The full minutes are circulated via the school’s portal to all parents and carers, including a full list of attendees and actions. If you would like to attend future Parent Council meetings or contact the Merrylee Parent Council, please do so using the contact form on this webpage.
Dawn, Parent Council Chair welcomed everyone and the new parent council officer bearers introduced themselves
Minutes from the AGM on 9th September were proposed by Clare and seconded by Nairn
Actions from AGM minutes of 9th September
Reading School Accreditation in progress
Information on the Asda Rewards Cashpot for schools scheme, running until the end of November was shared throughout the parent / carer community, as a passive way of raising money for the school if shopping in Asda.
School vandalism
This was raised only as outstanding from previous meetings.
No major incidents had been reported recently and so it was agreed that the PC will continue to monitor this with the school and if it becomes an issue an action plan would be priori1sed at a future meeting.
Headteacher Update
There are now PA and PC tabs within the Parental Involvement section of the school website and key information will be uploaded here.
The Standards and Quality Report for 2023/2024 was discussed at the meeting.
Paired reading, Reading for dogs, Reading recovery, new reading books in the school, Audiobooks, Reading aloud and reading at home were discussed.
Reading workshops were discussed as a good idea to utilise.
Parent Council Priorities for the year
PC priorities for the year were outlined as detailed below.
Road safety (wrapping in access via Newlands Tennis Club)
It was noted that there had been a heightened focus following the accident with the lollipop person last year. Cathcart and District Community Council (CDCC) are helping to implement the slow school zone on the roads around where the accident occurred, but that this still hasn’t happened.
PC are to help action this with GCC.
The potential of forming a subgroup that focuses on road safety was discussed, and within this compiling an assessment which might tally the number of cars, registrations of cars continually in the car free zones, etc. to highlight the issue further and to get the community police officers to attend was much needed. To be put to the parent and carer community to see if anyone would be able to take this on.
It was noted that P6 road safety reps try to raise awareness.
Dawn suggested that the 3 adjacent educational facilities- Merrylee, Limetree and OLA should collectively join forces to have a stronger effect.
Newlands Tennis Club carpark access was discussed and the advantage of making a path for safer access to the school. This is to be discussed with the tennis club.
Pitch Replacement
Update from the last CDCC meeting is that the plan is to still seek 50% of the funds needed from the Area Partnership Fund funding via the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund (NIF).
In order to apply for these funds, the school needs to highlight and justify the community benefit, demonstrating the weight of the need beyond the school and into the wider community.
PC will lead on the consultation and impact assessment.
Letters of support from the community groups and organisations that use or benefit from the pitch should be sought.
The next CDCC next meeting is on 23rd October and they will add the replacement of the new Merrylee pitch on to their tally to assess the priority level amongst the wider community, following the outcome of this the next steps will be determined.
The next Newlands Auldburn – Area Partnership meeting was in November. The PC Merrylee Pitch sub group will be in attendance.
We are waiting for the pitch replacement to be costed officially.
PC are to ask local councillors to come to future meetings that focus on pitch replacement and road safety.
Colette noted that Pupil Voice were collecting all the children’s views on the ways they use the pitch to help outline its benefit to the children directly.
School Garden & Outdoor Classroom
Colette updated that they have one volunteer coming in to remove the organic roof.
The school are waiting for GCC cost to replace the roof. PC will help write a letter to push this forward.
Merrylee Greenfingers grant
Outline plan of the next steps was highlighted in the last AGM.
Yla advised that the group would meet the school’s Eco champion, Mrs Allinson to discuss the ways the grant can support outdoor learning.
New turfing will be the last to be done before the Spring holidays.
It was discussed whether the sub-group Merrylee Greenfingers should work more within PC than the PA as they are currently, this is to be discussed in relation to comms.
Parent consultation and Engagement
It was acknowledged that while there was a reasonable spread of representation by parents/ carers at the meeting from across the year groups, not all years and/ or class were represented. It was felt the school community would benefit from more increased attendance at PC meetings.
Colette noted that Pupil Voice would be coming to future PC meeting.
Comms was discussed more generally and how to effectively manage/ streamline the areas, which currently include Facebook, PC website, class what’s app.
It was mentioned that it would be useful for the PC priorities/ flip chart items that were displayed at Meet the Teacher evening to be made into digital surveys to enhance parental engagement and input.
It was also noted that the flip charts could be put out again at the forthcoming Parents Evening.
Defibrillator installation
Colette advised that the school is waiting for GCC to install the defibrillator. PC will write to GCC to try and move forwards.
Merrylee Music
Music Dress-Up Day happening.
Parents will also be coming in to play music and for the children to experiment.
The voice project is being booked for a P1-3 programme
P4 and 5 are doing Beat Buddies, and P6 and 7 are doing ‘Show Group’ led by Miss Murray
Scottish Ballet and Opera provide online resources that could be used in class and that these would be shared to teachers.
Pantos for this year are to be booked.
PA Update
A detailed update was provided at the recent AGM and so Clare provided an outline on PA activities since then:
Seasonal Products – the Christmas card templates will be in classes soon, and there will be a quick turn around on ordering.
Halloween disco tickets for the disco will be out next week.
PA are busy planning for the winter fair, and will be calling out for volunteer helpers soon.
PC treasury report
PC Treasurer newly appointed and to provide a full update in the next PC meeting.
Date for next meeting
Monday 18th November 6:30pm