DECEMBER 2010

My name is Chris Meek, the Chair of the Abernethy Primary School Parent Council and I have been asked to write a regular column for The Village Crier to keep everyone up to date with what the Parent Council is doing and provide some school related dates for your diary.

I am a relative newcomer to the village having lived here only three years or so, but wanted to get involved with the community in some capacity and since I have two daughters now attending the school, I volunteered to be the Chair of the Parent Council just over a year ago. I realised quite early on, the vital role that the Parent Council plays as the link between many different parties i.e. the parents, the school, the head teacher Mrs Jack, the community, Perth and Kinross Council, and other local parent councils.

The council is currently involved in a number of on-going projects in conjunction with the school and P&K Council, these include the internal changes to the school building over the summer of 2009 to allow for an extra classroom to be built in the old library, as well as the plans for extending the school to make it bigger overall.

We are involved with the school Eco Committee in its quest to achieve Green Flag status which indicates a high standard of environmental awareness by the school staff and pupils as well as highlighting our school commitment to recycling, waste reduction, green travel and other environmental hot topics.

Our Eco Day in June of this year was very well supported (despite the weather) and was a resounding success, raising well over £1000.00. On the day we had a number of unusual and interesting presentations and activities including a recycling initiative by the school Eco Committee, Zoo Lab and their informative talk about the animals they brought along, Chainsaw Pete who carved a beautiful Osprey from a one tonne tree trunk, and many arts, crafts and other activities.

We support the school by purchasing various items as and when required through consultation on requirements with Mrs Jack, the other members of staff and the schools pupil council.  These purchases and other regular expenditures (school buses etc) are funded by our yearly grant from Perth and Kinross Council which is supplemented by our regular fundraising activities.

The Parent Council has an excellent relationship with the school staff and head which I hope we can maintain and improve continually, as I feel it is imperative that the parents have a voice. As such if anyone has any issues, questions or comments please feel free to contact me or any parent council member from the list provided here. The best way to contact me is via email and I have provided my address there.

Some dates for your diary

2009-2010

4th December - P7s - Citizenship Day at Perth High School

Christmas Parties

17th December @ 13:45 - Church Service (Primary Only)

2010

w/c 25th January - Burns Poetry Competition

February - Cross Country - senior pupils

February - Hopscotch Theatre Company Production - Brand New Andrew + fair Trade Ted (P1 P7)

February 3rd -  Parent Council meeting, in school at 7.30p.m.

February  9th  -  'Hip Hop' club (P6 & P7 pupils) taking part in 'Creative Day of Dance' in Perth

February 11th  -  P7s taking part in Fun in Athletics event in Dundee, representing Perth

February 18th  -  P1 - P3 Gymnastic Festival

 P6 & P7s Cross Country event at Perth Race Course

February 19th  -  Hopscotch Theatre Company presenting 'Brand New Andrew & Fair Trade Ted'

February 23rd  -  Hinduism event linked to term time topic of India (school has an international link with a school in Kolkata)

February 25th -  all parents of feeder primaries to Perth High are to be invited to an event at Inchview Primary, Glenearn Road with regard to Curriculum for Excellence information

March  9th -  Parent Contact Meetings

March 18th -  Parent Contact Meetings

March 18th - Margaret Ewen will be retiring

March 18th -  P6s & P7s (possibly P5s too) Orienteering event at Strathallan

March 30th -  School Show - Early Years (including Nursery)

March 31st -  School Show - Upper Primary

April 2nd -  School closes at 3.15pm and reopens on Tuesday 20th Aprill

Finally I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported the events held by the parent council in the past and I look forward to seeing you at future ones.

If you would like anything relating to the present council included in this column in the future please contact me by e-mail.

Chris Meek