In attendance: Hamish Bell, Dugald Campbell, Fiona Whittet, Mary Dodds, John Flood, Paul Fraser, Julie Livingstone, Paula Morrison, Gillian Rattray, Sandy Scrimgeour (Perth Academy Parent Council), Councillor Lewis Simpson, Mr Andy Smith (Perth Academy Rector), Suzanne Westwood and Morven Withers
Apologies: Linzi Low, Dave Pritchard, Gill Amatt, Jacky Moss, Moyra Murray and Claire Waite
WELCOME
Julie Livingstone welcomed everyone to the meeting and extended a warm welcome to our guests from Perth Academy, Mr Smith (Rector) and Mr Scrimgeour (Perth Academy Parent Council). Mr Smith said he was keen to promote potential involvement from RDM to ensure a strong Parent Council at Perth Academy and that it was great to see such healthy numbers at the meeting. Mr Scrimgeour picked up on the good environmental practise of the "reduced sized" agenda sheets and was also keen for "RDM" parents to be involved in Perth Academy's Parent Council once children move up. Mr Scrimgeour highlighted the need for parents to be trained in the placement appeals process for PKC. Anyone wishing any further details could contact Mr Scrimgeour via Perth Academy.
REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING
No matters arising.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Gillian Rattray informed the Parent Council that as of 17/05/10 there is a balance of £1396. This has not changed, but we are starting to get money in for the Summer Fair.
OPEN DAY
JL asked for volunteers from the "wider school" for the upcoming open day on Wednesday 26th May to serve teas and coffees. Dugald Campbell then went to discuss some of the content of what was happening on the day - A number of photographs have been obtained for the open day and DC was looking for volunteers to help display them onto blue boards in a creative and artistic way on Monday 24th May & Tues 25th May. The display will be in the school gym and there will also be commemorative 75th anniversary mugs & tea towels for sale. Original RDM school log/admission books will also be on display, but there will be "controlled access" via staff with regards some of the older, more fragile books. DC said that publicity was going well for the open day with posters up and an article in The Courier. DC has also tracked down John Campbell who was the first Dux of the new school and he will be coming along to the open day.
DC has also spoken to Ian Douglas, grand nephew of Robert Douglas, who will come to the school on 27th August. DC said that classes in RDM have been working on a different topics covering the last 75 years like transport, famous Scots etc. DC said that there will A5 "memory sheets" available at the open day to collect people’s memories of RDM and that a leaflet has been produced to be handed out on the open day.
DC said that there was to be no guided tours by individual pupils and that the children would be staying in their classrooms on the day due to safety reasons and all exit doors would be staffed. People would sign in to the school but due to logistics they would not sign out. DC said that Mr Burns (teacher) would be teaching a class in a "1935" style to show what times were like then. JL asked would mugs & mementos be ready in time for open day. DC said yes, 504 mugs would be available. JL suggested that she thought tea towels would have been sold by now. DC was still thinking of the logistics of sending them to homes. DC clarified costs of tea towels & mugs as being £3.50 each or 2 for £6. JL asked who would collect the money for mementos. DC suggested a member of the Parent Council would pick up monies daily similar to how the disco money is handled. JL insisted that any order form has to be accurately completed to track the sales of mementos so that there was no "over the counter" sales. DC said he would discuss with staff re: money handling.
STAFFING & CLASSES
DC said that the school was in the process of organising class sizes for the new term, there is to be a total 64 primary one pupils over 3 classes. DC confirmed that Mrs Ponder is retiring. DC announced that there are 3 vacancies that need to be filled and is looking at a ratio of 2 permanent / 1 probationer. DC announced that school staffing for the forthcoming year would be the same as this year. DC was "making good progress" with staffing and would let the Parent Council know as soon as possible of any developments.
SCHOOL GATE & GROUNDS
DC confirmed that the work on the new entrance and paths has been completed and wished to acknowledge the efforts of Hamish Bell, who has been encouraging the progress. Cllr Simpson announced that there was to be a meeting on Friday 21st to discuss the late delivery of this project and HB would try to attend on behalf of the PC. JL enquired about the bare strip of grass that is cordoned off at the front of the school as there are space requirements for the Summer Fair. DC answered that the bare patch has been seeded with grass seed and it would require to be left alone to grow. JL enquired about the effect this would have on the area required for sports day. DC said that the running track would be reduced in size to accommodate. DC went on to say that the ultimate plan is for the "big gate" to cease to be used as a parental pick up and there would be information on that in a forthcoming newsletter. Suzanne Westwood suggested that there was a safety concern over the new exits on Stormont road as there was no barrier and that kids exited straight onto parked cars and also showed concern for the lollipop man who has to manage the crossing. DC said planners would be contacted regards new lines, barriers etc.
HB asked about the Eco Groups plans to create "raised (plant) beds" within the grounds and who would maintain them over the summer holidays and over the winter holidays. Fiona Whittet advised that the raised beds would be sited beside each of the paths and that each "little garden" would be an individual class’ responsibility for the whole year, however admitted that Summer Holidays could potentially be a problem. FW also said the school would need to inform the council regarding the raised beds with regards the grass cutting.
FAIR
JL announced and presented a draft of a souvenir programme created by Jacky Moss for the Summer Fair, which is to be given away free and used as a timetable of events for the day. 1000 copies are to be produced with the aim of bag stuffing 500 pre-fair and issuing 500 on the day. SW said that money from stallholders had started to come in and that there was to be 19 "business" stalls and 16 "committee" run stalls as well as two bouncy castles, face painting & hair braiding, British military fitness assault course from 2pm until 3pm and a BBQ organised by The Maltings . Morven Withers confirmed that there was to be a vintage bus (courtesy of Stagecoach) which would offer free rides (with buckets for donations) around Scone for the duration of the event (1pm – 4.45pm) when it would return to Mill Street, Perth. MW also confirmed the presence of a fire engine and hopefully a police van on the day. FW asked what was happening with teas & coffees for the fair. JL said that the intention was to use the dining room. (Separate Summer Fair meeting held after Parent Council meeting)
AOB
John Flood wanted to discuss safety concerns of other parents regarding the Skate ramp in the park and the suggestion of the removal of the structure due to safety fears (LS not present at this time). Parent Council agreed that it would like to see a "larger strategy" for the park with better equipment like the park at Coupar Angus. However PC also felt any decision should take account of the feelings of those who had fundraised for the structure in the first place. MW announced the opportunity of an Aviva promotion to win £10000 for the school or a sports personality to coach for the day. MW will send FW details. JL said that the netball coaches had asked the Parent Council for a donation (£100 approx) to go towards new equipment, bibs, balls etc. FW said that the Tesco tokens may be an option with regard the netball equipment and would look into it. Meeting Closed at 8.15pm Next Meeting: AGM Monday 21st June at 7pm in RDMS Informal School Fair Meeting to be held: Minute written by John Flood amended by Julie Livingstone.
MEETING CLOSED 8.15pm
NEXT MEETING: AGM Monday 21st June at 7pm in RDMS.
Minutes taken by John Flood
Amended by Julie Livingstone |