The P&C is involved in a wide range of activities that (too) many parents are not aware of. This page outlines the activities of the different sections of the P&C; from the Main Committee; to the various sub-committees; to specific events organised by the P&C.
To be informed about the current activities of the P&C, you need to subscribe to a mailing list.
Click here to learn about the mailing lists and how to join
Parents and Citizens - Main Committee
OVERVIEW
The P&C includes parents with a strong interest, understanding and commitment to education who are prepared to contribute significant time to work with staff to improve educational outcomes for their children. It has representation on the school's key decision making groups including the School Council, Finance Committee and Health Committee. The P&C is also actively involved (with the School Council) in making grant and other applications.
In addition, the P&C has a number of very active sub-committees including support committees for Music, SVAPA, Languages and Community Art Auction. These provide support through fund raising, direct assistance and promoting the programs within and outside the school.
In 2007...
Much of the energy and money of the P&C went to establishing the Uniform Shop and providing it with seed money for stock. It has been a great success for the P&C Association.
Aside from the uniform shop, the P&C has:
- Raised $16,888 for the Music and Arts Students via the Community Art Auction
- Successfully applied and received $15,000 in additional funding in the Family-School Partnership Federal Government grants.
- Upgraded the school's library server
- Financed the Chill Out Sessions for the Year 12's
- Supported Health talk by Glen Cardwell
- Arranged Drug Information Evening
- Financed staff end of year Morning Tea to show our appreciation for their hard work throughout the year.
- Supported Andrew Paul and the Chaplaincy Program
- Provided support to the Middle School Parents
- Participated in the selection of the new Principal
- Represented parent's interests on the School Council, Finance Committee, Health Committee and ICT Committee
- Refer to separate report for the Music Support Committee Below
- Refer to separate report for the SVAPA Support Committee Below
Music Support Committee
OVERVIEW
The MSC helps music staff and students in various ways, not only raising funds to benefit the music students as listed below.
Concerts, camps and tours: The MSC provides assistance at Concert performances (approximately six per year) by preparing and selling concert tickets, being ushers, and providing tea, coffee and milo for a gold coin donation. We also organise programs and suppers. Parents help out at workshops and camps by providing healthy morning and afternoon teas. Every two years the student musicians go on tour and the parent group assists with this.
Click here for lots of great photos and video footage of Music Events
Scores: We now have in place a system where music scores are sorted, stamped and catalogued. MSC members maintain and update the catalogue as new works are purchased.
Venue: The Music Department is outgrowing its room at the school as there are now approximately 300 music students requiring soundproof practice studios, classrooms and performance spaces. One of the MSC projects is to help the Music staff find solutions to this challenge.
Communication: Music staff and the MSC seek the best means of communication with the many students involved in the music program and their care-givers. Over the last couple of years the MSC has advertised and encouraged parents to join the music mailing list so that Music staff can advise parents and students of rehearsal and performance times, venues etc.
Click here to join the mailing list
The MSC page on the P&C web site (click here to visit) has a wealth of information which MSC members have developed:
- A music brochure which outlines what is involved in the music program, list an events calendar and describes the required dress code for bands and ensembles.
- An 'archive' of information about each event on the MLSHS music calendar which is accessible to parents, students and teachers and includes photos and snippets of performances.
Community Art Auction: A major fundraiser and community event held annually in June. A core group of MSC and SVAPA parents form a working committee to ensure this happens and enlist the help of many more parents and students on the day and evening of the event. It is great to be involved in a function that involves the wider community.
Click here to visit the Art Auction web site
In 2008...
The MSC raises funds from the Community Art Auction held in June each year and donations from MLSHS music families. In 2008, these funds were spent on:
| 2008 Expenditure | |
| Purchase of Instruments | $ 9,837.00 |
| China Tour | $ 5,129.70 |
| Concert (Venue hire, recording) | $ 1,075.00 |
| Middle School Camp | $ 331.58 |
| Boxes for Scores | $ 350.00 |
| Festival Photos | $ 145.00 |
| Gifts | $ 78.38 |
| Suppers | $ 57.47 |
| Photocopying certificates | $ 33.00 |
| Total | $ 17,037.13 |
Special Visual Arts and Performing Arts (SVAPA) Support Committee
In 2007...
- Workshops including - Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Ralf Rauker (ECU), Denise Pepper (artist)
- Awesome Festival - day out for Year 8's
- Year 9 Theatre visit to Memmie le Blanc at Deck Chair Theatre Co., Fremantle
- Year 8/9 SVAPA Camp
- Year 10 trip to Broome
- Pay for Year 8 and 9 Choir Leader, Ms Emma Blake
- Funding for Tour to China
- Funding for Computer and equipment foe archiving and publishing for the students to use
- Music Recordings
- Funding Year 10 SVAPA Graduation prizes
- Supporting Year 9 most outstanding student and perpetual Honour Board
Languages Support Committee
This is a new committee.
Community Art Auction Committee
This committee is convened annually (typically in February), a joint venture of the Music Support Committee and SVAPA Support Committee. This is a gala event on the MLSHS calender (typically held in June).
Over the years it been built into a successful fund raising event that is fun to be involved with. It has raised over $100,000 for the School from gross sales of over $250,000 over the past 7 years.
Check out the Community Art Auction web site
(particularly the history and art gallery)
Annually - Year 12 Chill Out
This program assists Year 12's to "keep the balance" during this very stressful school year. The aim of the program is to establish local community links that can be maintained throughout the year to the benefit of students and that students would recognise the benefits of regular physical activity to their general health. Each Year 12 student is given the opportunity to participate in activities ranging from aromatherapy and massage to kick-boxing. Following the activity session, a healthy afternoon tea is served in the café and general reinforcement of the benefits of maintaining a balance between study, relaxation and healthy eating is provided. The Chill Out Sessions have run since 2004 with funding provided by outside agencies, the school and the P&C. Positive feedback from the students has been received after each session and the event has been promised ongoing sponsorship.
Health
The P&C plays an active role on the School Health Committee which includes representatives from Student Services, Teachers from the Middle and Senior School, Student Council and the P&C. The committee is chaired by the School Community Nurse.
The aim of the committee is to promote physical and mental well-being within the whole school community. To achieve these aims the committee meets regularly to discuss subjects ranging from the correct way to wear a back-pack and engaging a physiotherapist to speak at the School Assembly, to the food being served in the cafe. The Health Committee also has a page in the school newsletter and offers tips and advice on healthy foods and menu ideas and promotes a balanced lifestyle.
The Health Expo is conducted on a bi-annual basis and gives our students, staff and parents direct access to detailed, in-depth and up-to-date information on health. Over 25 agencies take part in the expo, including drug and smoking awareness, fitness information and driving awareness. It is funded by sponsorship, the school and the P&C. Members of the P&C are actively involved in this event and assist with the set-up and running of the activities and provide back-up to staff. In excess of 1,200 students and 100 adults attend the expo.
D Café
This was setup in 2006 with strong P&C involvment and our input continues today.
Following research and the development of healthy eating guidelines commissioned by the School and the P&C, the school now has a highly successful café which provides a healthy eating environment and which is well patronised by students. In planning for the new café, staff and parents toured other schools and researched other cafeteria models to ensure that our cafe would meet our goals of delivering healthy foods that were attractive to young adults and also affordable. A set of Healthy Food Guidelines was commissioned by the school and the P&C to ensure that all companies wishing to tender for the cafe operations had a clear understanding of the foods that could be served.
The café is financially profitable and returns a dividend that supplements the school budget. It is recognised as a leader in the State and has been inspected by many groups of educators and health professionals.
School Uniform and Uniform Shop
When a new uniform policy was issued by the WA's Department of Education and Training in 2006, the P&C took up the suggestion of the School Council to get involved in the design and production of a new uniform. A working party was established under the leadership of a parent with representation from parents, staff and students. With terms of reference set by the School Council, they consulted extensively before bringing the final recommendations to School Council for endorsement.
The new uniform has been a resounding success and the P&C now oversees the running of the uniform shop. The profits directly benefit students through on-going sponsorship by the P&C for projects across all learning areas.
Rebuilding of the School - A 5-Year (2001 to 2005), $39,000,000 Project
While this project is slipping into the past (but its benefits have not), it is worthwhile mentioning as a supreme example of the impact of parental involvement and lobbying.
The P&C actively lobbied the government for improved facilities at the school obtaining significant support from the school community. The campaign included lobbying members of Parliament together with a publicity campaign in the local media and representations to the Department of Education. The outcome was the commitment from both sides of politics to make the upgrade of the school a priority after the 2001 election.
The incoming government met those electoral promises and pledged in excess of thirty two million dollars to totally rebuild the school soon after taking office. A further seven million dollars was contributed by ECU to assist with the construction of the recreational centre and car parking facilities which have a shared usage by both institutions.
The P&C continued to be an active participant in the re-building and re-development of the school and participated in all key building and development committees including the Steering Committee, Implementation Committee, Project Control Group and associated working parties. Even the students participated in the selection of the school's vibrant colour scheme.