Our constitution states that our P&C goals are:
- to promote the interests of the school by bringing parents, citizens,
students and teaching staff into close co-operation - to assist in providing facilities and equipment for the school and in
promoting the recreation and welfare of the students of the school
Some of the way we do those things include:
Merit Selection Panels
Positions on the school staff, including the hiring of teachers, are filled through a Merit Selection Panel. When one of these is formed a member of the P&C is nominated to represent the parent body. The member has to undergo training in order to make a fair judgement. This representative is an equal participant in the assessment and decision making process.
Advocacy
P&C organisations assist the NSW P&C Federation in advocating for:
the rights of all children in New South Wales regardless of whether their location is in a metropolitan, regional, or rural area to attend a public education system that is free, secular, and open to all irrespective of culture, gender, academic ability, and socio-economic class and empowers students to control their own lives and be contributing members of society.
https://www.pandc.org.au/advocacy-1/
Closer to home, Botany P&C liaise with the school on various issues that the parent body brings to our attention and we then inform the community of the outcome. Anyone can come to a meeting to discuss an issue or talk to a P&C member and have them present it on your behalf.
School Canteen Tenders
The P&C are involved in any canteen tender process, providing community input on the provider and menu choices available.
Applying for Grants
The P&C seeks grants for school resources. Schools are sometimes not allowed to apply for certain grants, so the P&C can apply in their place. Some of the grants secured in the past include:
- Mature tree planting
- Turf being laid on the field
- Veggie garden and workbench construction
- Rainfall water tanks
- Replacing the basketball hoops, nets and backboard
- Native bee habitat installation
- Photographic history of the school display
Fundraising
The P&C is a charity organisation and is allowed to fundraise in order to assist in providing facilities and resources for the school. The P&C hold fundraising events throughout the year, you can see some of our regular events on the Events page. The P&C decide, in consultation with the school, where the raised money is spent. The P&C keep financial records as well as noting in the meeting minutes where money has been spent and for what purpose. You can see a general overview of what we have purchased on the P&C Achievements page and you can read our meeting minutes on the P&C Documents page.
Other Services
The P&C provide some services to support the school community.
- Working bees – general upkeep of the school gardens and grounds.
- Uniform Stall – so parents can recycle uniforms as kids grow.
- Book Club – volunteers sort and deliver Scholastic book club orders to classrooms.
All of these services are run by parent volunteers, so please get in contact with us if you would like to help out.