HMP MINUTES

GENERAL MEETING 24 October, 2011 at Maitland base 6.30pm

1.     Attendance: Robyn Blackwell, Julie Hartigan, Sandy Thomas, Lee-Anne Lawrence, Sharon Hill, Kristy Duncan, Sarah Spinks

2.     Apologies:, Lyndell Osmond, Paul Flannery, Rosalie Lawrence, Tash Kelso, Kellie Jones

3.     Previous Minutes: Moved TK, Seconded JH

4. Matters Arising: Kellie Jones has tendered her resignation from the committee. Accepted.

5.     Correspondence In: checked LO list.

6.     Correspondence Out: nil

7.     Treasurer’s Report: Financial reports attached to email.

8.     Coordinators report – below.

MOTION: The committee moves that Sarah and Bek arrange an urgent assessment of Lochinvar Hall by a qualified builder to ascertain if asbestos is present. Moved RB Seconded ST.

·         SS to discuss school readiness day with Peter Treloar or look into filling the 10th day at Wollombi or Gresford.

9.           General Business

·         The committee thanks all the staff for attending the Family Fun Day at Millfield.

·         JH to write a letter to Gresford council about lawn mowing next to the preschool.

·         Received info about an insert into the Cessnock Advertiser. Discussed a letterbox drop instead as it needs to be more targeted in Ellalong, Paxton and Millfield and not many get the Advertiser. ST to arrange flyer.

·         Succession planning. The committee welcomes any parents wishing to get involved in the running of the HMP. Please feel free to attend our next meeting and see what it’s all about.

·         Thanks to all staff for their reports on the Mobile Meet.

·         Thanks to Leanne Hayter for the Mobile Meet Care Packages – the earplugs came in handy during the meeting!!

·         JH has offered the base a microwave built in this century.

·         Does SS require the committee to review any further policies? If so, please forward to us.

·         Please let us know if anyone has ideas for income diversification.

·         Staff have completed their performance benchmarks and will keep up to date with SS.

·         Bek and Michelle have passed probation. Keep up the good work!!

Next Meeting:  Tuesday 22 November at 3/5 Anlaby St, Maitland at 6.30pm to be followed by Dinner venue TBA

Meeting closed at: 8.00pm

Minutes: These minutes were taken by Sandy Thomas

Coordinator’s Report

Lochinvar

Everything is going well at Lochinvar.  Our one issue is that we questioned the Principal of the school about OH&S issues and felt that the answer was not adequate (Sarah has more information).

Thanks for the cupboard.  It is fabulous and it is always great to have more storage. (Bek)

Peter Treloar (Principal of St Pat’s) contacted me to talk about the hall.  He told me that the hall is a Parish facility which is managed by Father Matthew, the Parish Priest.  He wanted to let me know that there may be changes made to the rental agreement and hiring fees.  He didn’t actually have any further details about this.  Bek has commented on the state of the walls in the hall.  She was questioning whether it had asbestos or not.  She has had a parent on roster comment on some things that were missing from the hall, for example, exit signs.  Bek has obtained an OH&S Safety Sheet that she will fill out with all the concerns.

Peter also told me he is extremely interested in a third day.  When I told him about Tuesday being our only available day and this had been an issue with the playgroup visiting on a Tuesday, he informed me that he would move playgroup to another day if needed as it is his decision, not theirs.  He is keen on providing a “Pre-kinder Group” targeted at children who will start school the following year.  He said if this was something our service wanted/could follow up on, he could look at providing a classroom for this day/group.  (Sarah)

Gresford

We have been very busy this term with the children engaged in much self- directed learning.  Pacific Smiles have been and the program that they presented was fantastic.  The children got so much out of it and had appropriate tooth brushing techniques demonstrated in a child friendly way. 

Preschool photos were great, almost all of the children were able to have their photos taken, and by the looks of it they should be great. 

We went on a walking excursion to the showground last term and then to the park for icy poles and play. The children enjoyed this very much.

The ground at Gresford is just beginning to dry out and this should mean that we can utilise more of the playground. The children are enjoying the play equipment and the garden. I would like to thank Teigha Bevan’s mum for sending us in some lovely strawberry plants for the garden. They should be ready to pick soon. We have had a snake in a jar visit preschool with a reptile book that we were able to look closely at. We used this as a catalyst for a snake safety talk. The children who are attending school had their eyesight checked last term as part of a free government program.

We have engaged in Emergency drill during week two, practicing a lockdown. This has been successfully achieved at Gresford within centre guidelines and policy.

We will commence Christmas Craft soon and are continuing with investigations into the outdoor environment.

In recent weeks we have had four new enrolments at Gresford, this should help ensure ongoing feasibility for next term.  (Michelle)

Mulbring

We have had school photos this week and Pacific Smiles will be attending next Tuesday, the children had their eyesight checked last term. We went on an excursion to the park however it was very windy and we returned early because of health and safety issues.

The children are very social at Mulbring because of the smaller group size and much of their play revolves around dramatic play scenarios. We will be continuing to cook throughout the term and beginning an exploration on baby animals, what they eat and healthy eating. We are now up to seven children with a likely hood of seven or eight commencing at the beginning of the year. We may lose one child however because the family believes that the enrolment fee is unreasonable, the family has been referred to the committee.  (Michelle)

Wollombi 

Once again, we have changed something.  We looked long and hard at our routine to allow more space for the children’s play and learning.

We are now having 3 free play times.  These consist of outdoor (1 hour), indoor table play (1 hour) then indoor floor play (1 hour) where all the tables are pushed to the side of the room to allow the whole of the floor space to be utilised, thus allowing the children more freedom with their play.

Enrolments have dropped a little with 2 boys moving back to Melbourne. (Sarah)

Millfield

As you know, all staff helped plan, organise and operate the funday on the last Sunday of the school holidays.  The aim of the day was to increase awareness of the service in the area.  Unfortunately there was only contact with one new family and they didn’t wish to fill in a waiting list form on the day.  A big thankyou to Michelle for donating the drinks for the BBQ, which resulted in $72 profit after the cost of the hall hire and the sausages was deducted.  The cookbooks were on display for sale and we did manage to sell one.  I am contacting the Cessnock Advertiser about having flyers included with the paper delivery.  This looks like it will cost around $300.  Should we go this way or place an advertisement in the paper?

As for enrolments for next year, we have 3 returning who will attend both days and 5 letters have been sent to waiting list families, so fingers crossed.

Sarah is working closely with Council to get our fencing started and Robyn has great plans for plantings.  I thank both for their efforts.  (Leanne)

Base/Vans

Liz has contacted the Strata group about installing a letterbox flap in our front door and having our business sign put up on the front wall to the right of the front door.  They have given us the go ahead to do this.  Just to let you know that this decision about a letterbox flap instead of the mailbox was because our mail needs to be out of the weather during the holidays.

The Cessnock Van is booked in to an auto electrician to have the number plate light wiring fixed before the registration inspection.  (Sarah)

FaCS

FaCS sent a confirmation regarding the hours change for Mulbring, and then we had an email that the same form needed to be filled in again using the venue number (that we have never seen before) instead of the licence number.

Funding review update – NSW Government is committing around $260 million to the sector in 2011/2012 to help deliver the best outcomes for young children and their families.  (Sarah)

Staff

Leanne, Michelle, Bek and I are all booked in to do EYLF training on Saturday 5^th November at Greta Workers Club.  (Sarah)

Enrolments for 2012

This is the first year that enrolments for the entire service have been handled by one staff member.  I have learnt a few things along the way and have already made changes for next year’s process.  This year we have allowed weeks 1 and 3 of this term for all returning families to go through their enrolment forms, make any changes, resign and date them and pay their 2012 enrolment fee.

Weeks 4, 5 and 6 have been allocated to the new enrolments.  They have been given a time to come to the preschools to complete the forms and familiarise themselves with the preschool, venue, children and staff.

Returning Numbers and New Enrolment letters sent are as follows:

Gresford                Returning – 10, New – 4 letters

Lochinvar              Returning – 13, New – 11 letters

Millfield Returning – 3, New – 5 letters

Mulbring                Returning – 3, New – 3 letters

Wollombi               Returning – 11, New – 3 letters (Sarah)

National Quality Framework

We have started our journey.  Today at the staff meeting we came together to discuss what we thought was important for our service’s philosophy.  All staff were asked to read through our philosophy, look at the Early Childhood Code of Ethics and write down ideas and thoughts.

Our next task after this is looking at creating quality Improvement Plans.  I will provide more info next meeting. (Sarah)

General

·     Preschool photos were taken last week.  The company take a photo of every child.  If a family didn’t order photos on that day, they still receive a bookmark with their child’s photo and contact info for the photo company so they can order photos at a later date if they wish.  (Sarah)