Welcome to the PAG, the Parents’ Action Group of Western Springs College.
PAG is made up of a group of parents who work together to support our school and strengthen the school community. PAG is open to all parents of students at Western Springs College and new members are always very welcome – all you need to do is email pag@wsc.school.nz and you can join the PAG email list to be part of the PAG forum, get meeting details, information about PAG related events and a copy of the monthly meeting minutes. Joining PAG is a great way to meet other parents and to hear about what’s happening at our school.
Some of the types of activities that PAG may get involved with include fundraising to buy equipment for the school, hosting workshops on topics such as parenting teens, organising the new parents BBQ at the beginning of each year, hosting the annual Quiz night, the movie night fundraisers and much more.
PAG is also there to raise issues or concerns from parents to the school. If you or your student has a concern, let us know. If you have a particular passion that you would like to offer our school, also let us know and we will see if we can facilitate it, put you in touch with other like-minded people and maybe even fund it for you.
From baking a cake or making a salad to marketing an event, there are many ways you can get involved to support our school. PAG meets once a month at 7.30pm in the school staff room. If you are on the PAG mailing list a reminder will be sent out before the meeting . Meetings are also attended by a representative of the Board of Trustees and a member of the school management team, so we have first-hand knowledge of what is happening at school.
PAG Meetings
The PAG meets once a month to plan our activities, normally on the first Monday/Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in the school staff room. Dates may change to fit around school holidays and other events.
Email pag@wsc.school.nz to receive reminders and details about upcoming PAG meetings or join the PAG email list for reminders, information about the school, and a copy of the monthly meeting minutes.
Parent Action Group Charter
The Parent Action Group provides a forum for parents and caregivers to communicate and participate in school life for the benefit of our students, the school and the wider community.
Goals of the Parent Action Group
- Provide an open interface between the school and the community it serves.
- Build the school community and encourage participation through the organisation of events.
- Offer support and information to parents/caregivers of students on issues of concern.
- Raise funds for specific projects or activities which fall outside the school’s curricular budget, for the benefit of the students.
- Distribution of raised funds according to agreed criteria.
Operational Guidelines: How do we achieve these goals?
This will be achieved by:
- Holding monthly meetings throughout the school year (usually the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm). All parents, caregivers, representatives for BOT, staff and students are welcome at the meetings.
- Nominate and/or confirm members for the roles of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, BOT representative, Senior Management representative, Event Coordinator.
- Maintain an email list of those who have asked to receive information from PAG.
- Distribute meeting minutes and reminders of upcoming events via this distribution list.
- Maintain an up-to-date page specific to PAG on the school website.
- Host a staff lunch at year end in conjunction with the BOT to thank staff for their efforts.
- Maintain communication with parent groups of contributing schools
This will be achieved by:
- Assist School Management with a barbeque for new families at the start of the school year.
- Work with Staff Representative to confirm which school events PAG could participate in to raise its profile (eg. Open days, report evenings etc)
- Existing PAG members to actively seek/introduce new parents to PAG (encourage contribution of ideas or assistance with upcoming events)
This will be achieved by:
- Encouraging parents to raise any issues of concern through the PAG website and be available for Senior Management to canvass for feedback on issues that may arise”
- Organise a series of ‘topical’ seminars which may include guest speakers, school counsellors, student representatives (eg peer sexuality support).
- Schedule time at the next meeting of PAG, if an issue arises which concerns many parents, where discussion with a Management Representative would be beneficial.
- Channel specific parent/caregiver concerns to the appropriate Management Representative where issue is of a sensitive nature requiring some confidentiality.
This will be achieved by:
- Producing an annual PAG budget to qualify the level of fundraising required in the next 12 month period.
- Organise fundraising events such as quiz nights, movie nights, art auctions and celebrity debates.
- Actively seek new opportunities to raise funds, where necessary, in support of the annual budget.
- Provide a clear process whereby groups within the school community can approach PAG for funds (email or written request)
- Liaise with the School Community Liaison Officer for guidance on organisations or businesses which are a possible sources of additional income.
- Liaise with groups within the school to take part in fundraising projects, especially where they are the beneficiary of the fundraising exercise.
- Encourage involvement from parents who can provide skills and resources to assist with PAG events.
This will be achieved by:
- Maintaining a list of criteria for determining eligibility of claims and applying these criteria to all requests for funds. (reference: ‘Criteria for Funds Distribution’)
- Considering written BOT requests presented by the nominated BOT representative only.
- Considering written requests from staff and students.
- Considering requests from parents directly to PAG via written proposal or attendance at the monthly PAG meeting.
- Ensuring requests for funding be considered at the next PAG meeting. The decision to approve a request must be by consensus (a minimum of 8 PAG members must be present at the meeting and consensus must be reached by 75% of those members present). If a decision can’t be reached the issue will be deemed to be contentious and either;
i. referred back to the originator for further information, or
ii. passed to the wider PAG community, via email, for input. - Convening a special meeting to discuss any contentious or urgent issue, or any request for a significant percentage of PAG’s current funds. Prior to the special meeting an email poll may be held to gauge the level of support for the issue; the poll result will not be binding, it is to be indicative only.
- Subcommittees of PAG are authorised to incur expenses as itemised in their approved budget, as outlined above. Other unbudgeted expenses up to $200 may be incurred where recovery of same is assured or where approval of the Treasurer is given.
- Urgent requests for distribution of funds up to $200 should be made to the PAG Treasurer, via email, who will assess whether a quorum is required prior to approval. If the request falls within the projected PAG budget, approval may be given by the Treasurer. If it falls outside the projected PAG budget, a quorum of 8 members must be contacted for consensus.
- Communicating those funds requests which are not within PAG’s responsibility (reference: ‘Criteria for Funds Distribution’)