School Council

The School Council is comprised of the Principal, eight parents and four teachers, as well as two members of the wider community who may be co-opted when required.

School Council, as well as being a general policy making body, has specific responsibilities in the areas of Finance, Buildings and Grounds, Education Policies, Employment and Accountability.  To assist School Council in its role, three major sub-committees operate:

  • Finance and Infrastructure
  • School Improvement
  • Parent and Community Liaison

School Council members have the responsibility of presenting ideas and concerns from their representative groups, and then providing feed back on the issues and decisions to the School community. The primary duty of School Council is to work for the benefit of the whole school community.

School Council Elections

Members are elected to School Council for a two-year term of office, which can be extended through the election process, provided the member is still eligible to serve on School Council. 

Elections are held in March every year with half the membership returning each year. This ensures continuity of policies and the work of School Council. The timing and procedures for elections to the School Council are determined by the Department of Education and Training.

School Council meetings are normally held on the third Tuesday of the month, starting at 7.00 p.m. Parents and community members are welcome to attend meetings as observers.

Parents who are interested in joining School Council are invited to contact the Principal or a School Council member to find out more about the specific roles and duties.

School Council is an important avenue for parents to have discuss school policy items and make decisions for the benefit of all students. Please contact School Council members if you have items you would like discussed at School Council. 

School Councillors

Principal: Cindi Bruechert

President: Tim Murphy

Vice President: Ivan Crisp

Finance Convenor: Kerrie Eldridge

DET Members: Deb Burke, Lachie Ratcliffe, Christina Spence.

Parent Members: Lauren Brown, Janelle Kelly, Kim Kohlman, Mihaela Kovacic, Kylie Morrison.

Community Members: Deminda McMaster

Junior School Council

The Junior School Council (JSC) is a student-based forum designed to promote school spirit and leadership among students. The Junior School Council provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and have empowerment in the decision making process of Strathfieldsaye Primary School.

Two students from each grade from Year 3 to Year 6 are elected by their peers to be classroom delegates at Junior School Council meetings. The Junior School Council is led by our School Captains and reports directly to our School Council. They represent the voice and opinion of our students and their ideas about how our school and community can be improved.

Our Junior School Council meets on a fortnightly basis at lunchtimes, under the guidance of two classroom teachers

The purpose of our Junior School Council is to:

  • provide opportunities for the development of ‘student voice’ within the school.
  • develop positive attitudes and to practice good citizenship.
  • promote harmonious relations throughout the entire school.
  • provide a mechanism which opens two-way communication between school leadership and students.
  • improve school morale and general welfare.
  • raise student awareness of local and global issues.
  • plan special events, fundraisers and projects.

 

Responsibilities of Junior School Council Representatives:

  • Consulting with students in own classrooms and reporting school based ideas and concerns to the JSC coordinators.
  • Conducting the school assembly at least once.
  • Presenting, as fairly as possible, students’ ideas and concerns to the council.
  • Reporting back to their grades after a meeting has taken place.
  • Planning and organising fundraising events to support school and community based charities.
  • Representing Strathfieldsaye Primary School at special ceremonies and events (e.g. Anzac and Remembrance Day).
  • Making special effort to inform students about upcoming council projects and activities.
  • Attending and being active in council meetings.
  • Reporting any problems to JSC leaders before they develop into issues.
  • Respecting all school staff.
  • Displaying the characteristics of our school’s Learner Profile.
  • Present updates and issues raised within meetings at whole school assemblies.