School Council Report

The following School Council report details the Monday 9 August meeting.

2022 Curriculum Days

Council approved the following curriculum/student-free days for next year:

School Council looked at the Mid-Year Review of the Annual Implementation Plan and noted:

Catch-up and extension for students has been a priority with the relatively new Tutoring and Student Excellence programs progressing well.
A whole school assessment schedule has been created and reviewed at a leadership level.
There is a whole school focus on spelling. The Year 1 & 2 classes are trialling the ‘Words Their Way’ spelling program.
Wellbeing – consideration of a schoolwide positive support behaviour model. The model involves using positive support when talking about behaviours and being proactive with preventing triggers.
Connectedness/community – a focus on encouraging a sense of belonging, with both campuses being part of the school.

The Year 5 camp, planned for 8 – 10 September, was approved for go-ahead by the council.

Council acknowledged the resignations of Bronwyn Wolfgang (current SC President) and Elise Coughlin, effective as of this meeting.

A PLUS Schoolwear, the new school uniform supplier, is in place and operating successfully.
FPS will be running five Foundation classes in 2022.

Policy Committee:

The following three policies have been reviewed and updated: Complaints Policy, Digital Learning Policy and Volunteers Policy.

Buildings and Grounds Committee:

The proposal to upgrade the black steel FPS gate to make is unclimbable includes: 40cm added to the top of the existing fence structure, additional powder coated steel on the inside of the design.
The solar panels on the roof of the BER have been installed and B&G are waiting for an inspection by Jemena. Once this system is live, FPS will become a carbon neutral school.
An additional groundskeeper has been approved.
There are plans for a new water fountain installed near the oval.
The committee is investigating shade options for the Fig Tree Courtyard. This will include the pursuit of a SunSmart grant.

Finance Committee:

FPS raised approximately $10K from the recent Trivia Night event.
As of the end of June, the school had collected 73% of essential fees (compared to 68% in 2020 and 83% in 2019).
As of 2022, excursion fees will be charged on an individual, itemised basis rather than one annual fee.
Also in 2022, essential education items will be broken down to show where portions of the fees are being applied. This will give families greater transparency as to where their school fees go and is a directive from the Department of Education.

~ Reagan Richards, FPS School Councillor