The School Council is the governing body of the school. Through the Education & Training Reform Act 2006 the Parliament has given certain powers and responsibilities to voluntary governing bodies at each school, namely the school council. Elected school councillors are voted for by the entire school community at the beginning of each school year and are expected to serve the school as a whole rather than represent the interests of any special group.
Middle Park Primary School has a council membership of 10, comprising six parent representatives and four DEECD members.
School Councils usually find it helpful to establish committees or working parties to tackle specific tasks or responsibilities. It spreads workload and means that school councillors can call on people outside of the council to offer special expertise in various areas since not all members of committees need to be council members. Experienced councils utilise the expertise and resources available in their community to assist the work of their communities.
A council is free to form the number of committees or working parties that it needs to carry out its work. Committees or working parties are directly responsible to council. They make recommendations to council but the final decision rests with council. Committees generally meet twice per term. They are responsible for dealing with specific matters referred to them by council.
Middle Park Primary School has the following sub-committees:
Buildings & Grounds
Events & Fundraising
Finance
Information and Communications Technology
OOSH
Policy & Planning
ICT
Class Representatives
You can become a much appreciated part of the school community by helping to coordinate your child's class and their parents to participate in the various classroom and whole school activities that may occur through the year. The class representative is essentially the link between the teacher and the parents within the class for school events and social functions. Expressions of interest for class representatives are taken at the beginning of each school year.
Classroom Helpers Training
At MPPS we love to have the support of our community members within our classrooms. Our Classroom Helpers program is designed to support the work of parents, helpers and aides who assist in our classrooms. It consists of two/three training sessions and is directly linked to the classroom program. To become a classroom helper at M.P.P.S. we encourage parents to participate in the Classroom Helpers sessions as an introduction to how best they can support the students and teacher during their time in the classroom. The training sessions cover both Literacy and Numeracy.
During the training sessions we:
- outline our protocols for being a classroom helper at MPPS
- assist participants to develop an understanding of the development of literacy and numeracy skills within young children
- provide an overview of how we teach English and Maths at MPPS
- explore how a classroom helper can support students and teachers within our classrooms and how parents can support their child’s/children’s learning at home.
Classroom helpers are required to have a Volunteer’s Working with Children Card. A WWC is free for all volunteers and can be applied for at the following address: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
Schools have obligations to ensure that people have received COVID-19 vaccinations when attending on site or are medically exempted persons with respect to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Schools must collect, record and hold vaccination information for all workers on school sites and volunteers (including parent helpers onsite and on school excursions) who will or may be in close proximity to students or staff.. If you wish to be a volunteer or parent helper at the school please email your vaccination information to Naomi at
naomi.hayes@education.vic.gov.au.
Events and Fundraising
Fundraising is essential to enhance the programs available within the school. The School Council makes an enormous effort in the fundraising area, organising many functions and projects throughout the year. These activities demand the generous giving of time, talent and money by parents and teachers. The rewards are not only better material resources and provision of extra programs for the children’s education, but important new social contacts between various members of the school community. Keep your eye on the newsletter for ‘calls for help’ and consider getting involved with your child’s school. Every little bit helps!
Building and Grounds
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS...
If you would like to be more involved with the school, then volunteering to assist with Buildings and Grounds is a great way to actively contribute. The maintenance and improvement of our children’s school environment relies heavily on volunteers from the school community giving their time.
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED...
We need volunteers for the Middle Park Primary School Buildings and Grounds Committee. This is a team of volunteers whose goal is to co-ordinate the parent and teacher community in keeping the school buildings and grounds looking and functioning their best to enhance the students’ learning environment. The process revolves primarily around the committee organising a number of working bees throughout the year, when we rely solely on the support of our wonderful volunteers. These events are a great opportunity for parents to get together to improve the school. It is also a great environment for dads and mums to meet new people in the school community. The children also have a great time helping and this generates pride in their school! Everyone is very welcome as many hands make light work. There are a range of jobs for all levels of experience from gardening, painting, and general cleaning up to larger projects where our DIY or trade volunteers can do amazing things that would otherwise not get completed. Another important part of our working bee events is feeding the workers with afternoon tea or a BBQ, where everyone relaxes and shares in the satisfaction of having made a visible difference.
Policies and Feedback
There are over 40 school policies requiring regular updates. We welcome community contributions. Please contact the school office if you are interested in joinng the Policy and Planning Committee.
