Issue 20 - Australian International School Malaysia
Issue 20 - Australian International School Malaysia
Issue 20 - Australian International School Malaysia
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Main Senior Middle Junior Performing Arts Sports Others Parent Assoc.<br />
Parent Association (PA) and Class<br />
Parents <strong>20</strong>13<br />
A proposal to Strengthen <strong>School</strong> Community<br />
Interactions<br />
The following is a proposal that was discussed at<br />
the recent Parent Association meeting, that after<br />
consultation with the PA Executive and other parents<br />
and staff we plan to implement in <strong>20</strong>13.<br />
Further Aligning the Business of the PA with<br />
<strong>School</strong> Objectives<br />
1. The core purpose of the AISM Parents Association<br />
include:<br />
a) The objects:<br />
i. To promote the interests of the school by bringing<br />
parents, citizens, students and teaching staff into close<br />
co-operation; and<br />
ii. To assist in providing facilities and equipment for the<br />
school and in promoting the recreation and welfare of<br />
the students at the school<br />
b) The functions:<br />
i. To report, when requested by the Chairman of the<br />
Board, on the material requirements of the school and<br />
to advise on the subject of maintenance of the school,<br />
alternations and additions to school facilities, and the<br />
selection of new sites;<br />
ii. To assist and co-operate with the teaching staff in<br />
public functions associated with the school;<br />
iii. To be responsible for the election of parent<br />
representatives to any school council or Board of<br />
Governors constituted at the school in consultation<br />
with the Principal of the school to ensure consistency<br />
with any guidelines (if issued) for elections issued by<br />
the Chairman of the Board;<br />
iv. To assist in any matters in which the Chairman of the<br />
Board may seek the co-operation of the Association.<br />
(<strong>Australian</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>Malaysia</strong>, Parents<br />
Association Constitution)<br />
As such the primary objective at the PA is to arrange<br />
events and support activities that promote strong<br />
school community interactions and to provide input<br />
into major school decisions and reviews as requested.<br />
The proposal is that the PA continues in its current<br />
form and continues to focus its business around the<br />
key objectives relating to building community and<br />
where requested, to provide membership to school<br />
review and school development committees.<br />
Re - instating the Role of Class Parents Across all<br />
Sections of the <strong>School</strong><br />
In <strong>20</strong>13 we will re-invigorate the role of Class Parents<br />
across all year levels. The primary objective of Class<br />
Parents is to assist new families transitioning to the<br />
school, to build contacts within the school community<br />
and to assist new parents to feel connected with<br />
other parents of the school. Class Parents also serve<br />
to support homeroom teachers in class events and<br />
excursions. In <strong>20</strong>13 Class Parents will be provided<br />
with a clear role description and will undergo training/<br />
briefing sessions prior to undertaking their volunteer<br />
duties. Class parents will be recruited during week 1<br />
and week 2 of term 1 each year.<br />
Since the core objectives of the Class Parents and the<br />
PA are aligned to some degree, it is proposed that all<br />
class parents will be encouraged to be active members<br />
of the PA. The PA will comprise of those Class Parents<br />
who want to extend their role to assisting the activities<br />
of the PA as well as other interested parents.<br />
It is proposed that the PA Meeting will be followed by<br />
a Class Parents meeting at which the Heads of <strong>School</strong><br />
will brief Class Parents of upcoming school events<br />
and where appropriate, will seek feedback on recent<br />
events, or new ideas and plans.<br />
The Role of the PA Executive<br />
The PA Executive will be appointed from the members<br />
in the same manner, as is current practice. The PA<br />
Executive will continue to manage the affairs of the<br />
PA and will continue to meet once each term with the<br />
<strong>School</strong> Principal, to provide feedback on the operations<br />
of the school and to provide input into areas of<br />
development.<br />
Parent Reference Groups and Committees<br />
From time to time, as the need arises, the Principal<br />
will call on the PA to nominate parent representatives<br />
to contribute to committee work, where school reviews<br />
or development plans are being deliberated. In recent<br />
times such group have been formed to: undertake a<br />
review of our modern languages program; provide<br />
input into CIS accreditation; inform a review of school<br />
support and counselling services, conduct a review of<br />
canteen operations and; in a range of other areas. In<br />
all cases the input has led to significant improvements<br />
for our students.<br />
Implementation<br />
The business of the PA will continue in its’ current form<br />
but with the agendas being restricted to the objectives<br />
as outlined in the constitution.<br />
Class Parents will be recruited via expression of interest<br />
prior to week 3 of term one each year. During week 3<br />
a training /briefing session will be provide to all class<br />
parents regarding the role and support provided by the<br />
school. Regular review of the role tasks and support<br />
required will be undertaken during the Class Parent<br />
meetings with Heads of <strong>School</strong>.<br />
David Kilpatrick, Principal<br />
Page 10 14th December <strong>20</strong>12