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Parent Organisations
Introduction
Working Bees
Parent Help
Association Membership
INTRODUCTION
An important and valued part of the continued success of the Illawarra Christian School is the involvement of parents and other persons in the school community and its activities.
It is important that this involvement be continued and that all persons associated with both the Cordeaux and Tongarra campuses of ICS be encouraged to volunteer their talents.
The following information gives details of the ways in which parents can become involved in the activities of the school.
The Campus Committees and Campus teams, as described above, give parents and friends of the school another avenue for involvement and service in the school.
The Campus Committee seeks to:
• provide opportunities for the school community to come together
• provide an informal link between the parents, school board and staff
• provide services to the children and parents
• provide funds for the school by means of fundraising activities.
Campus Committee Open Forum meetings are held once a term.
• Cordeaux Campus: 7.30pm in the library
• Tongarra Campus: 7.30pm in the hall
All parents and friends are most welcome to attend these meetings. Meeting dates and other activities of the Campus Committee and Campus Teams are noted in the Chalkboard or the Tongarra Times each week.
WORKING BEES
Approximately once per month a working bee is held at each Campus to take care of routine maintenance and any special projects requiring work. Each family in the school is rostered onto a working bee once per year, as per the agreement on enrolment. The working bee roster will be mailed to each family and the school newsletters will publish the monthly roster well in advance of the working bee dates.
The working bee principle of coming together in groups on a designated Saturday, to assist in the maintenance of buildings and grounds, has been a desired expectation of the School Association since its inception, a decision which has been ratified by each incoming Board.
There are two main advantages of the communal working bee:- Firstly the comradeship, (friendship) and fellowship dimension, which cannot be understated, and secondly the obvious financial benefit to the school itself.
As well as the above it should be stated that this is another avenue for families to exercise their gifts for the benefit of the school community. Working bees are managed by the Cordeaux and Tongarra Campus Committees, who in turn organise rosters, projects and materials.
PARENT HELP
All parents are encouraged to participate in the daily activities of the school. Your personal involvement results in many benefits for both the school and yourself. Parental help results in:
• Keeping school fees down by performing tasks which otherwise would require the employment of additional staff or tradespeople.
• A closer contact with, and a deeper understanding of, many functions of the school.
• Getting to know other parents, teachers, students and what goes on in your child's class.
• A closer relationship between parents and their children through the child's enjoyment of their parents' involvement and showing them that parents are interested in their activities.
Parents are involved in helping with subjects which include craft, reading, art, maths (including making maths aids), library work (including covering books, typing, etc), transport for students travelling to functions and sporting events, photocopying secretarial work, sports activities, backup for remedial work and primary and infants “craft/clubs" groups.
At the beginning of the year parents are requested to complete a questionnaire which outlines the areas in which parent help will be required for that year. The child's own class teacher would be pleased to hear from parents willing to volunteer some time to assist in the classroom.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
All Christian parents and friends of the Illawarra Christian School are encouraged to become members of the Association. Membership in the Association allows you to vote at meetings on topics that affect you, and gives you greater insight into the running of our school.
The information given below is an extract from the Constitution of the Illawarra Association for Christian Parent-Controlled Education. It describes how to become an Association member.
a. Membership is open to any person who :-
• Is in general agreement with the objects for which the Association is established.
• Is in agreement with the principles as outlined in the Educational Creed and whose application in writing to become a member is accepted by the Board of Directors.
• is aged eighteen years or over.
• is a committed Christian, actively involved in a recognised Christian Church and who regularly attends worship services and meetings of that Church unless prevented from doing so by reason of illness or other legitimate reason.
• Has been an Associate member for a minimum of twelve months.
• Has attended an Information Evening.
b. Associate Membership
• Associate membership of the Association is open to persons who are in agreement with the goals of the Association, but are not yet eligible for full membership.
• Is a committed Christian actively involved in their church
• Associate members have the rights and privileges of membership other than the right to propose any motion, or to vote at any meeting, or to be taken into account in determining the quorum, at any general meetings of the Association.
c. Membership shall be subject to the payment of such annual membership fee as shall be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.
d. Membership Information Evenings are held each term and will be advertised in the Chalkboard and the Tongarra Times. Venues will alternate between campuses.
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