RATHO PRIMARY SCHOOL
RATHO SCHOOL VOICE
Minutes of meeting on Thursday 22 September 2016 at 7pm
Present: Rachel Lytollis, Neil Rae, Jackie Wake, Emma Hughes, Neil Langhorn, Vicki Wallace,
Michaela Muir, Karen Borthwick, Morag MacLachlan, Cecile Robertson, Rachel Woods, Jennie
Edmondson, Leanne Horsburgh and Christina Enever
Apologies: Lisa McCarthy, Michael Lloyd, Louise Lloyd, Lizzie Booden, Sam Mitchel, Claire Baker,
Annette Wilson, Helen Morris, Gillian Fraser and Jen Adams
1. Staffing update
Miss Gordon (P6) is back covering Monday & Tuesday. A supply teacher is currently covering
Wednesday – Friday.
2. STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths)
Chris Welander is the lead on this. He has started work on a timetable, inviting ambassadors to
come into the school. If any parents would like to be involved, please contact Chris.
3. Restorative Behaviour Approach
There is a working party looking at this, which Chris Welander is leading. Additionally, there is a new
approach city wide, around building resilience, which goes hand in hand with this. It involves the
same lady behind he ‘Raising Children with Confidence’ course, offered a few years ago and it
encompasses the ‘emotion talks’ sequences as well.
If any parents would be prepared to sit on this group, or feed into it, please contact Chris. This
would be much appreciated.
4. Family Engagement
Rachel Lytollis is this lead on this. This covers a few areas such as getting ‘open afternoons’ back on
the calendar and ePLPs, which the school has received quality feedback from already. It also
includes an audit of the homework policy and looking at what other schools are doing.
If any parents would be prepared to feed into this group, even if they can’t make the meetings
(usually 3:30 – 5pm), please do get in touch with Rachel. This would be greatly appreciated.
Actions: Rachel L to look into a follow up communication to ensure everyone has now received their
ePLP login and has managed to access the system.
5. 1+2 Languages Programme
This is not on the improvement plan as the plan is to continue offering French and Spanish. A parent
also supports the teaching of French, while a Spanish teacher may be able to teach P3-7 on
Mondays.
Amy Dixon, an early years’ practitioner working in the school nursery, also offers an after school club
in French for P1-2.
Note: P3 onwards do get more French as part of the curriculum.
6. Music e.g. recorders
Although a significant investment was made in the past to purchase recorders, these have not been
used across the whole school in the last year or two. The school would like to tap into more
specialists, to offer a range of instruments such as ukulele being offered to P4 & P5. Next school
year, the focus will be on Expressive Arts.
Note: Violin trials take a while to get through, so there can be a bit of a wait for kids to hear the
results.
7. School Admin post-box
A post box is being investigated, to reduce disruption to the office staff, with drop-offs of completed
forms etc. As it might contain cash or cheques it would have to be secure and emptied regularly.
Being detachable might also be worth considering, so no nasty surprises left over-night.
Actions: Rachel L to discuss with Gus & Nicola, to see what would work best.
8. School website
The school website is still down. Claire Dixon has been working on new content, which a team of
parent volunteers will help input.
9. Key dates document
This document is in the process of being checked. Hopefully it will be distributed to parents very
soon.
10. Playground improvement
No new playground developments are allowed to go ahead until Council create a new compliance
document. In terms of timeline, the message is hold off till Christmas. Neil has negotiated an
extension to the planning grant, but it’s not open-ended and there is likely to be a problem if this
extends into the next financial year. Rachel will keep us updated.
11. What are we fundraising for?
Jackie met with Rachel & Nicola, to understand the school’s priorities this year. This was circulated
round RSV membership ahead of today’s meeting, inviting feedback or alternative priorities from
parents. Only positive feedback was received backing the school’s suggestions.
12. Online payments
To make it easier for parents (finding exact money or writing cheques) and easier for the office
collating payments for RSV fundraisers, (such as the lottery & calendar orders etc), Emma has been
investigating an online payment option. PayPal looked like the best option, though Christina warned
of hidden costs. Christina also suggested that a chip and pin device was not needed.
The option of individuals making direct payments into the RSV bank account was also discussed
briefly, but would create more work for the Treasurer tallying up many smaller transactions and
PayPal was viewed as an easier option for parents anyway.
Actions: Emma to look into hidden PayPal costs.
13. Community Council Nominations
Nominations were invited for anyone wishing to represent our group (RSV) on the Community
Council. Jackie Wake, current RSV Chair was nominated and seconded by Neil Langhorn, the
previous Chair.
14. Parent Class Reps
Now Class Reps are in place, we should get in touch with teachers to introduce ourselves.
Actions: Jackie to draft something for Reps/school.
15. EMF Marathon Festival, Junior Race
If more children enter this event, on Sat 27 May, there is a chance to win £150 of sports equipment
for the school. Entry is £12.50 per child. There are various race lengths depending on age e.g. age 6-
8 is 1.5K. The children could also be sponsored as part of a school team.
Actions: Michaela to liaise with Miss Sandeman & Miss Tumblety, re how best to promote this within the
school.
16. School Year Transitions
This falls under Family Engagement (point 4 above) and is an area the school would seek to improve.
If any parents would be prepared to feed into this group, please contact Rachel.
17. Homework
Concerns were raised over the volume of homework e.g. consisting of 5/6 components and
homework not being the same across the whole year e.g. differences in P3 and P3/4 homework set.
This also falls under Family Engagement (point 4 above) and is an area that is under review. If any
parents would be prepared to feed into this group, please contact Rachel.
18. Christmas Fair
Date is confirmed – Saturday, 3rd Dec, 2-4pm.
Many volunteers have come forward, but we still
need more. The main areas are covered – café, tombola & grotto (though Santa is still to be booked).
Note: Christina offered a good quality Santa Costume and possibly some other stuff & equipment for
the grotto.
There will be a school calendar and tea towel stall next to the RSV stall. If anyone is interested in a
stall, please get in touch with Vicki, who will confirm cost e.g. 15% of takings and the donation of a
raffle prize.
In terms of school participation it would be good if the School Choir could be involved. For teachers,
they could wear the Velcro Christmas jumper and have balls thrown at them again, though they are
welcome to come up with an alternative.
Next meeting to discuss Xmas Fair in more detail, including all new ideas is 10 October, 8pm in the
Bridge Inn – all welcome.
Actions: Rachel L to discuss Choir participation with Miss Sandeman & Miss Forrester.
19. School Calendar
Many of the children’s self-portraits have been created and scanned in. We are missing P5’s and a
few teachers, which we have passed onto Claire in the school office.
There will be a stall at book night (10 Nov) and pre-orders will be taken again, similar to last year.
Actions: Emma to look at options to include more colour in the calendar without incurring high print
costs e.g. colour cover, colour-in pictures within, colour paper etc.
20. School Lottery
This has been delayed while we look into an online payment option, but should be up and running
shortly.
To make it more fun, ping pong balls have been purchased and will be numbered up for the draw
(which will be filmed & shared). Rachel is open to RAG members being involved in the draw.
21. Film Night
The next film night is 7 October, showing the new Jungle Book film.
22. Family Photography Session
Dates are being finalised and venue to be confirmed.
23. Sponsored Read-a-thon
Rachel L & Neil R are still to discuss, but in essence this could tie in with book week.
Actions: Rachel L/Neil R to advise how this could work before next meeting, to allow time to set up
sponsorship.
24. Book night café
Book night is 10 November and there will be a café again, so baking and parental assistance will be needed.
25. Xmas Cards
Jen made up a pack for each class, with covering letter and date Xmas card designs need to be
completed by – 10 Oct. Rachel agreed this date seemed reasonable and took packs to share with
teachers.
Note: some parental assistance may be appreciated on this task, especially with younger kids. This
could be organised via Class Rep.
26. Secrets Room
Jennie ran through a particularly successful fundraiser at her previous school, which was well
received. This will be discussed further at the next Xmas Fair meeting.
27. Bag2School Dates
Dates below were discussed and agreed, but can be amended if need be:
- Christmas clear-out - Bags delivered 10 Oct (pre-Oct break) with uplift scheduled 23 Nov.
- Spring clear-out - Bags delivered 26 Mar (pre-Easter break) with uplift scheduled 26 Apr.
28. Spring-time Fun-run?
The school could consider a fun run within the school grounds, on a dress-down Friday. Entry could
be by donation (i.e. their dress down donation). There could be a race element for faster ones, fancy
dress prizes and additional obstacles for fun.
29. Second-hand school clothes
These are donations, rather than lost property. They could be left out at parents’ evenings and
other school events for parents to look through. Payment could be by donation.
Note: advise
parents to pass 2nd hand school clothes to school, rather than Bag2School recycling scheme.
30. Ratho’s Got Talent
This event will be happening again in March 2017. After the October holidays and running up to
Christmas, there may be an option at golden time, to work with children and test out skills etc. Then
after Christmas there will be auditions, and following that 6 weeks of intensive training for the show.
There will be more prizes this year, for more varied acts. So not just the singers winning. More
volunteers are needed to help run it. Please get in touch with Christina or Annette if you can help.
31. Next Meeting
Tuesday 25 October, 7pm in the Community Centre.
