Hilltop Parent Council Meeting Minutes - Piota
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Hilltop Parent Council
Meeting Minutes
Date: 22/4/21
Attending: Mrs Donnelly - Hilltop Head Teacher, Laura McGhee – Depute Head Teacher, Mrs
Dignall – Depute Head Teacher, Mrs Sidlo – Principal Teacher, Bev McGuckin – Secretary,
Jonathan Brown - Chairperson, Gary Walker – Vice Chairperson, Elizabeth Forrester – Fund
Raising Lead, Carol Fleming, Donna Cameron, Frances Campbell - Nursery, Lauren
Meechan, Louise Sheen and Jennifer Galloway
Apologies:
Sandra Miller, Ashley Carson, Lyndsay Cowan, Andrea Hamilton and Lynn Cameron
The virtual meeting held on Webex was opened by our Chairperson Jonathan Brown and
everyone was welcomed to Hilltop Parent Council meeting. Copies of the mins from previous
meeting in Novem 2020 were approved and had been previously emailed to all members.
Apologies were entered as noted above.
1 Jonathan Brown - Chairperson
Jonathan started by saying hopefully this will be one of the last virtual meetings we
need to have. In the future we plan to have them face to face again once the Covid
Lockdown precautions are lifted. JB started by giving a short summary of activities
that the Parent Council (PC) have been taking part in over the last few months.
Christmas - 12ft Christmas tree supplied by Brucefield Christmas Trees and
sponsored again by Jewel Homes. Again we were very lucky to have this donated
and a big thanks was made to the companies.
Christmas online Panto purchased and shared with the pupils in Dec 20.
Activity Bags, late idea to replace the Christmas Fayre - raised over £1000 profit.
Ipad Covers – PC purchased 30 of these for the schools ipads, which was required to
support Home Learning but also helps with the demand of covers in school
Outdoor/Wet Suits - after the last meeting we committed to purchasing some. After
failed order attempts with TTS Group, we sourced and purchased 10 from Lidl to
support
Home Schooling in 2021 - Great communication channels maintained with JB & TD-
HT, then back with the PC group.
Random Act of Kindness Hampers - supported by Parent Council (items were
donated and not taken from funds)
Attendance at the Virtual Burns Supper – GW and JB attended the event which was
really great!Easter Panto - purchased and shared now with the school for kids to watch
Mother Day Bracelets - late fundraising idea which raised money for PC – amount
outlined in the appendix financial in the minutes. Further stock now stored for
future sales
Break the Rules Day - £347 raised and was really great to see everyone getting
involved and was lots of fun – Money not showing yet as School will bank this for us
and provide us with a Cheque
Giveaways on Social Media - Sweet Boxes around Mother's Day
Easter Eggs - we purchased an Easter Egg for each pupil which were branded from
the Parent Council
Easter Egg Hunt - we conducted a local Easter Egg Hunt via our Social Media
channels
1st Payment from Easy Fundraising received
2 Tina Donnelly - Head Teacher
Children returned fully and settled in well. Enjoying being back. Shielding staff and
children back next week. Spoke with JB several times over the lockdown period and
kept each other up to date. Hoping visitors will be allowed back into school soon.
Indoor activities such as PE we will need to await further guidance. See Covid
review by First Minister on 26/4/21.
Inductions for new P1 and P7 leaver pupils has began . We will hear from Miss
McGhee, Mrs DIgnall and Nursery further on this. We are extremely grateful for all
the help and generosity of parents over last few months. Especially the outdoor
equipment and furniture we have received. Frances will talk more on this.
Outdoor activities held in April went well Den building, danceathon and archery.
Great fundraising. We also had mindfulness activities to help support our pupils
mental health. We had design a worry monster competition and mental health
focus. Competition results soon. Many Thanks to Sophie Duncan (Probationer), Mr
Day and Jordan Wark , active schools co-ordinator who have been lots of help and
great organisers of these events.
The litter outside and around the school has become an issue – with possible
community and PC involvement this could be addressed and a clean up organised.
The wind is an issue and gathers litter in grounds. Needs big clean up. Could be an
Annual event. Volunteers from PC would be greatly appreciated to help with this.
Any clean up should comply with covid restrictions.
P7 has had very little info put out.Apologies. Plans not finalised due to covid
restrictions. Caldervale have advised 15 June 21 for a transition full day visit.
Other schools we will be in touch about. Virtual tour visit have been arranged for
other schools.
~ Ties purchased – contribution from PC similar to 2020 would be appreciated.
Scotcrest have these in stock ready for us this year.
~ A Leavers event has been discussed – presentation will be scaled down or up
depending on situation/status of lockdown nearer the time. May be smaller groups.
Hoping to hear more from government. Hard to say at present. Dates discussed for
this are Mon 21 June or Tue 22 June 21.
~ Hoodies similar to last year for P7 leavers would be £10 or £11 if subsidised by PC
similar to 2020. There is a week to 10 days quick turnaround for them.~ As this year’s P7 have had a real lack of opportunity we would like to talk to them
about what they would like – outside summer festival perhaps?
Range of Children’s ideas. Fundraise for themselves and run and organise this
within p7. Eg. Second last day of school. Archery fun, water areas etc
~ P7 Strathclyde Park 2 Day Adventure Event – organised and monitored by NLC
2 day trip for p7 outdoor as part of their education programme. Split classes up into
2 groups due to size and the first group is 1-2 June and then next group are 3-4 June.
Something in place of previous years Kilbowie trips.
Activities will be – canoeing, archery, den building etc. Cost is £30 bus included and
times will be 9-3 pm both days. The children will be returned to school for home
time. This is the first time this event is happening.
To help showcase their learning links will be sent home to parents. This will allow
parents to see what they working on in school. Assemblies continued virtually
through lockdown. Now done on webex in the classes in smaller groups.
Pe indoors soon but still outside at present. Even if wet still outside for now. Please
come dressed appropriately. Heath week was very successful – demonstrating
unity of whole school, getting outdoors and the dancing was good fun.
Overwhelmed by the money raised from the raffles and danceathon and the total is
now well over 3K.
School playground green area is fenced of. The Janitor has worked hard and been
very keen and handy. We bought the wood and he built fence and mud kitchen.
Thanks for donations from parents. Outdoor clothing has been purchased. Lots of
sizes for whole school. Pe equip and trolleys have been purchased too. Decathlon
supplied Archery sets which saved a lot of money. With School fund money and PC
funds we can shop anywhere. Whereas with School budget we cant and are stuck
to the more expensive Suppliers list from NLC.
Uniform – as always has been a high standard in school. Aware of poverty proofing
and this means it does not need to be branded uniform. On PE days children should
come in jog/casual wear. Encourage going forward no need for branded items.
Cheap and cheerful from local retailers like Asda and Tesco. Uniform bank locally
that can help families in need. Or we are open to ideas. Should we have a School
uniform rail – and people to come in and have a look. Or are they better going to a
local uniform bank? Would parents be embarrassed? Up for discussion.
It was agreed the school would hold a small stock but parents should donate their
bigger donations to the Uniform bank or via Tesco.
Elections days – Thurs 6 May 21 is an Inservice day. Yesterday we were contacted
by Catrina Folly to advise we have been selected for Thurs 13 May also. Not great
notice. Picked the bigger schools. School will be closed to children.
Family learning sessions – restrictions due to Covid mean they cannot happen.
Community Learning and Development (CLD) has been pulled back. Access thru
request for assistance can still be done for certain families if felt needed. No
allocated worker to school at present.
3 Frances Campbell – Nursery (Outdoor Areas) FC
Main focus - outside as a barrier to children, some overweight, some greater need
for outdoors these days, technology taking over this generation – ideas to removethem. How do we make it happen and go forward? We need volunteers and help to
get started.
School grounds not being signed off has held us up, but it has now. Research of it all
– realising ambition – creating spaces for children to go to. Children have many
different interests and likes when it comes to outside play eg. water, mud
Follow the children’s leads – good scope to follow curriculum without realising.
Inservice training being done with staff to get ideas and support with this.
Currently lots of loose parts attained and donated. Small hut acquired. Kids now
want to go outdoors. Interested and engaged while reducing challenging
behaviour. We have pallets, logs, stumps, tyres, etc. One step at a time. Thinking
of an orchard 3 or 4 trees. Identify areas for things like and allotment. Woodland
area for butterflies, bees, picnic areas. Den area. Quiet and sensory areas could be
created to. Eco friendly water system.
Caldervale School – may help to build things. Restorative justice services, shotts
prison, woodland trust etc all may be able to help. Bunting to make it adecorative
area. We need volunteers from the PC who would be interested in joining us. Split
off into groups depending on interests and talents. Eg. We need people who have
Green fingers, volunteers, den building, contacts for a container? Grants and
funding ? People who want to help take that forward. Match funding companies.
Get a group together and or virtually meeting to set priorities for this. Active
schools – may be a grant there.
GW stated he was keen to help out and Liase with school and PC on this. Container GW
sourced just need details of size required. School side needs developed. Meeting
would be great to move forward. Haulage contacts to be looked into by LMcG and
GW. GW will arrange a litter pic and gather names of people who may be interested
to help. Garden activities could be started quickly.
4 Mrs Nicola Dignall – Deputy Head Teacher - P1 transition ND
The transition programme for the nursery children into P1 has started. Lots of
children from own nursery joining our P1. NLC have been using the “Everywhere
Bear” book by Julia Donaldson to help the transition and is used for all nursery
transitions throughout NLC. Staff go out to visit and meet all the children next week.
All outdoors – covid safe.
~ Induction dates are for AM kids are 1-2 June 21 at 1.30 pm and visits may be inside
or out but will know nearer time.
~ PM visits are 8 – 9 June 21. We want parents to be able to see school but will be
guided by restrictions. A tour from management team is planned for 14 June 21.
Main and LCSC.
Thinglink – has been used a lot during lockdown. Virtual tour being done on this.
Shows classes and staff for parents to see the school virtually.
The school would like the PC to be involved in the induction and come and speak to
the parents about the activities of the PC. Current P1 should be involved too and
are making vids for the new children. Transition is so important.
Twitter page re-opening for new P1 parents and updates and news will be posted
here for parents and carers.
5 Lizzie Forrester - Fundraising Team Update
~ First we discussed if we should apply for Charity status or stay as a PC group. It
was decided to remain as a group with a plan to review this again in August 21.~ School lottery – not going ahead with this but decided to go for a gambling licence
instead.
~ Mothers day was a success so doing fathers day items for sale soon too
~ Guess the snack – event being planned
~ A coming out of lockdown fun day in school hours has been suggested. Hoops,
bouncy castle, soak the parent etc. Buy a ticket, pre book sessions – need more
clarity on this. More discussion required here
On hold – next few weeks we can discuss.
6 Agenda Points Addressed by Jonathan JB
1. Litter
Update - wrote to Michael Boyle Counsellor re fly tipping
NLC don’t own the land near the school so won’t go near it to clean it. Fly
tipping been done recently. NLC won’t do anything about it. School will
arrange a clean up. Who does own it? Litter pick for school will be organised GW
by GW. Batch of equipment to help pick provided from council in past.
Jennifer to get contact for that for council to provide equipment. Bin bags
could be put in the refuse area in the service yard. Can be gradually
collected from there.
2. Playground working group
GW leading this. If interested in supporting the work please let GW know.
Anything after 3pm let Mrs Donnelly know for opening gates. Weekends
would need to be notified in advance. Put something on group chat for
volunteers.
3. Uniform bank
Local collection points in tesco – Airdie and Coatbridge Uniform Bank. Bulk
of donations to go to clothing bank. School can put out a plea when needing
things. Motion carried.
4. P7 and P1 plans
Agree on same support as last year Ties and % toward the hoodies £9 last
year - overall £600. Continue to support it. Majority wish to support ties
and hoodies. Motion carried.
5. Charity Status
Group decision was not pursuing this at present and discuss again Aug 21.
6. Non Digital Information for Parents - no info for parents if your not online.
Disappointing for parents who want to get involved but not getting the info.
Emails or texts are fine. But Twitter and school app not used by all parents.
Eg easter eggs example – message not communicated well. Felt excluded.
Communication an issue. Text is a cost but quickest and easiest method to
get message out fast. Apologies given. Ask people how they would want to
be communicated. Email is less cost but not as fast and needs updated.
Action taken to ensure that all ‘key’ messages will be sent across via Text
Message to any PC member not on the WhatsApp group. Lizzie providing
this in the short term to Jennifer.
7. Teams Training for CLD to offer to parent in the future could be an idea.
7 AOB
~ Jennifer G asked if there would be a subsidy for the Strathclyde park trip for families
who may not be able to afford the £30 fee. TD confirmed that the school would be
able to accommodate any families needing help with this.~ Daily mile – at present this is not being done but will be looked into for the coming
weeks
~ Can we repair the broken ipads in the school any cheaper than we currently pay?
No as it nulls the guarantee if not approved repairer. However more covers and TD
screen guards donated from the PC would help keep them in good condition. The
school has to let PC know how many more would help.
8 Next Meeting
Planned for Thurs 20/5/21 at 18.30
Location to be confirmed nearer timeYou can also read
