Minutes
3rd AIS Parent Council Meeting -2018/2019
In attendance
List of attendees:
Nagarajan Lakshamanen
|
Grade 1B – R
|
Kristine Iversby
|
3A – (deputy representative, DR)
|
Per Annar Sandaune
|
10 - DR
|
Sofie Holte
|
3A - R
|
Allison Thom
|
2B
|
Malgorzata Gradziel
|
2A – R
|
Mark Williams
|
10 – R
|
Kate Rushdy
|
5A
|
Edd Smith
|
1A – (R, swapped with voted Rep)
|
Mette Reitz
|
6 - R
|
Anurag Sahajpal
|
7 - R
|
Kathrin Volkmer
|
4A – DR
|
Jane Awuh
|
2A – DR
|
Robert Smallshire
|
5B
|
Anja Stidahl
|
9- DR
|
Vidhi
|
2B
|
Mr Robert Browne
|
Principal (beginning of meeting)
|
Principal’s Statement
Principal R. Browne was present to update
on the following:
AIS
campus: The principal will be meeting with the
mayor along with the AIS board chair to continue lobbying for the possibility
of acquisition of the campus.
2019/2020
school budget: The administration is working on
this budget that should be approved by the AIS board. The PC chair will be
invited to the board meeting when it is scheduled within 2018. He added that it
is expected that about 0.5million NOK will be allocated for professional
development of staff. This because AIS seeks to establish itself as a key
player in contributing to increasing a sub-optimal pool of quality staff around
the country in international schools. AIS will be hosting the professional
development platform for international schools in Norway for the 3rd
time.
Recruitment and retention of Norwegian
teachers who teach Norwegian has been difficult and it is hoped that such
initiatives would address this problem and increase the pool of qualified
teachers.
Risenga
Skole/AIS campus/traffic situation: The school
started sharing the campus with students from Risenga from 09.10.2018. This has
been working fine so far although there had been a few conflicts about spaces
which are under control. The principal added that the AIS staff will continue
to be more vigilant around campus. He has also extended collaboration efforts
towards the Risenga staff to improve relationships. Risenga staff have been
informed on the traffic conditions around AIS just as AIS parents who continue
to be cautioned to use common sense to protect our children from avoidable
traffic incidents. He also noted that suggestions on making the traffic
situations even better are always welcome.
Student
surveys: To clarify this survey mentioned in the
last minutes, the principal indicated that this survey organized by the
government is to evaluate the school environment from the student’s
perspective. This survey is intended for grades 8-10 but at AIS it is extended down
to grad 6. It was on-going, and results are expected January. The PC will be
informed of the results.
Homework: A question was addressed to the principal if there was any format
for homework that is recommended by the IB programme, to which he said no but
homework was intended to incorporate interdisciplinary skills development and
varies for the different grades depending on their actual curriculum.
The principal took his leave and the PC
meeting proceeded.
Approval of last minutes
The minutes from the last meeting were promptly approved and adopted.
Meeting chair
The meeting was chaired by Jane Awuh.
Budget and financial situation
The committee was updated on the financial
status of the PC by Mette. A cash box of 1000NOK was now in her keeping to
serve as change and cash supply during events when necessary.
Funds had been disbursed for the purchase
of a popcorn machine that was taken into use during the Halloween party.
The hotplates are still on hold until more
information on the needs is gathered.
More details of the financial situation are
readily available from the Treasurer who will give an update at the monthly
meetings.
2018/2019 Activities/ New business
·
SFO offer: The Chair agreed to ask the
school to send out an offer/plan for SFO ahead of long holidays to give parents
a chance to register their children in those periods when these services would
normally not be available unless many show interest.
·
Winter concert: The committee in charge
of the organization are at work in planning and everything is on track. The PC
will be updated as more information becomes available.
·
Other matters on the agenda
raised for discussion by Kavita (who unfortunately was absent) were postponed
until she was back.
·
Committees: There was some progress in
forming committees to run the year's PC-led activities:
-
Year book (organize photos and portraits):
Kyle, Jane, Gosia, Mark, Naga led by Kyle.
It will be important to find a volunteer for
photographing of portraits of the children. It was agreed that an email will be
sent to the PC body for possible solutions. This is important to keep costs down
and make the year books more affordable.
-
Hot dog
sales: At least 2 volunteers are still needed to go ahead with this activity
hence the start-up is extended into the next weeks hoping more parents would
volunteer (Current volunteers: Kate, Tara, Gosia, perhaps Kyle).
Committee reports
Halloween
(October 26th for grades 1-5): Kyle
Depew who led the organization of the event updated on the immense success of
the party. All kids were happy with enough popcorn and bites to go around. He highlighted the brilliant contribution of
the middle school girls who organized the ‘haunted house’. He noted he had
talked to the school to acknowledge the contribution of the girls in some way,
hopefully to get others encouraged to volunteer next time and why not the same
students for other activities. Most parents were satisfied too with the
Halloween reports form their kids.
Announcements to the Parent Council
-
The PC committee is looking for
a volunteer photographer for portraits of the children for the year book, 2019.
Please contact your class rep if you can or know a professional for a deal.
-
Volunteers needed for PC-led
activities (Hot dog sales once a month), please contact your class
representative if you find the time to help out.
-
Parents are encouraged to visit
the AIS blog and join the AIS Parents Facebook group that also circulates
information on events and more.
-
Meetings take place once a
month, on the first Monday of every month at 15:40 prompt, chaired by the Chair.
Please send issues for discussions via your class reps.
-
The PC blog will be updated as
usual by the Secretary with minutes and other important announcements/events
Next meeting
03.12.2018, at 15:40 in AIS.
The meeting ended at approximately 16:50.
