The ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations (Council) welcomes the move away from religious chaplains in ACT public schools. The Council, which represents parents at the Territory’s public schools, recognises that ACT schools must be secular and that the real need is for qualified mental health professionals in our schools.
Larger families and those on low incomes are being disadvantaged by the way many public schools arrange their annual ‘book-packs’.
The ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations says that schools and the Education Directorate need to better consider family finances and the quality of items when entering into contracts for the bundles of school supplies parents are asked to purchase each year.
The benefits of walking or riding regularly to school are well established.
If you want to benefit, but find the walk or ride a challenge, check our Tips for Active Travel for some help!
There are so many benefits (physical and mental health, environmental and social) of walking or riding to school, but it can be tricky to incorporate into the family routine.
We hope these tips help. And remember, you don't have to walk all the way, or every day!
Some P&Cs provide complex services for parents which are essentially small business undertakings. What can you do when it gets too much for volunteers to manage? We spoke to several P&Cs who now employ an operations manager to oversee their businesses.
Council Executive member Jane Koitka has some great tips for grandparents wanting to be more involved in schools, and for parent associations looking for volunteers.
End of year school reports will soon be on their way home, but many parents tell us they find them hard to interpret. The Education Directorate has provided more information for parents.
At Council’s General Meeting in May, parents had many questions on the use of ILPs in our public schools. The Education Directorate's Jean Walker has provided some answers.
Crystal Cox: New Council Executive member & Gowrie Primary P&C Volunteer
Jayne Trustum - New Council Executive member & Neville Bonner Primary P&C Secretary