Comments for Bucksburn School Parent Council http://bucksburn.info Representing the views of Bucksburn parents since 2007 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:07:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Amalgamation by Ang Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-90 Ang Joss Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:04:30 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-90 Lisa, there is a bit of a combined effort going on just now between the Parents' Council and the PTA to find out what parents at Bucksburn School think about the proposed amalgamation and then represent all those views to our local councillors, MPs and MSPs, as well as telling Aberdeen City Council. There will be a letter coming out in school bags towards the end of this week, outlining the various ways in which parents and carers can get their views across. I think Billy is also trying to set up an email list of interested parents (which would be useful for a lot more than the amalgamation issues) so that information and opinions could be passed between us all more easily. Maybe it's taken a "crisis" to get us all working together and really thinking how best to communicate but I do believe that's what's happening at the moment. Lisa, there is a bit of a combined effort going on just now between the Parents’ Council and the PTA to find out what parents at Bucksburn School think about the proposed amalgamation and then represent all those views to our local councillors, MPs and MSPs, as well as telling Aberdeen City Council. There will be a letter coming out in school bags towards the end of this week, outlining the various ways in which parents and carers can get their views across. I think Billy is also trying to set up an email list of interested parents (which would be useful for a lot more than the amalgamation issues) so that information and opinions could be passed between us all more easily. Maybe it’s taken a “crisis” to get us all working together and really thinking how best to communicate but I do believe that’s what’s happening at the moment.

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-89 Billy Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:50:32 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-89 Thanks for the comment Lisa. I agree with you that the parent council haven't been great at getting information out to parents, something which we really need to work on. The slips home in the schoolbags are really the first announcement of the site that there's been. Previously we had only limited information on the site and it had a whole 'under construction' feel about it. Glad you've found it now though! I'll try to keep as much information on this site with respect of the goings on at the parent council, as well as with any other things the parents would like to see here, as I can. I really hope it'll be a huge benefit to the school/parents. Have you found the <a href="http://bucksburn.info/bbpress" rel="nofollow">parent forum</a> section yet where anyone can make comments/post about anything they like? Thanks for the comment Lisa. I agree with you that the parent council haven’t been great at getting information out to parents, something which we really need to work on.

The slips home in the schoolbags are really the first announcement of the site that there’s been. Previously we had only limited information on the site and it had a whole ‘under construction’ feel about it.

Glad you’ve found it now though! I’ll try to keep as much information on this site with respect of the goings on at the parent council, as well as with any other things the parents would like to see here, as I can. I really hope it’ll be a huge benefit to the school/parents.

Have you found the parent forum section yet where anyone can make comments/post about anything they like?

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Lisa Hall http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-88 Lisa Hall Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:59:55 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-88 I appreciate there is a lot of apathy out there with some parents but on the other hand there is a lack of information getting out to parents. I only became aware of this website as my son took home the flyer for filling in the form for objecting to the school closure. And I see there is a Parent Council meeting tonight - since I only just found out I can't make it but with some notice I would have liked to attend. More information needs to get out to parents - bombard schoolbags with flyers if that's what it takes. I appreciate there is a lot of apathy out there with some parents but on the other hand there is a lack of information getting out to parents. I only became aware of this website as my son took home the flyer for filling in the form for objecting to the school closure. And I see there is a Parent Council meeting tonight - since I only just found out I can’t make it but with some notice I would have liked to attend. More information needs to get out to parents - bombard schoolbags with flyers if that’s what it takes.

]]> Comment on Public Consultation by Ang Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/11/03/public-consultation#comment-85 Ang Joss Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:59:58 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=55#comment-85 I'd like to say how proud I was of the parents who turned up for this meeting from Bucksburn School and showed Aberdeen City Council officials that we ARE concerned at the prospect of a really good school closing/being amalgamated with one away up the hill. We need to let them know we've had enough of the heart being ripped out of various communities, with the closure of so many local amenities in different places across the city. However, to restrict hours in the public library or close public toilets is one thing. But to destroy schools seems like the act of a short-sighted dictatorship. Perhaps a more effective "cost saving" could be had from tightening up the clunky local council system - AND stop rewarding certain headline-making underperformers with early retirement. Anyway, we all need to make the next two weeks of consultation count. Tell your councillors, MPs and MSPs what you think - some of which can already be done via this site, and the rest will be in place over the next few days. Watch your kids' schoolbags for information on what you can do to make your views known. I’d like to say how proud I was of the parents who turned up for this meeting from Bucksburn School and showed Aberdeen City Council officials that we ARE concerned at the prospect of a really good school closing/being amalgamated with one away up the hill. We need to let them know we’ve had enough of the heart being ripped out of various communities, with the closure of so many local amenities in different places across the city. However, to restrict hours in the public library or close public toilets is one thing. But to destroy schools seems like the act of a short-sighted dictatorship. Perhaps a more effective “cost saving” could be had from tightening up the clunky local council system - AND stop rewarding certain headline-making underperformers with early retirement. Anyway, we all need to make the next two weeks of consultation count. Tell your councillors, MPs and MSPs what you think - some of which can already be done via this site, and the rest will be in place over the next few days. Watch your kids’ schoolbags for information on what you can do to make your views known.

]]> Comment on Register! by Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/register#comment-84 Billy Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:10:41 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=38#comment-84 I'm glad you've found us now Diane! I've changed your user level to "parent" which means you can now make your own posts here too! I also just filled in the objection form using your name and email address and clicked send and it went ok. Sometimes the site has a bit of a lag, it's a shared hosting system which without getting too detailed is not the basic but not a dedicated computer to itself. If another site on the computer is getting traffic it can slow this site a bit, thankfully it's only ever temporary. <blockquote>Thank you Diane Biddie Your message has been sent to our councillors.</blockquote> I think you are right in your assumptions and this is a similar line as the parent council have been taking. <a href="http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/937026" rel="nofollow">This</a> makes some interesting reading indeed. If you can possibly make it please try to come to our meeting on Monday night(17th November) at 7PM where you can give us your input as well. All parents are always welcome to PC meetings. Thanks for your comments, Billy. I’m glad you’ve found us now Diane! I’ve changed your user level to “parent” which means you can now make your own posts here too!

I also just filled in the objection form using your name and email address and clicked send and it went ok. Sometimes the site has a bit of a lag, it’s a shared hosting system which without getting too detailed is not the basic but not a dedicated computer to itself. If another site on the computer is getting traffic it can slow this site a bit, thankfully it’s only ever temporary.

Thank you Diane Biddie
Your message has been sent to our councillors.

I think you are right in your assumptions and this is a similar line as the parent council have been taking. This makes some interesting reading indeed.

If you can possibly make it please try to come to our meeting on Monday night(17th November) at 7PM where you can give us your input as well. All parents are always welcome to PC meetings.

Thanks for your comments, Billy.

]]> Comment on Register! by Diane Biddie http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/register#comment-83 Diane Biddie Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:46:27 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=38#comment-83 I have been searching for Bucksburn Primary website for ages but never got anywhere until today when I got a note from the nursery. I have tried sending response from the online form but to no avail! In light of today's news headlines that the council's set for more budget cuts I can't see them having money to spend on a new school but I see they are now reconsidering closing the schools which parents fought so hard to save. Where are all the kids supposed to go? Who is going to ferry them to school with full buses and bus fare increases? The council don't seem to be aware that education for our kids is the making of our future as once the current councillors are dead and buried our kids will take their place - what example are they showing, lack of funding for teachers, pool closures, lack of facilities for out of school clubs - our kids will think "they don't care about us why should we care about our future", which is all wrong. Our kids are growing up fast and need all the support they can get from everyone around them. I have been searching for Bucksburn Primary website for ages but never got anywhere until today when I got a note from the nursery. I have tried sending response from the online form but to no avail!

In light of today’s news headlines that the council’s set for more budget cuts I can’t see them having money to spend on a new school but I see they are now reconsidering closing the schools which parents fought so hard to save. Where are all the kids supposed to go? Who is going to ferry them to school with full buses and bus fare increases? The council don’t seem to be aware that education for our kids is the making of our future as once the current councillors are dead and buried our kids will take their place - what example are they showing, lack of funding for teachers, pool closures, lack of facilities for out of school clubs - our kids will think “they don’t care about us why should we care about our future”, which is all wrong. Our kids are growing up fast and need all the support they can get from everyone around them.

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-80 Billy Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:42:53 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-80 I would have thought so too. I think we are failing as a parent council to get the word across. New thoughts are welcomed to help with this. The "we are not the old school board" line was not meant to infer any sort of approachability issue with the school board but was simply meant to show that the parent council was not simply a re-branding of the school board but a new venture in which all parents should feel ready and able to contribute. That's not to say I wasn't trying to make the parent council seem approachable, this was absolutely the case, I didn't mean it to sound as if the old school board were unapproachable and apologise for that inference. It didn't work anyhow so it's all pretty moot! lol I would have thought so too. I think we are failing as a parent council to get the word across. New thoughts are welcomed to help with this.

The “we are not the old school board” line was not meant to infer any sort of approachability issue with the school board but was simply meant to show that the parent council was not simply a re-branding of the school board but a new venture in which all parents should feel ready and able to contribute. That’s not to say I wasn’t trying to make the parent council seem approachable, this was absolutely the case, I didn’t mean it to sound as if the old school board were unapproachable and apologise for that inference.

It didn’t work anyhow so it’s all pretty moot! lol

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Angela Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-79 Angela Joss Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:00:47 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-79 Ah, Billy, you've outed me - I was googling myself last night and discovered this site, which I'm really impressed with. I was actually trying to see if entries I have on another site, MATCH (Mothers Apart From Their Children), could be traced back to me. I would encourage everyone to check out the MATCH website. It has obviously influenced my thinking with regards Non Residential Parents. I'm interested to learn that you've run up against the perennial problem of apathy in your sterling efforts to engage the interest of parents at Boxy School. I must confess that I was hurt and somewhat angered to read a "tagline" on the bottom of a set of Parent Council minutes from several months ago which read something like "We are NOT the old School Board, please come and see" as if it was becasue we WERE the old School Board that we had failed in our endeavours to include everyone. It gives me no pleasure to see that you and your colleagues are encountering exactly the same problems as myself and fellow Board members before you. Answers ? I dunno. But I do feel that creches and varied times of meetings might help. However, I would have thought that a crisis on the scale of possible school closure might have brought us out protesting in droves by now. Perhaps leadership really does have to come from the Parent Council on this one. Maybe providing specimen letters/emails for parents to send to MSPs, council members, etc. Most of all, please give parents one last chance to rally behind the cause here - a meeting to discuss possible strategies, at the very least. I'm off to try to register on this site, but I'm not very computer literate... Ah, Billy, you’ve outed me - I was googling myself last night and discovered this site, which I’m really impressed with. I was actually trying to see if entries I have on another site, MATCH (Mothers Apart From Their Children), could be traced back to me. I would encourage everyone to check out the MATCH website. It has obviously influenced my thinking with regards Non Residential Parents.
I’m interested to learn that you’ve run up against the perennial problem of apathy in your sterling efforts to engage the interest of parents at Boxy School. I must confess that I was hurt and somewhat angered to read a “tagline” on the bottom of a set of Parent Council minutes from several months ago which read something like “We are NOT the old School Board, please come and see” as if it was becasue we WERE the old School Board that we had failed in our endeavours to include everyone. It gives me no pleasure to see that you and your colleagues are encountering exactly the same problems as myself and fellow Board members before you. Answers ? I dunno. But I do feel that creches and varied times of meetings might help. However, I would have thought that a crisis on the scale of possible school closure might have brought us out protesting in droves by now. Perhaps leadership really does have to come from the Parent Council on this one. Maybe providing specimen letters/emails for parents to send to MSPs, council members, etc. Most of all, please give parents one last chance to rally behind the cause here - a meeting to discuss possible strategies, at the very least. I’m off to try to register on this site, but I’m not very computer literate…

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-78 Billy Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:39:47 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-78 With regards to the use of the site. Please feel free to publicise it among the parents. I think this could be an excellent resource, especially the <a href="http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/bbpress" rel="nofollow">parent forum</a> side 'could' be fantastic for inter-parent communications. The great thing here is that these comments and the forum posts are online 24hours a day so anyone can access this at any time. I'd be happy with some parental 'venting' on the forum boards to be honest! It'd at least show some sort of interest if nothing else. This could be a great site and I'll continue posting to it anyhow even if it's only yourself and Frances who read it! Feel free to register and I'll set your user level to allow you to post your own articles. I really am going for a full parental integrated site with minimal moderation. I'll remove spam, that's about all. I believe the internet is exactly the place where opinions should be allowed and this site should echo this, even if those opinions differ from mine or the parent council's. With regards to the use of the site. Please feel free to publicise it among the parents. I think this could be an excellent resource, especially the parent forum side ‘could’ be fantastic for inter-parent communications. The great thing here is that these comments and the forum posts are online 24hours a day so anyone can access this at any time. I’d be happy with some parental ‘venting’ on the forum boards to be honest! It’d at least show some sort of interest if nothing else.

This could be a great site and I’ll continue posting to it anyhow even if it’s only yourself and Frances who read it!

Feel free to register and I’ll set your user level to allow you to post your own articles. I really am going for a full parental integrated site with minimal moderation. I’ll remove spam, that’s about all. I believe the internet is exactly the place where opinions should be allowed and this site should echo this, even if those opinions differ from mine or the parent council’s.

]]> Comment on Amalgamation by Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/03/amalgamation#comment-77 Billy Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:32:21 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-77 Hehe, very well said. I am none too slow at calling down the inaction of the bucksburn parent in my own blog Angela. As a result of this the parent council are now taking the viewpoint of making decisions and if anyone has something to say against them then let them. Otherwise we are finding ourselves frustratingly ineffectual at, well, anything. We are supposed to represent the views of the parents of Bucksburn Primary. Trouble is, nobody seems able to get those views FROM the parents of Bucksburn Primary!! I think these councillors find themselves in a difficult position in respect of their inexperience. I sympathise with that. Am I prepared to allow my childrens' upbringing to suffer as a result, hell no! Thanks for your comments (according to the stats for the site we had traffic from someone looking for "Angela Joss" in google - you must have a stalker!) Hehe, very well said. I am none too slow at calling down the inaction of the bucksburn parent in my own blog Angela. As a result of this the parent council are now taking the viewpoint of making decisions and if anyone has something to say against them then let them.

Otherwise we are finding ourselves frustratingly ineffectual at, well, anything. We are supposed to represent the views of the parents of Bucksburn Primary. Trouble is, nobody seems able to get those views FROM the parents of Bucksburn Primary!!

I think these councillors find themselves in a difficult position in respect of their inexperience. I sympathise with that. Am I prepared to allow my childrens’ upbringing to suffer as a result, hell no!

Thanks for your comments (according to the stats for the site we had traffic from someone looking for “Angela Joss” in google - you must have a stalker!)

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