SCHOOL YEAR 2016-2017 MINUTES OF THE SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING N 1 Monday 31 st October 2016, 5 to 7pm School canteen Preparatory meeting with teachers at 4pm. Drafting of minutes: 2 secretaries - a parent (Ms. Eskenazi) and a teacher (Mr. Boissin). Translation of the minutes: Ms. Prisca Armance. Persons present: 12 teachers and 2 parents, Ms. Patricia Printant, Mr. Guguen, Mr. Le Brize and Mr. Courjault. AGENDA: Organisation of the school council The school council will not be held again on a 31 st October, Halloween day. School council organisation: See Eduscol page School rules to be voted Parents proposal: banning cell phones and tablets Changes adopted: To protect themselves from the dangers of the sun, we request our students to wear clothes that cover their shoulders and back. The use of personal connected items (tablets, mobile phones) is prohibited in the elementary school during school opening hours (8am-6pm). If used, the object will be confiscated and parents will have to retrieve the object from the director. Any child who needs to make a call during school hours can go to the school reception. End of classes: class doors open at 3:15pm in maternelle. Visit of the IEN (National Education Inspector) Parents questions 1. Interested to know the Inspectrice's view on AEFE s best practices she has seen regionally on: (a) Technology training like coding, touch-typing; (b) team-building and cooperation in the classroom and between teachers. In the context of a highly competitive educational and work landscape where STEM is being taught from early primary years in schools (Australia, USA, UK) and universities are focusing on teaching team-work and cross-functional collaboration. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 1
2. In a world where emerging countries will be our future big nations, such as China and Brazil, why keep insisting on "old languages" like German as LV2? And in a county like Australia, why not start the acquaintance with Mandarin already in CE2, like in Singapore (at the LFS) 3. Will Condorcet be allowed to keep the IB or does the AEFE want to erase it with the French Bac? 4. General view on parent engagement on school life - view of AEFE on parent engagement - responsiveness to it. Again best practices - what has worked well? 5. Details requested on the AEFE's requirements in terms of foreign language learning when the school is situated in an English speaking country. Student numbers and the school structure See table dated 21 October 2016 Review of the beginning of the school year First school day in PS: PS: Children have been welcomed between 9am and 1pm by teachers. The children enrolled have spent an hour in the classroom. Reassure parents and children. Many parents have asked about the functioning of bilingualism. Proposal of a presentation day for parents in June. First school day for other classes: GS: the day went well. Elementary school: parents and children started circulating in the hallways since 8am. A little chaotic! Proposal: display class lists in various locations in the yard, possibility of welcoming children in both primary yards; parents could receive details of the first day by email. Welcoming new students in elementary school More or less informal operation of the "Better Buddies" system or a similar system named differently. Proposal of elected parents representatives EAL from GS to CE2, new English teacher My name is Aleesha and I am the English as an Additional Language (EAL) Teacher. I have studied applied linguistics at postgraduate level and worked with various ESL and EAL programs in my previous teaching roles. I work with small groups of beginning English students developing speaking, listening, reading and writing skills for eventual transition into the mainstream English classroom. I work closely with the English teachers regarding programming and integration and with the French teachers regarding the individual student and their needs. The CE2 are easier to integrate than the GS. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 2
CM1 - CM2 and Advanced English See presentation 16 students in the class. Difficult to accommodate more students for material as well as monitoring reasons. The PE Program CP: Team games, AFL, in EMILE, athletic activities, yoga, opposition games CE1 : In EMILE, motricity, endurance, swimming, gymnastics, dance, bicycle CE2: In EMILE, group games, opposition games, AFL, cricket, endurance CM1: Team games, swimming, endurance, AFL, bicycle, hockey, contemporary dance CM2: wrestling, endurance, swimming, AFL, contemporary dance, hockey, handball, bicycle The AEFE recommends that teachers run the PE sessions. The role of the school nurse, Patricia The sick bay welcomes: students injured at school: providing first aid and responding to emergencies. students with illness occurring at school. students who wish to communicate. ROLE OF THE NURSE: I work closely with Morgane, the school community (teachers, Vie Scolaire staff and administration staff) I also have many contacts with the families and the school canteen: mainly for the creation of Healthcare Plans (PAI): allergies, intolerance, asthma... PAI are an important part of my work: Before setting up a Healthcare Plan (PAI) : Contact the family and discuss the health condition of their children. Ask them to consult a specialist for allergies and intolerance and a general practitioner for asthma. Documents to be completed and signed by the doctor and family. Document signed by the teacher, Document signed by the Director of the Primary and the Principal. Then, once all the signatures are obtained, I scan and transmit the document to the concerned teacher. I email parents to tell them when the medication will expire and also if I need paperwork they have not provided me. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 3
Creation of badge for the canteen. Create a document with child photo for the canteen and teachers. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 4
Every year, I start the same system. We have 58 Healthcare Plans created in the school. 20 students with severe allergies: EpiPen injection if necessary 4 students with food intolerance 27 students with asthma 7 students with other health problems: e.g. diabetes... At each excursion, teachers collect the First Aid Kit + the bag corresponding to their class (if allergic or asthmatic) at the sick bay. Parents receive emails informing them of certain diseases in the school. Distribution of medicines if authorisation form completed and signed. I intervene in classes to talk about different subjects. Medical visits for CP-CM2 and 3e: generally at the beginning of March. Organise trainings for personnel in the health field: First Aid. 43 staff participated in First Aid in October and November 2016. The sick bay is a place where everyone is welcomed: both students and staff. There are no more scratches on the knees (4% of overall care) than in previous years. The change of the school yard lining is incorporated into the Master plan of the school. Calendar of events and meetings School fete Saturday 25 th March - parent volunteers Meeting for parent volunteers: Thursday 8 th December at 4pm Relevant school camps: CP (Year 1), Agnès, farm stay of 4 days/3 nights from 12 th to 15 th December 2016. CE2 (Year 3), Rachel, camp at Milson Island from 6 th to 9 th December 2016. CM1 (Year 4), Viviane, possibility of one night stay at the zoo CM2 (Year 4), no school camp planned The new paperwork is quite heavy. For school trips with overnight stay, the director requires the "WWCC" - free for volunteers. New school report In elementary, the school year is divided into three terms. The first report book will be given late November/early December. It will be available on Pronote for some classes. Pronote is more developed in the secondary. On the other hand, a skills acquisition booklet exists at the maternelle /preparatory school. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 5
Parents/teachers meetings and handing over school reports 2 meetings planned during the school year. Maternelle : February 2017 and June 2017 Elementary school: December 2016 and March/April 2017 Testimonial of parents who ate at the canteen "We had the chance to taste the canteen meals. What a pleasant surprise! The dishes were balanced and tasty every day. The fruits, salads and desserts were well varied. A big thank-you! " A Canteen Commission is also at work, led by Mr Guguen. At the preparatory school, lunch service times have been increased from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, and staff numbers have been increased. The Principal points out that the provider Scolarest has followed on these changes, they are an asset. Above meals, there is logistics too. Proposal for parents: 1 parent representative per class The parent representative (parent-relay) is not an institutional obligation. Parent's proposal: the parent representative could inform parents about the appropriate body to contact based on their questions and needs or relay teachers requests. The framework must be structured and parent representatives trained to their role to avoid any abuse. Parents have a proposal of a framework. A meeting will be organised with parents and teachers to work out this framework. Mr. Le Brize must set a date. School calendar Setting up a new committee to allow time for teachers feedback. It would be appreciated that the two staff representatives attend. Teacher questions will be raised before the commission meeting and a possible electronic vote. Minutes of School Council n 1 31 Oct 2016 6