VPS PTFA Committee Meeting

This might be considered an out of place blog entry, after all this is a work diary. However, in line with the Staff Review requirements of Community Engagement activities carried out, I thought that it was indeed appropriate to include this. And also, it aligns appropriately with the USP 2010-2012 Strategic Plan, Priority Area 4 - Regional and Community Engagement and Internationalisation. Since the beginning of the year, I have been involved in the Vatuwaqa Primary School Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (VPS PTFA) Interim committee as a secretary. My two girls attend this school which is just a 3 minute walk away from USP, up the road. This school has existed since the 1920s and have been the first school of choice for many USP students from the USP region outside of Fiji given its proximity to Laucala Campus. It has a very colourful student population profile with students coming from the 12 members countries of USP in addition to PNG. As I have mentioned, the committee is in interim form for the reason that the PTA have been quite inactive for the past two years and volunteers were sought from the parents and guardians to sit on the committee until an AGM is held. Getting the PTA to the AGM has been quite difficult given the complexity of getting all the financial records in order. One of the key considerations here for this complexity is the staff turnover specifically with regard to the Head Teacher's position which has created a level of instability in the running of the school. A meeting was held today from 5.30-8pm to discuss further the matters of the school and the next meeting is to commence next Tuesday 12th June to look specifically at the school corporate plan and draft school policies that are currently being worked on by the teachers. My work here has not only benefited me as a parent but also in my work with the School of Education.