February 2008
Happy New Year!
I hope that you have all had an enjoyable break, time with family and friends and have recharged the batteries, ready for the new school year. For the students that completed school last year I wish you well in whatever direction you choose to take and of course there are many parents that have walked their children through the school gates for the first time to commence their school days. Welcome to another year.
At this time P&Cs are preparing for their Annual General Meetings. This may mean a change over of Executive or you may be continuing in the role. If you are retiring from your position it is very important to ensure a smooth handover to the members taking on the new roles. For Treasurers preparing for audit please ensure that your auditor is familiar with the P&C Accounting Manual and the requirements in that manual for P&C audits. Whatever Executive position you may take on, the best advice I can give you is work as a team, get to know your School Administration and start the year as a team working together for the school as a whole. Don’t forget to elect your QCPCA rep at your AGM.
Help is close at hand if you need it. QCPCA has 11 Regional Councils across the State and one of their key roles is to support P&Cs. Regional Councils hold training days, conferences, workshops and they are available to attend your P&C meeting if you need some “ on the spot training,” you just need to ask. To find information about your Regional Councils just go to our web site www.qcpca.org.au under ‘contacts’.
We live in interesting times with the election of a new Federal Government. We saw many new ideas and plans for the education systems across the country during the election campaign. Just what these will mean for education in Qld will become apparent over the coming months. Our National representative will do a great job for us ensuring that Queensland gets a “fair deal”.
In this edition of Parent Talk you will find many helpful and interesting articles that will assist you and keep you up to date. The “Young Workers Employment Guidelines,” “the use of school logos,” “Insurance for students” are just a few. The New P&C constitution is in its final stages and we hope to be able to give you information about this in the coming weeks.
The State Executive travel to regional locations to conduct Parent Community Forums from time to time. There are two planned for this year. The first is being held in Atherton at the end of March and Charters Towers later in May. Details of these meetings will be available soon and P&Cs in those areas will receive invitations to attend various functions including a Parent Forum. Please make the effort to attend, it will give you the opportunity to meet those representing you at a State level and to ask questions, find out information and hear first hand what’s going on in your area and Statewide.
2008 is the year of “Physical Activity in State Schools” and if the commencement of the year is any indication then 2008 will certainly live up to its name.
In closing I would like to thank you all for supporting your kids and their education, being part of your school community and being committed to the great work of P&Cs. We look forward to 2008.
Regards
Margaret Black.
