School Council Update

Hello Mackellar community, 

 

It was once again back to Zoom meetings for our most recent school council meeting last week, however that did not deter us from continuing our progress across a range of sub-committees.  In particular:

 

Education sub-Committee

The Education sub-committee continued to update and refine a range of policies having updated all of the Child Safety Standards earlier in the term.  At our meeting last week, the following policies were ratified and can now be found on our school website:

  • Mandatory Reporting Policy
  • Bullying Prevention Policy
  • Duty of Care Policy

This process of policy updating will continue across all sub-committees across the rest of the year.

 

The Education sub-committee, in conjunction with the Community Engagement Committee, will shortly be surveying parents about their thoughts in relation to school camps. School camps are wonderful, but they are also very expensive, so we want to be sure we are acting in accordance with what the bulk of our parents want when planning camps for 2022 and beyond.  When you see the survey come out on Xuno, please take the time to share your thoughts.  

 

Finance & Governance sub-Committee

The Finance and Governance sub-committee  approved the rescheduling of our recently postponed curriculum day to Monday July 12 which is the first day of term three.  OSHC will be available on this day for families requiring care.  Staff on this day will be doing one of two things.  The teachers will be extending their skills in teaching mathematics with our consultant Kathy Palmer, whilst our Education Support staff will be undertaking Protective Intervention Training (PIT).  A very busy yet productive day planned for all.

 

Buildings and Grounds sub-Committee

We are currently working in conjunction with our student leaders on seeking quotes to replace the playground located just outside the windows of The Hive. To date we have had three companies come and talk with the students gaining their ideas and input. Soon they will provide designs which will be voted upon by all students prior to the quotes going to school council for discussion.  All very exciting and great to have the students providing their input.  After all it's they who will be using the equipment. I can't imagine Mr Michielin or Mr McGlade heading down the slide anytime soon!

 

The latest project by the Buildings and Grounds sub-committee has been completed, apart from some bark on garden beds.  The refurbishment of the portable building used by Department staff has been completed.  Although used by staff other than Mackellar's it is our responsibility to maintain the building which had become a bit of an eye-sore of late. But with a fresh paint, some stain on the decks and some new garden beds, the building is looking better than ever which is great from an aesthetic point of view and also appropriate for professionals using our site. 

 

Finally from our Buildings and Grounds team, you may see a team of gardeners in the yard this week as the sub-committee has arranged for the landscapers who designed the front of the school to return and give it a well needed freshen up. Over the school holidays, the section between the exit car park and the bike shed will also be landscaped making the whole school frontage very attractive to our community and neighbours. 

 

On a separate note, school council's annual public meeting will be held at our August meeting of school council on August 18 at 5:30pm in The Hive.  At this annual public meeting, the 2020 Annual Report will be discussed as well as the semester one update of our Annual Implementation Plan.  All school community members are welcome.

 

Thank you to all councillors for their input and hard work as we continue to improve our wonderful school. 

Regards, 

 

Gurpreet Thiara

School Council President