MECS+Meeting+15.09.08

Type in the content of your new page here. Lynn Dockrill, Jenni Griffiths, Sue Hill,, Mick Eller, Janice Newton, David Munday, Rob Bourke, Leo Hauville, Jenny Sawyer, Jenny Young, Sandy Ross, ** N.B. ** Please advise if I need to make any adjustments to the minutes and I will do so before I post to the MECS Wikispace. I have listed in brackets the most appropriate contact for each agenda item.
 * MECS Minutes: 15th September 2008 **
 * Host ** ** School: West Kempsey PS **
 * Apologies: ** Wayne Craig Allison Mitchell Hugh Rutherford Arthur Bain, Julie Brown, Kathy Korn, Gary Cook, Rod Pettersen, Bob Piper, Paul Lynch
 * Present: **

** Term 4 MECS activity ** Talent Quest – Schools hold their events in Term 4 – select a finalist in each category this year with a standard of excellence. K-2, 3-6, 7-10. Represent their school in the year they are in at the concert in Term 1 2009. IN three categories instrumental, vocal, dance. Week 4. Lyn will organise judges, lighting etc and advise schools of what they need to do. (Lyn) Argus prepared to run school life weekly and support it with ads for the first few weeks, After discussion around Argus/Observer/Happynings. Rob moved a motion that we trial this proposal over the next ten weeks. The motion was passed at a cost to MECS for approximately $2000. (Mick & David) Do we want to participate in Celebrate the Macleay at the racecourse on the weekend: 20th and 21st September 2008? – at this stage no, Mick will get the information for next year and we will book in to do the festival properly. Staff it with people who have the answers to promote our schools. (Mick) Leo is going to Canberra on behalf NC Equity committee as the Federation rep. Leo is looking for issues to take down on behalf of the schools of the Macleay. Send emails to Leo before Sunday and he will raise them on our behalf. Maintenance, computers in schools, private vs public, etc. (Leo Hauville) Art work is available at Gladstone PS if schools have not picked it up yet. Thanks Wayne and Kazan for organising that. More info about wikis will come out shortly– maybe week 2 Term 4 at Bellbrook PS with CAP Consultants.
 * Agenda **
 * Term 3 & 4 Advertising and School Life developments **
 * Made on the Macleay **
 * NCR Equity Committee **
 * ART SHOW ** – 105 on Saturday, 160 on Sunday, the biggest days they have ever had at the gallery. Book it in for next year. Maybe organise a function after wards at the Hotel to continue to build the camaraderie. A great success thanks to Janice and all of the additional staff from Crescent Head and Lyn who helped to set up and pack up.
 * WIKI Training **

** 2009 Activities and Calendar of Events ** Discussion: Jenni G – catering for gifted and talented students within MECS. Run it each Monday afternoon from 1-3pm at a particular venue e.g. Week 1 – Public Speaking, Week 2 – prepare debate, Week 3 – practise, mock debate, Week 4 – Perform the activity as a MECS event, with appropriate promotion. Book the times and weeks in now and confirm the events and topics after we gauge support for the activities. This is a draft proposal for consideration at the next meeting, however interested schools should commence planning for it next year. Term 1 – 2 x 4 weeks Public speaking technology Term 2 – 1 x 4 weeks Environmental Science Numeracy/Writing Term 3 – 1x 4 weeks Car load – 4 students x GATS kids Staff/Student ratio – and issues with schools participating and it being voluntarily Schools will have to talk to staff about it and build a plan for the implementation next year. 30 -40 parents attended first meetings. It looks like about 20 students, parents, staff. 14 nights in Phuket about $2200 and appears to be tax deductible for teachers to attend. Go to [|www.MECS.thailand.wikispaces] for more info. There are still places available at this stage for staff and students. July Holidays next year. Term 1 – MECS IDOL – Grand Final Term 2 - Music festival – MECS – Education Week - Week 4 term 2 Term 2 – Dance Festival – MECS (+Hastings) Week 8 Term 2 Term 3 – NAIDOC week Term 3 – Art Festival Term 4 – MECS Idol – Heats held in individual school. Tapping into other organisations like Landcare – who would work with our schools on particular tasks and then we would showcase the results as a group of schools Aboriginal Education – Building a drama group performing Dhungutti legends – that ATSI students could present to other schools during the Aboriginal Celebrations – Sandy Ross is interested in this? She needs some other people to work with in developing the idea. NAIDOC week 2009 – Combined activity at an oval, combined march. Jen will send out a newspaper readership survey for schools to send home next year and see what they read to focus our advertising.
 * Draft Proposal for MECS GATS Activity **
 * 2009 Thailand trip **
 * 2009 MECS Major Events **
 * Other Ideas/Suggestions for 2009 **