Return to Minutes 2004

Minutes of meeting 2 Mar 2004

PRESENT:
* Chair
+ Agenda/Minutes		 *Russell Parry, +Ian McKenzie, Diane Taylor, Alan Warne, Anne Martin, Anne Porter, Janusz Bonkowski, Beth Rooke, Paul McWilliam, Margot Minet, Chris Burrows, Mark Gibbs, Joe McSherry, Sharyn Woodhouse, Trevor McIntyre, Lynn Le Prevost, Trisha Wells
APOLOGIES: Mary-Jane Polson, Kim Dale, Steve Fraser, Corinne Haines, Chrissie Chan

Note actions highlighted in Yellow

  1. Minutes of previous meeting

    Minutes of the 3 February meeting were approved

  2. Actions from previous meeting

    Canteen staff employment
    The school has agreed to the request from the PTA to employ the canteen staff as ancillary staff. They will be paid through the hostel as other food-based staff are paid through there. The PTA thanked Trevor for that agreement.

    Joe is to organise a canteen management committee meeting (the committee was established at the February meeting and comprises Sally Cron, Marg Bennett, Russell Parry and Joe McSherry) to discuss the details. The meeting is to include Chrissie Chan who has also volunteered for that committee.

    Web site
    The meeting agreed that site needs to be better and topical, with PTA office holders names and (with their permission) photo and contact details. Ian is to pursue this.
    New parents BBQ
    Whether to hold a replacement for the cancelled event was referred to the new "PTA Promotion committee" see below.
    Celia Lashlie on 9 march
    Diane to organise Tea & coffee. May be large numbers attending.
    Literacy Mentor programme
    Alan Duff talking in school today talking to yr 9 boys. Peer reading being set up. Lexus computer programme gives lists of books in library suitable for the boys at various reading levels. Low reading age identified in some boys. School setting targets for what can be added to boys while at the school. Possible dinner with Alan Duff (arranged by PTA?) raising funds to buy books for those with low reading achievement and no books at home. It was suggested that some books be sponsored now by PTA. Trevor to advise next month of what funds are needed for a book for the boys in learning support.

  3. Correspondence

    • Cheque from CBHS - handed to treasurer for banking
    • NZ Parent Teacher Association newsletter, invoice for 2004 membership ($60) and notice of South Island seminar and AGM on 23 May. Newsletter passed around the meeting and is to be passed on to those interested in reading in detail. See also www.nzpta.org.nz
    • ‘Parent & School Today’ magazine. As above
    • Several letters with fundraising opportunities - passed on to fundraising coordinator
    • 17 February 2004 AGM minutes distributed

  4. Sub committees and membership

    Fundraising
    - Chris Burrows, Miriam van Riel, Chrissie Chan (see correspondence above)
    Finance:
    Systems needed for any enterprise run by the PTA that handles money. This committee is to meet regularly with uniform & canteen coordinators.

    Russell Parry - coordinator, Joe McSherry, Janusz Bonkowski, Margot Minet, Sharon Woodhouse.

    Canteen
    Sally Cron, Marg Bennett, Russell Parry, Joe McSherry & Chrissie Chan
    Catering (events)
    Kim Dale, Joe McSherry
    Uniform liaison
    - Anne Porter (The Uniform Shop or "Sharing Shed" is operated voluntarily by Margaret Lavery, Rosalind Simmonds and assistants)
    PTA promotion
    (Social & networking)
    Chris Burrows coordinator (see earlier note about cancelled new parent barbeque)
    Maintenance
    (organising renovation day)
    Mark Robinson suggested as coordinator if he is available, Chris Burrows to contact Mark to enquire.
    Health & safety
    - canteen & event safety
    Mark Gibbs coordinator

  5. Reports

    Headmaster:
    Yr 11 curriculum evening well attended. Others less so, but very positive feedback.

    Swimming sports, competitors only this year due to logistics. Drop in numbers able to swim across all schools. Athletics was compulsory. 4 house system now in operation. House colours are well supported by the boys. Houses will have names - perhaps after old boys. School exchanges have taken place with Auckland, Westfield and Christ’s.

    Celia's report on 25 schools just in. She is doing report just on CBHS as well because we were late joining the programme. Don Brash visits next Monday. Trevor to talk to him about Celia. Bill English here next Friday. American Ambassador to present awards at scholars assembly. Roy sharp, vice Chancellor from University here next week, building links with such a close university is important. Principles from other schools visiting - Burnside etc. Yr 10 camps held, camping and lots of other challenging activities. Interest from The Press and good feedback from parents resulting in pg 2 photo. Building: Caldwell and 3 classrooms (desperately needed). Need more funding from Ministry, meeting again on Thursday. Canteen access planning done recently, large numbers use the canteen. Input from Canteen staff invited.

    Boys’ work day on 19th March - funds to pool heating and cover. This will encourage better usage and deal with drop in swimming skills.

    Board of Trustees
    With Trustees elections this month, the Board has asked the PTA to suggest the information that prospective trustees could supply to assist parents in making an informed selection. The following was suggested:
    • Related experience
    • links with the school
    • views on boys’ education
    • past involvement in the school
    • "why I would like to be a Board member".
    • Photograph
    • Limit on number of words used, but not much agreement at the meeting on the number. Ideas ranged from less than 150 words to as many as 250 words.
    Treasurer:
    Corrinne & Janusz to meet to handover treasurer’s responsibility, cheque books and spreadsheet.
    Hostel
    Diane advised that there is a 26 March yr 9 parents evening. Mervin Gilooly (Chef) has been unwell.
    Te Kura Trust.
    Russell advised that the last trust meeting was held in November (note that the last report to the PTA was at the October 2003 meeting).

  6. New business:

    Wish list
    Trevor is to forward the annual school request to the PTA for funding to Ian so that it can be circulated with these minutes.
    Note that the following procedure was agreed last year:
    Expenditure of PTA Funds:
    1 April 2003
    When the wish list is available the treasurer is to prepare a report indicating the PTA balance and expected income and expenditure for the year so that this information can be assessed along with the request for funding.

    2 September 2003
    PTA to make recommendations on expenditure to Headmaster by October each year. Whole school expenditure can then be considered by Board of Trustees and request/discussion on use of PTA funds held at PTA December meeting. PTA treasurer could attend Board Finance Committee meeting.

    7 October
    Good Liaison needed on requests for funds so that there are no surprises to a new PTA early each year.

    And the following suggestions were made during 2003:
    Lockers ($2000 at April 2003 meeting)
    Drinking fountains
    Fridge magnets with school contact numbers
    Sponsoring "Living with Teenagers" pamphlet ($1 each) to all yr 9 families
    Programme preparing yr 13 for going flatting/university/polytechnic, leases, student loans, enrolling
    Review of the PTA rules
    Ian McKenzie, Mark Gibbs, Margot Minet, Beth Rook and Russell Parry are to meet to discuss the rules and make a recommendation to the next meeting. Ian to arrange

Next meeting:6 April, 7.30pm in the Staff Room
- special general meeting to discuss the rules. Normal PTA business will follow the special meeting.
Distribution:PTA members & web page - http://www.cbhs.school.nz/family/pta/