Minutes of a meeting held on Monday, 5th August 2002, at Rua Real Grandeza 99, Rio de Janeiro.
Present:
Executive Committee: Jenny Byers (JB), Regina Helena Camargo (RHC); Flávia M. Correa (FMC); Lúcia Damázio (LD), Ralph Jennings (RJ); Susan Malpas (SM), Debra Platt (DP), Roberto Steinfeld (RS); Robert Taylor (RT)
Subcommittees: Jeanne Levier (JL), Yanira Nasser (YN); Luciana Ribeiro (LR)
Also present: Guilherme Nasser
Apologies: Cynthia Fraga, Marita Carpinteiro, Karla Taylor and Kátia Salen
Circulation: P.Wiseman, T. Pientznauer, G. Pollard, L. Dimmock, S. Clayton, C. Ribeiro
| Item |
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Action |
| 1. Finance |
- Founder's Day Fęte made a loss of a little under R$900 due to poor attendance caused by bad weather. Thanks again to Sodexho for donating the staff overtime and for all their help. The raffle was fabulous, best ever.
- After a couple of false starts involving mislaid documentation, a new bank account is being opened at the HSBC on Rua Voluntários da Patria.
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| 2. Extra-curricular activities |
- Drama Teacher - the current teacher will stay until the end of this term. It was felt that this would be less disruptive. Jane Anderson has been asked to help the PTA find someone else for 2003.
- Rooms - The perennial problem of space and rooms was discussed. YN to see if the tiny children's ballet can be held in the WDA room. The possibility of Brownies moving was also discussed.
- Chess - negotiations are underway with the Chess Foundation and it is hoped that the courses will start in September. YN to send out forms for Thursdays and Fridays, and a decision will then be made as to which day to hold the classes (or maybe both). An announcement should be put in the Falcon.
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YN to talk to Simon Boxall
YN
YN/SM |
| 3. Security |
- Following concern expressed by a parent over the lack of effective police protection in Rua da Matriz, an extra doorman has been put on to keep an eye on things.
- There are new gates in the driveways either side of the church buildings. No formal system has been devised for their use yet.
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| 4. Urca |
- Urca correspondence - JB reported that Daniela had been using an inaccurate distribution list for Urca, which resulted in large chunks of the correspondence not arriving in the correct member of staff's pigeonhole. Claudia Ribeiro has been asked to provide an updated list to the PTA office. (It has now been ascertained that Urca does not have a distribution list according to families, i.e. where only the youngest child takes correspondence home, so for the time being, all Urca children will have to receive all the PTA notices that concern the whole school. JB)
- Student Council - LD expressed a desire to have more interaction with Urca, and wondered whether there was a specific way for the PTA to become closer to the Student Council. RJ reported that they were looking for funds to help set up the Music Festival this term. Although LD had not merely been thinking in terms of cash donations it was agreed that this was probably a good starting point! RJ will suggest to the SC that they invite LD to their next meeting.
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RJ/LD |
| 5. Photos |
SM reported that Leon has been chosen again this year, subject to several changes being implemented. Each child will be offered a class group photo and an individual photo. Further copies and different sizes can then be ordered at will. N.B. Individual photos will continue to be optional in the Upper School. This should be made clear to parents on any notices that are sent home about photos.
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RJ/DP/RT |
| 6. Communications |
- Mother trees and Class Lists - It was felt that once again it is too late to get it rolling for this term but that the work done so far will be useful for next term's lists. It was agreed that teachers will be asked to identify a Class Rep during the meetings at the beginning of term, and the compilation of the Class Lists should start at that time and be the responsibility of the CR. A list of the CR's responsibilities needs to be drawn up before the end of term.
- Folders for advertising/events - Cynthia Fraga has started a new business and is unable to devote as much time as she used to. FMC and Karla Taylor have undertaken to carry on the communications work however, and Cynthia will update the website as regularly as possible.
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DP/Communications Committee
FMC/KT
CF |
| 7. Website |
Space should be created for the Student Council on the BSPTA website. The British School's new website (www.britishschool.g12.br) is now up and running, as is the TAABS one (www.taabs.org). All three should be interlinked.
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CF |
| 8. Events |
- Halloween Fun - this will be held on 26th October at the Sítio. Same sort of format as last year but it is hoped that there will be some involvement from the Alumni (TAABS) and from the upper school students. FMC/KT to start work on folders.
- Non-uniform Day - to be held this term in aid of the Austin crčche. LD to contact Student Council to see if Urca want to do one too and set a date.
- Drugs Talk - LR reported on the Drugs Talks at Urca last term. Attendance was a little lower than had been hoped, but on the whole the exercise was deemed a success and it has opened the door for further discussions with Deborah Gregory (head of Pastoral Care) at Urca. It is hoped that there will be meetings between teachers and the counsellors in which the teachers can be given ideas of how best to deal with the subjects of drugs and sex. It is also hoped that further talks will take place with students, involving one of the counsellors from the rehab centre and a lawyer.
- Breakfast Meetings - LR is working on the topics to be addressed on the last Wednesday of each month this term. So far, talks on Learning Support, Auditory Problems and Bilingualism have been scheduled.
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FMC/KT
LD |
| 9. Barra project |
There still seems to be fairly widespread concern amongst parents over the Barra project. As mentioned in the last meeting, the communication on the subject was only issued in English, and many people have either not read it or did not understand it. SM explained that no further information had been forthcoming because plans were still being finalised. A site has now been found to rent in Barra (or Recreio in fact), for the new nursery starting in January. SM reiterated the Board's position that no funds will be diverted from the Matriz Project or any Urca projects to Barra. The PTA remains largely unconvinced and once again, seeks further clarification from the school at the earliest possible opportunity.
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There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 8.30 p.m.
NB -Date for next meeting: MONDAY, 2nd September 2002, 7 pm
JB 08/08/02
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