18 November 2009
Present: Fiona Belbin, Caroline McCowan, Paula Macleod, Marg Meek, Anne Robbins
Ian Smith, Rector
Apologies: Sandra MacFarlane
Absent: Amanda Amos
1. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on the 16 September 2009 were accepted with the following adjustment: Sarah Kish's name was included in errora s she left the area at the end of the last school year.
2. Matters Arising
i) Bus. The school bus has broken down twice this term. The school and its pupils depend upon dependable transport. We require roadworthy, reliable buses that are fit for purpose. We are worried that the situation will deteriorate further with the approach of winter. The current buses seem to be “ancient wrecks”. The Parent Council decided to write to Highland Council Roads and Transport expressing our concerns. These would then be passed on to Stagecoach who runs the buses. Does Stagecoach have any plans to modernise the fleet?
ii) Instrumental Tuition. There are still ongoing administrative difficulties. We have had a tutor for almost one year but the payment has yet to be finalised.iii) Projects: Robert MacBeath VC. The cairn and exhibition have happened. Work on a display board is ongoing. Planning is underway for a trip to Vancouver which will take place in June.
iv) Projects: Oral History. Staff from the Archive Centre in Inverness are coming to the school to teach pupils involved with the project.
v) Projects: Defending the Past. The Royal commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments (Scotland) is managing a project with school pupils looking at historical and current uses of land in the Cape Wrath area.
vi) IT Staff. Margaret Meek and Graham McFadyen are being transferred to Fujitsu in the spring. There will be many changes but we don’t know much yet about the nature of those changes. We expect that there might be less flexibility.
vii) Inspection. The HMIe inspectors are due at the school next week.
viii) Staffing (Principal Teacher). This post (formerly held by Debbie Gunn) has been advertised within the school. Interviews are expected to be held by the end of term.
3. Election
of Office Bearers
The same office bearers agreed to continue in their roles: Fiona Belbin (Chair); Margaret Meek (Secretary); Paula Macleod (Treasurer).
4. Rector's Report
i) Inspection. The inspectors are arriving on Monday. The initial report will be presented to the Head Teacher on Friday and in confidence. The draft report is expected a week later.
ii) Activities
· Shinty is active.
· Rowing has started.
· There was a golf tournament in the autumn.
· S2 have had an activity day in the woods near Achfary as part of their study of the novel Hatchet
· The school had Wear A Hat Day to raise funds for Help the Aged/Age Concern
· Rebecca Marsham has joined Youth Voice along with Esther Richards
· There was a school to trip to see Little Shop of Horrors in Inverness
· Three pupils performed as part of the Highland Schools Wind Band at Eden Court Theatre
Some pupils performed today at the Ceilidh House.iii) Nurse/Social Work.
- Liz Stephenson, the school nurse, is leaving shortly.
- Yvonne MacKay left in the early autumn: her post was half-time Youth Development Worker (now Youth Worker) and half-time Children’s Service worker. The former has been advertised; there is no word yet on the latter.
- Social Work has not allocated a social worker to the school.
5. Correspondence
- We have received our annual grant to assist in running the Parent Council.
- We have received a copy of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy from the Education Culture and Sport Service of Highland Council.
- Letter from Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop welcoming parents to the new school year.
6. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Parent Council will be held in the ICT Room of the High School on Wednesday 27 January 2010 at 7:30 pm.
There will be 2 more meetings of the Parent Council during 2009/2010:
· 27 January 2010
· 28 April 2010
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