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School Council

School Council News from the meeting held 20th February 2018

Our SCHOOL COUNCIL for 2017/18

School Council meetings will be held on Tuesday in Week 3 of each month.

School Council President: Todd Sprague

School Council Vice President: Julie Buick

School Council Treasurer: Anna-Lisa Tewma     

School Council Executive Officer   Kerrie Heenan

School Council members: Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios, Michael Benfari, Jessica Heatley, Theodore Kiosses, Fenella Russell, Annette Spence, Derek Whiteside (resigned)

 

SUB COMMITTEES FOR 2017/18

Sub Committee meetings will be held in Week 1 of each month.

Education

Convenor: Chris Beare

Members: Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios, Michael Benfari, Julie Buick, Maria Parks, Fenella Russell, Todd Sprague, Warren Tofts

 

Finance

Convenor: Anna-Lisa Tewma

Members: Chris Beare, Kerrie Heenan, Theodore Kiosses, Marion Small, Ida Stella

 

Buildings & Grounds and OHS

Convenor:  Bill Panas -  B&G,  Fiona Walker - OHS

Members: Theodore Kiosses, David Tewma, Derek Whiteside - together with the 12 members of the OHS subcommittee

 

Fundraising

Convenor: Annette Spence

Members: Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios (if available), Liam Brooke, Josie Benfari, Julie Buick (helper), Samantha Egan, Connie Ellul, Jessica Heatley, Chris Kilmartin, Nicole Kiosses, Theodore Kiosses (if available), Belinda Pattison, Jodie Reid, Fenella Russell, Natalie Serra, Helen Skendaris, Jessie Stengewis

Reports to School Council

Principal’s Report – Kerrie Heenan

School Council Nominations

For 2018, it has been declared that Maria Parks has been nominated as the DET representative and Theodore Kiosses has been nominated as the Parent representative.  Nominations for two vacant parent representatives will be reopened for one more week, however time has now closed for nominations for a School Council election.  Julie Buick, as outgoing school councillor, has been asked to consider filling in for Derek Whiteside in a one year vacancy for 2018.

Enrolment

Current enrolment is around 805.  The start of the year has been incredibly smooth, and this year will be exciting.  Staff are building on programs and experience from previous years.  Chris Beare is now at Early Years and Bill Panas at Middle Years as campus principals. Maria Parks and Marcus Abney-Hastings are acting Assistant Principals.  Maria is at Little Learners Childcare tonight, conducting a presentation about our school.  Playgroup has start, and we have our first Prep enrolment for 2019 for the Prep discovery program.

The Year 5s have settled year.  The introduction of the advocate system for the Year 7, 8, 9 has been going to very well, with a change from the home groups, everyone has somebody that will stick up for the.

The Year 6’s at a meeting have decided on their leadership roles, backstage roles, peer support roles, sporting crew etc.

Year 7’s office teachers have decided to donate their time at lunchtime or before school for student to use their Values cards for extra time with a teacher.

Facilities

Negotiation to change the location of the South Morang Scouts to use Early Years campus facilities as the Whittlesea Pacers Basketball are using Middle Years gym for training 5 times a week.  The Bharathi Academy are using classrooms on Sunday to run Tamil language classes.  The South Morang Juniors Football club are using the oval for training.

Staffing

We welcome Phillip Alcock to the Year 3 team.  ES staff have changed, Janine is now at Early Years, with Amanda starting tomorrow in a part time position from 10:30 to 2:30.  At Middle Years Claudia is full time, Belinda is in the office and Brooke is working with us on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays.  Pramod Kanneganti is in the IT position, replacing Jason Borg.  Matthew Hoyne is starting as the guitar teacher for one day a week.  Jemma Craig will be employed as a dance instructor.  Tanya and her husband welcomed a baby girl last Sunday.  Duong has not had her baby yet.

Capital Works Project

For the Middle Years oval refurbishment, Tiger Turf have drafted 3 options with various figures, which must go to a management consultant and then onto tender.  The development has to be authentic in measurement to be of benefit:

Option 1          soccer pitch – for seniors

Option 2          full size soccer pitch

Option 3          size of the current oval, with a soccer pitch included.

School Council is required to seek permission from the Victorian School Building Authority to plan and implement a capital works project on our school site to create a safe oval/playing space which encourages physical activity.  The facility will provide year round use of what is currently barren and uninviting areas unsuitable for any safe school project.  This intent of this project is to create a synthetic sporting facility that will provide an area for all students to partake in physical activities.  The scope of the project involves the preparation and installation of an area  of 10,000 square metres with an approx. cost of $1.2 million, which the school has as available funds, and will not be seeking any funds from the Department of Education.

Community

We need parents in our school community that access the school’s Facebook page or the South Morang Community page, to encourage people to come direct to the school and staff for information, so that misinformation is not spread.  The only way to make a decisions about a school for your child, is to have a visit to see our program, to learn what is offered here at The Lakes. 

Tech School

Marcus Finlay will report the latest news at a later date.

 

Education Sub-Committee Report – Chris Beare (convenor)

The 2018 Camp Program was presented for information.

  • Year 3 Camp – Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th September –Gundiwindi at Woori Yallock
  • Year 4 Camp – Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th November – Ace Hi Ranch at Cape Schank
  • Year 4/5 camp – Monday 20th to Friday 24th August – Woorabinda camp (small group only)
  • Year 6 camp – Tuesday 4th to Friday 7th September - Warrnambool
  • Year 7/8 camp – Wednesday 30th May to Friday 1st June – CYC camp at Philip Island
  • Year 9 – Capacity Building Program - 5 school days in and around the city

The following dates have been approved:

  • Curriculum Days – Friday 9th March, Monday 27th August, Friday 2nd November
  • Adjusted School Day for Parent / Teacher interviews on Tuesday 26th June
  • Student Free Day – Monday 5th November

 

Finance Sub-Committee Report – Anna-Lisa Tewma (convenor)

The financial reports for November & December 2017 and January 2018 were approved.  The Financial Commitment Summary as at 31st December 2017 wass endorsed by School Council.

 

Building & Grounds and OHS Sub-Committee Report – Bill Panas (convenor)

Painting Maintenance Program began on the holidays with upgrades to the Year 7-8 Pod, the Music, Dance and Instrumental rooms and will continue during the term 1 holiday period.  The Middle Years Gym floors cleaned and polished and ready for use at the beginning of the year.  Shade sail update- insurance report recommends that the fault lies with the installer. However, the installer/supplier says that this is an environmental issue who has therefore refused to accept liability. The matter has now escalated with the insurance company in dispute with the supplier in negotiating an outcome. School fences repairs in progress including investigating a new gate on Jardier Terrace hockey pitch area. Mobile Book Library has been set up outside the general office on the EY campus.

OH & S Meeting

Emergency Management – Planning lockdown dates for term one to be finalised.  Child Safety Standards policy implemented for the new year in the school and incorporated to Meet & Greet Day plans.

 

Fundraising Sub-Committee Report – Annette Spence (convenor)

As tabled.

Combined activities for the 2017 year $8257 including the activities specifically run by the parents which raised $6754. 

The expenditure to purchase supplies for the hamper packaging for the Easter Raffle and an Out of Uniform Day on Monday 19th March and the purchase of gift for the Mother’s Day stall was approved.

The Welcome to The Lakes Community Twilight Picnic proposed date Friday 2nd March on the Early Years campus with families bringing a picnic – this is activity is not supported by School Council given the short notice and notification of the requirements for the night.

The car boot sale, sausage sizzle, jumping castle for the night of Friday 23rd February previously approved by School Council has been cancelled.

 

Middle Years School Captains’ Report – Clayton, J., Nicolette B., Lilli F., Jordan S-C.

Hi, we are the Middle Years School Captains for 2018.We are very excited to have this opportunity to share our own personal goals and experiences.

  • Clayton – I wanted to be School Captain this year to build on my leadership skills.  I have previously gained some leadership skills when I assisted at after school sports in previous years.  I ran activities with Year 3 & 4 students and I was also a Year 4 Evans House Captain.  I also wanted to be a School Captain to be a good role model for students.  I am excited to assist students and teachers when they are in need.  I have also represented The Lakes in