PFA

Dear Robbie Mac families,

It’s only a couple of days now until the School Community Fair (Saturday 18 March) and annual Art Show (Fri 17 March, 7pm-10pm, Opening Night; Sat 18 March General Exhibition).  Please get behind both these fabulous events to ensure their success and show our support for all the work the two committees have been doing to put them on and for Robbie Mac.

Art Show information: https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/rmps-art-show-2023/.

School Community Fair information:  https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/rmps-community-fair/ or email robbiemacfair@gmail.com.

If you have cats or dogs, please make sure they are inside or secured by 9pm on Saturday in time for the fireworks.

2023 Class Reps

We are still looking for a parent or two who can take on the role of 2023 Class Rep for 6R, who has no class reps.  All other classes have at least one class rep, although we aim for two per class. The following classes have one rep: 2R, 2S and 3W.

Being a Class Rep is a rewarding role and great way to get to know your class and be involved with the school.  No prior experience is needed.  Ad hoc tasks do not take much time and many of our reps work part-time or full-time with busy family lives.  If you are interested in becoming one or have any questions, please contact Kim Jones (Class Rep Coordinator) on rmps.classreps@gmail.com.

What is the PFA?

The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) is a group of volunteers who help organise events and fundraising activities for RMPS, welcome families and bring people together from within the community.  This helps us all connect more closely with our school and to raise vital funds for school improvements.  Without volunteers, there would be no PFA.

Working in cooperation with the Principal and School Council, the PFA’s aims are to:

• contribute to the wellbeing of the school community 
• encourage the participation of all parents in the life of the school and the education of their children 
• provide opportunities for parents to get to know each other and to be informed about their child’s school 
• provide opportunities for parents to extend their understanding of school operations, and general education policy 
• contribute to proposals on school policy and other educational issues (as identified or discussed with the Principal or School Council) 
• raise funds for the benefit of the school 

As a registered association, it is a requirement that the PFA has a minimum of three office bearers, a President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The office bearers steer the PFA, report to the school, and oversee activities and PFA volunteers.  The current PFA office bearers are:

• President – vacant position
• Elizabeth (Secretary) – mother of Sarah (4D)
• Bård (Treasurer) – father of Madeleine (4D) and Aksel (FP)

PFA Registered Members

All RMPS parents and carers of children attending the school, or any other interested individual of the immediate school community, are welcome to become Registered Members of the PFA. Registered Members can:

• Receive copies of approved meeting minutes
• Vote on items/actions at meetings
• Vote to elect office bearers
• Nominate to be elected to PFA office bearer roles
• Be elected to PFA office bearer roles

All members must sign and complete the Member Registration Form annually.  After signing and submitting the form, a person becomes a Registered Member until the next Annual General Meeting.  If you would like to register or re-register as a member, please contact us via rmps.pfa@gmail.com for a copy of the registration form. 

Note that you do not have to be a member to help on events or attend meetings.

PFA Annual General Meeting (AGM)

As an association it is a requirement that the PFA hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect the office bearers for the coming year.  All office bearer positions are vacated at the AGM and open to any Registered Member to be elected to.  It is now time for our AGM.  All are welcome!

It is a requirement that the PFA has a minimum number of office bearers, a President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The roles work together to meet the PFA’s aims, help each other and volunteers, and ensure overall responsibilities and tasks are met.  Broadly the roles involve the following, although duties can be shared as needed:

• The President:  The main spokesperson for the PFA; directs PFA meetings; seeks member input; collaborates with school community; reports to meetings regarding PFA activities and any matters requiring discussion; liaises with Principal and School Council to report on PFA activities and report back to the PFA regarding their needs; oversees and guides PFA activity coordinators; organises PFA newsletter articles; prepares and presents an annual report of PFA activities for the AGM.
• The Secretary:  Provides notification of meetings; prepares and distributes meeting agendas and minutes; ensures minutes are approved by the school principal prior to distribution; manages PFA mailboxes; manages member registrations.
• The Treasurer:  Liaises with RMPS Business Manager and admin staff about collection and handling of monies and to ensure accurate maintenance of the Association’s financial records; prepares and presents written Treasurer report for PFA meetings; guides office bearers and PFA volunteers on budgets and finance related matters; prepares and presents an annual financial statement for the AGM.

The PFA office bearer roles are a great way to get to know your school and community better and help shape events and fundraisers held throughout the year.  It is also a good way to utilise and develop your capabilities, knowledge and experience while helping Robbie Mac.  New officer bearers will be given a handover and help from the previous office bearers and school – you will not be on your own.

Office bearers are elected by Registered Members attending the meeting.  So, if you want to vote, make sure you are registered and that you attend the AGM. Note: If you are a current member, your membership will end at the AGM unless you re-register prior to or at the AGM.

Any Registered Member can put their hand up or nominate for an office bearer role.  Nominees must attend the AGM or have indicated their intention to nominate in writing to the current PFA office bearers prior to the meeting.  So, if you want to take on an office bearer role, make sure you are registered and let us know your intention.

The election will be independently overseen by Peter Watson, RMPS Principal.

The AGM is being held with the goal to fill the office bearer roles and to get the next PFA year underway; however, the current office bearers, Elizabeth and Bård, are providing notice that if the three mandatory roles are not filled at the AGM, we are proposing to voluntarily dissolve the PFA as we will consider it no longer sustainable. If this occurs, the proposed dissolution of the PFA will be discussed at the AGM and voted on by any attending members. If the PFA ends, the school will take up responsibility for any events and/or fundraisers to be held for RMPS while still seeking volunteer assistance.

If you're passionate about your school and would like to see the Robbie Mac PFA continue, then get involved!

Please let us know (1) if you would like to be a Registered Member for this coming year, (2) would like to talk to us about the roles and/or (3) if you would like to nominate for the role of President, Secretary or Treasurer.  Contact us via rmps.pfa@gmail.com for a copy of the registration form and/or nomination form.

We hope to see you at the AGM, Art Show and RMPS Community Fair!

The PFA Team