DECEMBER 2011

I am sitting here in a quiet house totally exhausted after the Halloween disco (the kids had a blast, thanks to all who organised it), grown men and women doing “the time warp” and “nelly the elephant” un-cool, at least my children are also exhausted!

I can’t quite believe it’s nearly November, the nights are drawing in and the clocks are about to change and ......... its eight weeks to Christmas, anyway here goes with article number 6.  

As usual it is my aim to provide the Crier reading public with an update of Parent Council activities, what and how the school is doing, details of any changes and information on how the community can get involved with the school so here goes:

First, general Parent Council and school news:

The school fun run was on 5th October.  The run was completed in style by all who took part and lots of money was raised, thanks to all who took part and all who donated their hard earned cash, all monies raised will be used to provide more topic-related trips for classes and to have relevant specialists visit the school.

The Parent Council and the school will be having a Christmas Fayre this year (I am not sure whether the Crier will be out before this or not but here is the info anyway), we are hoping for better weather than last year as it had to be cancelled due to the great snows.  

The date for the Christmas Fayre this year will be is Saturday 26th November, 10am - 12pm.  The fundraising aim for the fayre would be to extend the range of Oxford Reading Tree materials the school has, to increase those available for P7 and add depth to what is on offer in other classes.  If you wish to help with the Fayre or take a stall at the Fayre please get in contact with me (details at the bottom of the article).

Secondly, an update with some good news:

Plans for the new school are progressing well, the current plan is that classes would remain in the current school until the end of term in Summer 2012 with the new temporary school being constructed on the playing fields during this term as well.  Completion of the temporary accommodation and moving over of the school equipment etc. will take place over the summer holidays and classes will start back in August 2012 in the temporary buildings.

It is currently expected that the changes to the school will take the majority of the school year 2012 – 2013 with the new, improved super duper school ready for use from the start of the school year 2013 - 2014.

Thirdly:

The Parent Council is the parents’ voice within the school and has direct links into all levels of the education sector within PKC as well as the obvious links into the school (I have just volunteered to become a member of the parent forum for PKC to represent rural primary schools).  Mrs Morrison and her staff are very keen to involve the Parent Council in the running of the school and our views are sought regularly on all kinds of issues and topics.

 Finally, I would state again that if you are at all interested in being involved in the running of the school, the extension plans, fundraising, interaction with the new team and generally getting involved at any level please come along to Parent Council meetings, the more the merrier and you don’t have to be a member or even join the Council to attend the meetings.  

The dates for future meetings are as follows:

Wednesday 9 November - 7pm

Wednesday 1 February - 7pm

Wednesday 25 April - 7pm

Wednesday 13 June - 7pm

Minutes of these meetings will be posted in the usual places, I look forward to seeing as many people as possible at them.

If you have read one of my articles before, you know that I feel it is imperative that the parents and community have a voice and are aware of events and issues at the local school.  With this in mind, please feel free to get in touch if you have any issues, questions or comments.

The best way to contact me is via email and I have provided my address below along with the names of the other members of the Parent Council.

Me - Chris Meek (Chair) – chris.meek1@tesco.net

Parent Council Members 2011 / 2012 - Tim Dewhirst (Treasurer), Lynn Mitchell (Secretary), Kate Butler, Gordon Miller, Athole Skinner, Karen Jerrard-Dinn, Allan MacDonald, Fiona Duncan, Mo McCullie, Katie MacAleese, Claire Fairbairn and Scott Baird