Friday 2 March 2018

February Meeting

Minutes of the Parents’ Council meeting of 5 February 2018
Grade
Type of Representative

Present at meeting 5 February 2018
1a
Parent
Evgenia Lynum
X

Deputy
Kyle Depew
X
1b
Parent
Gobind Singh Gill
X

Deputy
Birute Stankuniene

2a
Parent
Thilanka Madugodage


Deputy
Dmitry Ilinskiy

2b
Parent
Derya Ongen
X

Deputy
Birendra Kumar
X
3a
Parent
Philmar Middelthon


Deputy
---

3b
Parent
Thrasyvoulos Gryparis


Deputy
Anastasia Solomonova (Solomonova) Hole

4a
Parent
Kate Rushdy


Deputy
Tara Tinholt
X
4b
Parent
Jennifer Fagan


Head of PC
Anne Lise Kielland
X

Deputy
Tessa Howell

5
Parent
Mette Reitz
X

Deputy
Ragnhild Krøglid
X
6
Parent
Prashant Kanungo


Deputy
Heidi Robertson


Deputy
Frode Olsen

7
Parent
Cecilia Cantos
X

Deputy
Ramesh Babu
X
8
Parent
Andrew Langridge
X

Deputy
Elisabeth Olsen
X
9
Parent
Anne-Valérie Sickinghe
X (minutes secretary)

Deputy
Mark Williams
X

School Principal
Robert Browne (RB)
X (during the student survey presentation and Principal’s information)

Deputy Principal
Mark Cringle
X (during the student survey presentation)

  1. The student survey (“Elevundersøkelsen”)
The deputy principal explained how students can understand the survey’s questions differently from parents,
education authorities, and school management. In addition, the context of students’ answers in surveys is
important. Survey results of one class in one year are therefore not directly comparable to results from other
classes, or results from previous years. Students can also skip questions that they do not want to answer.
Students have responded very differently to questions when staff have talked them through these questions,
and explained what the questions mean. Teachers discuss the interpretation of various terms with students,
and it is a problem when students are absent when terms are explained.


AIS takes bullying seriously, and as soon as students mention it, the principal is involved. The school has a
written policy about the parameters and definitions of bullying. AIS also has essential agreements, amongst
other things for expected behaviour in classrooms. Both teachers and students are held to these agreements.
Parents are encouraged to address teachers directly with concerns, and to notify the principal immediately
when significant episodes occur.


AIS carries out the survey in all the MYP classes every year.


2. General update from the Principal
Cleanliness of MYP toilets
Children have reported to parents that there is room for improvement. RB informed that the toilets are cleaned
every day at the end of the day. He has not received other complaints, but will look into the matter.


School premises
RB is waiting for a meeting time with Asker Kommune, to discuss possible location of classrooms.


Road safety, gritting and salting
A more pro-active effort is needed. The parent group has sent a “bekymringsmelding” (note of concern) to
Asker Kommune, but Drammensveien (the main road) is owned by Akershus Fylkeskommune. Many more
students cross the street here now. On behalf of the parent council, the parent council head will therefore
write to Statens Veivesen. Schools have no legal requirement to provide parking space, and Asker Kommune
could take away the parking space tomorrow. Parents are encouraged to join the school’s effort in taking
ownership of the gravelling.


3. Thermometer
The PC head has spoken to the school nurse. No school nurse in Akershus has a thermometer, and neither have
any of the schools in Akershus. AIS does not see the need for a thermometer at school. If some parents at AIS
do not agree with this, they may write a complaint to “Skolesjefen” and seek support there.


4. The Student Ball
Parents in grades 8 and 9 will organize the event, students in grades 6 to 9 will be invited. The date of the ball
has been post-poned to 6 April due to scheduling conflicts. Class representatives for grades 8 and 9 held a
separate planning meeting after the main PC meeting.


5. Disco night
Parents in grade 1a and 3b will organize the event, students in grades 1 to 5 will be invited. The date of the
party has been post-poned to 13 April due to scheduling conflicts (student council was held on the same day
as the original disco night date).

Test walk from Asker train station to the new AIS building and back - with a 9 year old

 Dear parents and caregivers,  Google maps suggests that it takes19 minutes to talk from Asker station to the school. That seemed like a lot...