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Latest NewsDisplaying posts 1 - 3 of 3 MINUTES OF LANGHOLM ACADEMY PARENT COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY 31st October 2011 Present: Emma Neil (Head Teacher) Anthony Lane(Chair) Archie Hyslop (Secretary) Jacqui Graham (Treasurer) Christine Calvert (Asst. Treasurer) Shirley Ritchie, Jayne Houldey, Margo Henry, Bronwyn McCall, Lara Porter, Lynda Maudlin, Linda Paisley, Teresa Deeson, Eira Paisley, Denise McEwan, Cllr. Denis Male Apologies: Diane Hay, Maureen Smyth, Beverley Steele Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved and can now go on the web. Matters arising – There is still concern about the treatment of the road at Auchenrivock during winter. Cllr Male will investigate policy on gritting this section of road. The issue of the bus stopping at the east end of Rowanburn had been subject to a risk assessment. One member of the PC asked if written evidence has been obtained. The subject of timber wagons going at excessive speed through the village was reported. Denis Male suggested that a letter should be written to Alastair Speedie requesting that our concerns be brought to the attention of the Timber Transport Forum. It was reported that the Christmas Calendar will not be completed in time for Christmas. There had been positive feedback from the Bring a Parent to School day. One parent regretted that there had not been an S1 residential trip and was unhappy with the trip to Dynamic Earth as their child had been there previously. Election of Office Bearers – Chair – Anthony Lane nominated by Eira Paisley seconded Jacqui Graham Deputy Chair – Christine Calvert nominated by Anthony Lane seconded Eira Paisley Secretary – Archie Hyslop nominated by Christine Calvert seconded Jacqui Graham Treasurer – Jacqui Graham nominated by Anthony Lane seconded Archie Hyslop Asst Treasurer – Christine Calvert nominated by Anthony Lane seconded Margo Henry Anthony distributed leaflets entitled Parents as Partners containing information for Parent Council members and also included a sheet dated 9th May 2011 The Role of the Parent Council. School Report – Ms Neil distributed a copy of her report. It included Pupil numbers, Staffing and Finance, Impact of Teacher Refresh, Tracking and Monitoring Reports, Toilets in Middle Corridor, Wireless ICT, Religious Observance, Autism/Aspergers Awareness Day & Christmas Dance and School Show. Staff has been given the opportunity to receive the flu jab. Homework Policy - This was discussed in detail and several parents expressed concern that homework is not being marked. Also some pupils did not complete their homework which had a negative effect on the pupils who did. It was agreed that a habit forming ethos would stand them in good stead for future studies. It was agreed that some form of information would be available to parents to check what and when homework was due. AOCB – Cllr Male hopes to report back to the next PC of the budget implications of the latest round of cuts to funding. Date of next meeting - Monday 28th November 7pm Thursday 2nd June, 2011 YOUR PARENT COUNCIL Office Bearers Mr A Lane - Chairperson Mr A Hyslop - Secretary Mrs J Graham - Treasurer Mrs C Calvert - Assistant Treasurer Parent Members Mrs M Henry Mrs M Smyth Mrs B Steele Mrs S Ritchie If you wish to contact the Parent Council with any issues please email langacadpc@hotmail.co.uk Wednesday 12th September, 2007 Below is the Draft Constitution for Langholm Academy Parent Council. Your son or daughter will be issued with a form to enable you to indicate whether or not you agree or disagree with the general principles outlined below. Those parents who do not have access to the Internet will be given a paper copy of the Constitution. I require to submit a return to Dumfries and Galloway Council and, therefore, can I ask that you please return this form by Friday 21st September. An email to langholmac@alk.dumgal.org.uk indicating your agreement (or not, as the case may be) would also suffice. I am carrying out this exercise in this way because of the substantial savings it will make to our photocopying and postage charges. Many thanks for your co-operation. Emma Neil Head Teacher LANGHOLM ACADEMY PARENT COUNCIL CONSTITUTION This is the constitution for Langholm Academy Parent Council. The objectives of the Parent Council are: • To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents • To promote partnership between the school, its pupils and all its parents • To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils • To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils. The membership will be a minimum of 5 parents of children attending the school. The maximum size is 15, two thirds of which should be parents of children attending the school. The Parent Council will be selected for a minimum period of 1 year and a maximum period of 3 years after which members may put themselves forward for re-selection if they wish, as long as they still have a child attending the school. Parent representatives on the Parent Council will be taken from nominations put forward at an Open Meeting for all eligible parents. Nominations must be seconded and, in the event of the number of nominations exceeding the number of places set out in the constitution a ballot involving all parents will be taken. Should this be the case, parents will have 2 weeks to select their representatives. The Parent Council may co-opt up to 5 members, within the upper limit of 15, to assist it with carrying out its functions. Co-opted members will be invited to serve for a period of 1 – 3 years, after which time the Parent Council will review and consider requirements for co-opted membership. If the Parent Council chooses to set up sub groups, they should each involve at least one member of the Parent Council. Other members of the parent forum and school community may be co-opted to sub groups. Sub groups will last as long as required to carry out their tasks. Membership should be reviewed annually. The Parent Council members on the sub group will be responsible for liaison with the Parent Council. The Chair and other office bearers of the Council will be agreed by the Parent Council members immediately following its formation. This process will be repeated on an annual basis. The Parent Council will be chaired by a parent of a child attending Langholm Academy. If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting. The Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for Langholm Academy and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities on behalf of the parents. If 30 or 33% (whichever is the lesser) members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues falling within the Council’s remit, the Parent Council shall arrange this. The Parent Council shall give all members of the Forum at least 2 weeks notice of the meeting and, at the same time, circulate notice of the matter, or matters, to be discussed at the meeting. The annual meeting will be held in autumn of each year. A notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least 2 weeks in advance. The meeting will include: • A report on the work of the Parent Council and its committee(s) • Selection of the new Parent Council • Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise • Approval of the accounts and appointment of the auditor The Parent Council will meet at least once in every school term. Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. Any 5 members or a third of the membership (whichever is the lower) of the Parent Council can request that an additional meeting be held, and all members of the Parent Council will be given at least one week’s notice of date, time and place of the meeting. Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Langholm Academy and to all teachers at the school. Copies will be available from the Secretary of the Parent Council/Clerk to the Parent Council and from the school office. Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open to the public, unless the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis. In such circumstance, only members of the Parent Council, the Head Teacher, or his/her representative, and anyone specifically invited to the meeting such as the Director of Education and Community Services can attend. The Treasurer will open a bank or building society account in the name of the Parent Council for all Parent Council funds. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and one other Parent Council member. The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure, and will provide a summary of this for each Parent Council meeting and a full account for the Annual Meeting. The Parent Council accounts will be audited by the auditor appointed at the previous Annual Meeting. The Parent Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the Parent Council. The Parent Council may change its constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal. Should the Parent Council cease to exist, any remaining funds will be passed to the education authority to be used for the benefit of the school (or schools in the case of joint councils). If the school is closing or amalgamating the funds will be passed to the schools which pupils will be attending. |