BHCS NEWSLETTER

BHCS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

The next Annual General Meeting of the Belgrave Heights Christian School Parents & Friends Association will be held in the Restaurant at BHCS on Monday, August 18 at 3.45pm.

 

Belgrave Heights Christian School is operated by an Incorporated Association consisting of eleven members (the School Council) who are appointed by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.  The School Council has the overall responsibility of governing, overseeing the affairs of, and making strategic decisions in relation to the School. The Parents & Friends Association is an auxiliary of the School Council and its members are able to nominate four parents, who are committed Christians, to be considered for appointment to the Council. 

 

The purpose of this meeting of the Parents and Friends Association is to elect four parents to be nominated for Council positions.

 

Understanding the BHCS School Council

 

How Members are Appointed

The BHCS School Council is the governing body of our school, responsible for its overall direction and ensuring it operates in line with its Christian values and legal obligations. It’s important for parents to understand how this vital group is formed.

 

Who sits on the Council?

The School Council has eleven positions. All members are appointed by a Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria’s (PCV) General Assembly, which meets annually in October.

  • Seven positions are nominated from within the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. While these nominations originate from the PCV, they are open to suitable individuals from other Christian denominations, not just Presbyterians.

  • Four positions are nominated by the BHCS Parents & Friends Association (PFA). This is where parents have a direct opportunity to be involved!

How Parents can be involved in Council Nominations

The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) plays a crucial role in nominating four of the eleven Council members. Becoming a member of the PFA is straightforward:

 

Becoming a PFA Member

You are eligible to become a PFA member if you are:

  • A committed Christian, AND

  • A parent of a BHCS student, OR

  • Someone interested in Christian education.

To become a member, simply attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM), usually held in August each year, and register with the Secretary. Once registered, you can vote on nominations for the four Council positions.

 

The PFA's Role and How to Nominate

The PFA exists to:

  • Provide opportunities for parent involvement in the school.

  • Support the Principal and staff.

  • Raise funds for the school (with School Council approval).

  • Nominate people for appointment to the School Council.

  • Make recommendations to the School Council.

At each AGM, candidates for the four Council nomination spots are put forward. You can nominate yourself or someone else by completing a nomination form, available from the school Secretary.

 

The Nomination and Appointment Process

If more than four names are put forward, PFA members will vote at the AGM. The names of the four successful candidates are then forwarded to the PCV for consideration.

 

Important Note: Being voted as a nominee by the P&F does not guarantee automatic appointment to the School Council. These nominees will be interviewed by the PCV Committee and, if deemed suitable, will then be formally appointed.

While appointments are for one-year terms, many members serve for several years, providing a stable and effective School Council for BHCS.

 

Responsibilities of School Council Members

The School Council is the governing body of BHCS. Its members are responsible for:

  • Ensuring the school operates in accordance with its Constitution and all relevant laws.

  • Overseeing all aspects of the school's governance.

  • Appointing the Principal.

  • Setting major objectives, policy frameworks, and strategies to ensure a strategic approach to the school's future.

  • Monitoring risk management and ensure compliance with legal obligations.

  • Undertaking periodic performance reviews of the school.

It is crucial to understand that Council members are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the School. This responsibility, including the implementation of policies and daily management decisions, sits solely with the Principal. 

Council members are expected to seek God's wisdom in the development of governance-level policies aimed at achieving the vision, mission, and goals of BHCS. These policies define what needs to be achieved and the broad parameters within which the school operates. The Principal and staff are responsible for how daily operations are carried out and for developing and implementing the operational policies and procedures that execute the Council's strategic vision.

To fulfill these responsibilities, members are expected to:

  • Attend 10 monthly Council meetings during the school year.

  • Have the opportunity to serve on subcommittees.

  • Undertake governance training arranged by the school.

Conflict of Interest: During meetings, if a Council member has a conflict of interest on an issue, it must be declared before discussion and recorded in the minutes. The Council will then determine if that member can participate in the discussion or vote.

 

What we look for in Council Members

We are interested in individuals who bring a diverse mix of experience, including but not limited to:

  • Finance

  • Education

  • Corporate governance

  • Risk management

  • Interpersonal skills