Minutes for Meeting of 12 May 1999

Present: Flavio Lopes (FL), Lucia Damazio (LD), Merche Clark (MC), Ralph Jennings (RJ), Fabiola Dávila (FD), Flavia Correa (FC), Karla Taylor (KT), Cynthia Fraga (CF), Beatriz Sena (BS), Angela Saraiva (AS), Yanira Nasser (YN), Danielle Laterman (DL)

Apologies: Eliana Bentes (EB), Betty Mendlowicz (BM), Erotildes Machado (EM), Gilbert Huber (GH), Maura Xerfan (MX), Simon Clayton (SC), Regina Ribeiro (RR), Regina Helena Camargo (RC), Lucien Cohen (LC)

Circulation: Paul Wiseman

Note:LD reported that Lucien Cohen (LC) will not be taking on the role of as Company Liaison Officer.

1) EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• YN requested URGENT resolution to the access for vans picking up children for after-school activities. The fact that they have no preferential treatment is leading to late arrival at swimming classes and football as well as dangerous situations arising from trying to load vans in the middle of the road. YN will discuss with Claudia the solutions for the problem, since numerous requests to Marcelo have had no effect.
• Rafael Braga is proposing an additional Football Class at Gurilandia for J3. This was accepted.
• A Friday Capoeira class was requested given that many pupils have activities on the other days not allowing them to take up this activity.
• Paulo Andre Gama requested another room and another Tatami (which he will price) in order to split some of his classes which are becoming too big for quality teaching. It was agreed to pursue this idea. The PTA will decide on the Tatami purchase on receipt of a proposal.
• Renata reported that Ballet classes for N2 and I1 are taking place in the Thompson building and that this has led to great improvements in the quality of the lessons now that the class no longer has to wait for the seniors to end their classes before organising the rooms. She proposed that there be a rota so that each semester a different room for each year group is used. The PTA teachers agreed to discuss this with their colleagues but in principal it was agreed.
• YN and Renata agreed to draw up a "job description" relating to Extra-Curricular teacher's role, responsibility and relationship with the PTA and the School. It was agreed that PTA extra-activity teachers would be expected to look after pupils up to 30 minutes after the end of their class. Thereafter children would be left in the care of the porteiros. In addition, PTA extra-activity teachers could make use of the school disciplinary system to support and discipline problems in their classes. (Barry McCormick for Primary and Geoff Pollard for Senior).

2) FOUNDER's DAY FETE / FUND RAISING

• Still no confirmation from British Airways or computer for the raffle. This is now becoming urgent. All hands to deck. The Communications Team will circulate the list of raffle prizes when they are known.
• Parking for FDF. AS reported that parking behind the church on Voluntarios would be R$2 per hour. It was agreed to leave people to find their own parking. For PTA members and teachers the PTA would reimburse parking (if necessary and with prior arrangement).
• SC will manage the bar
• LD will contract a churrasqueiro if no replacement for Paulo Bastos can be found.
• LD has arranged Vale's for school staff working on the FDF
• LD will ask Claudia if we can trade an INSET day for staff working on FDF (even though we cannot find any INSET days on the calendar for the rest of the year).
• LD has purchase additional umbrellas. We now have 18.
• Intrépida Troupe will not perform at the FDF. The Hall is too low for their performance and the minimum price was R$1000. It was agreed no magician would be contracted either.
• LD has booked toys and 5 flipperama machines.
  • Escalada - 3 beads
  • Electric Car - 4 beads 10 mins
  • Piscina de Bolas - 2 beads 10 mins
  • Pula-pula - 2 beads 10 mins
  • Flipperama - 3 beads per game
• Rafael Braga and Arno will undertake football and basketball games at the FDF.
• Oficina da Desenho will be at the FDF (no computers)
• Terra Molhada (a Beatles-type group) will be considered for the Dinner and Dance - FDF was not considered appropriate.
• 75 year T-shirts will be ready by the end of the week. Prices were revised from last meeting: Adult R$10; Children upto size R$7; 10-14 years R$8. Mouse pad would be R$7. Window stickers R$1.
• AS will investigate the possibility of using the Senior Tuck-shop as a sales point for T-shirts. T-shirt order forms will be sent to parents and once paid for T-shirts will be sent via mochillas.

3) PTA Assistant

• It was agreed to contract the PTA Assistant as soon as possible. (Since meeting) Claudia interviewed the candidate suggested by MX who was considered suitable. LD, FL, YN will liaise to act as managers for the PTA assistant. LD will purchase a computer for PTA use.

4) PTA HOLIDAYS

• FD proposed a package to Disney for the July break as well as supporting Paiol Grande. The Communication Team would include the information in the FDF Newsletter since otherwise time will start to become short.

5) COMMUNICATION

• Mr McCormick requested that a member of school staff vet all communications in English. The PTA agreed to do this so long as this would not delay communication to parents.

6) OTHER

• LD proposed purchasing netting to protect the veranda on the Thompson Building. This was agreed.
• AS will investigate the specification and price of rubberised flooring so that the toys can be re-introduced into the lower primary playgrounds.
• FL, GH and MC would meet as the Transport Committee after FDF

7) Next meeting: Monday 17 May 1999 19.00
Agenda Items: Sub-committee reports, Fund Raising, Founder's Day Fete, AOB