September 2008
The Parent Council has been running for just over a year and our meetings have covered a wide range of subjects. This newsletter is intended to give you a brief summary of our activities since we started.
Parents’ views and concerns have been passed on to the appropriate people between meetings. Our contact details are on the back of this letter. Please let us know if there is something that you think we should be doing or should be aware of.
Every year we invite parents and carers to join the Parent Council - details on how to do this are also on the back of this letter.
School closures
The Parent Council had to arrange an informal meeting at short notice at the beginning of the last school year to study the plans to close schools in Edinburgh and decide on a response to them. By the time of our first formal meeting the school closures had been cancelled and it was not necessary to take any further action. This left us able to concentrate on issues directly affecting Liberton High School.
HMIe
HMIe made their final visit to the school in March this year and were pleased with the progress that the School had made. Progress on the HMIe action points has been discussed at every meeting for the last two years. The Parent Council (and before that the School Board) had the opportunity to ask questions about the changes that were taking place and give views on any proposals. There have been tremendous improvements and we look forward to the continued progress of the school.
Policies and consultations
Throughout the year we discussed changes to school policies including homework and dress code. We also considered Council policies and consultations on mobile phone use and school session dates. We will continue to inform parents about consultations via school newsletters and the school website.
At present the Scottish Government are consulting on proposed changes to national qualifications (Standard Grades, Highers, Advanced Highers) which will affect pupils currently in primary school. You can find information about this at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/09084232/0. The closing date for responses is 31 October 2008. If you have views on this you can either respond directly or contact us and we will pass on your views.
Representing Parents’ Views
The Parent Council have raised parents’ concerns with the School and the City of Edinburgh Council on a number of matters ranging from staffing and budgets to changes to the school catering service. We also submitted an objection to a planning application that would have effectively closed the gate into the Malbet estate. The unfortunate timing of this application (end of the summer term) meant that it was not possible to inform all parents but we are grateful for the support of those parents who we did manage to contact. This planning application was refused.
Improving parental involvement and communication with parents
There has been lively and positive discussion at Parent Council meetings about ways to encourage more parents to become involved with the school. We are also keen to improve communication with parents and would be pleased to hear any ideas that you may have on both of these matters.
Meetings 2008/9
The Parent Council meets approximately twice a term at 7.00pm in the staff room in the school and all parents and carers are welcome to attend meetings. The dates for this year are 7 September 2008, 25 November 2008, 20 January2009, 24 March 2009 and 2 June 2009
How to join the Parent Council
Each year parents and carers are invited to join the Parent Council. This is an opportunity to influence decisions and become more involved with the School. If you would like to join the Parent Council, please send your name and contact details to us by Friday 17th October 2008.
How to contact the Parent Council
· E-mail us at LHS.parentcouncil@googlemail.com
· Write a note and send it to us either by post or ask your child to give it to their tutor teacher
· Telephone the school and we will call you back
· Come to a Parent Council meeting
And last but not least - Liberton High School Association
The Liberton High School Association (LHSA) organises fundraising activities and social activities for the school. The Parent Council works closely with LHSA with one place on the Parent Council reserved for a member of the LHSA committee. Please send your contact details to the LHSA if you would like to join the committee or help at school events. You can do this by e-mail to liberton_pta@yahoo.co.uk or by sending a note into the school addressed to the LHSA.
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