being installed.

• Literacy:

Parents/carers have been encouraged to hand in any books that their children are not using to help stock the school library as well as to check and see whether they have any of the schools books at home.

Grants are being explore to help restock the schools books. The school is signed up to the Sun’s campaign and will encourage parents to take part. It was also noted that the school receives funding from the Book People when parents buy books through them.  A percentage from books purchased at the book fair on parents evenings is returned to the school in the form of books but parents can also opt to donate through the book people website by choosing Woodlands Primary.

• P7 leavers hoodies:

After lengthy discussion it was agreed that this is not something that the parent council will be involved in. The school provide all P7 leavers with a leavers event, a memorial gift and a picture from the school. The parent council noted that if this hoodies were to be offered this year the parent council would have to commit to being able to fund this every year to ensure fairness.   It is not possible for the parent council to make this commitment.   Similarly there are significant issues around confidentiality in relation to children’s names which needs to be respected and considered and it would be outwith the parent council remit to ensure all children were able to have their names printed. It was agreed that the Parent council will continue to donate funds towards the P7 leavers event.

• Nursery provision:

Nicola advised that there is no current update on what the 2020 nursery provision will be once the extended hours are introduced however it does appear that woodlands will be offering a 9am to 3pm service. Further details regarding this will be provided when available from North Lanarkshire Council who are continuing to develop plans around this.

• Events:

A number of discussions took place around possible events that the parents council could support or organise.

Christmas Show Raffle: Broadwood Stadium and Asda have already been approached re possible prizes all other prize suggestions are welcomed from parents and parent council members will consider other organisations to approach.

Christmas jumper exchange – it was agreed that given the limited use that children get out of Christmas jumpers/outifts etc it was discussed as to whether an exchange event would be a good opportunity to promote the schools eco approach. A date will be set and agreed for this event in the coming weeks and future consideration will be given to similar Halloween/book day etc events.

Next meeting: Monday 2nd December 2.45pm