CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
Minutes of the Parent -Teacher
Association General Meeting held on Thursday, 18th October, 2012
The meeting
started at exactly 3:00pm, with the opening prayer said by Mrs. Aduloju
Gbemisola.
The chairman
addressed everyone present and prayed for a brief and fruitful meeting.
The minutes
of the last meeting were read by Miss. Ojo Ayodele and adopted by the house
following a motion for adoption by Mrs. Balogun and seconded by Mrs. Adebowale.
MATTERS ARISING
Mr. Abubakar
Sadiq Ibrahim wanted clarification on the summer class and was told it is
designed for every end of session.
MONTESSORI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
The director
explained the Montessori system as one that regards every child as being
unique. She explained that children learn at different paces and that every
child should therefore be given the opportunity to move at his/her own pace.
According to her, 2 ½ / 3 year old pupils will spend three sessions in the
nursery class before moving to the primary. She advised that parents should not
compare their children to others. If your child can write at age three, fine;
if not, let him/her be, there is no need to push them. She further stressed
that it is necessary to create a conducive environment for children to learn
and develop and that this is the mission of Corner Stone Montessori Schools.
SCHOOL CLUBS
The head teacher
encouraged the parents to enroll their children for the different available
clubs in the school. She went ahead to list the paying and the non-paying clubs
in the schools as follows
NON-PAYING CLUBS
1. Drama
2. Science
3. Art and craft
4. French
5. ICT
6. Mathematics and
PAYING CLUBS
1. Mad science club - N13,000 per term
2. Dance club - N6,000 per term
3. Public speaking - N5,000
per term
4. Karate - N7,500 per term
She implored
parents to check the notice board for regular updates on club activities.
SCHOOL PREFECTS
The head
teacher informed the house that school prefects have been selected from years
four (4) and five (5) pupils and that their names and posts will be made public
as soon as the badges are ready. She listed some of the upcoming events for
this session as
1. Nursery week,
2. Class assembly, to start next term,
3. Spelling bee competition at the end
of every term,
4. Edu-fare will come up third term and
5. What we can do with our shapes
She also
informed the house of the employment of a Physical and Health Education teacher;
hence the first inter-house sports will take place this session.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The treasurer,
Mrs. Alfred told the house that though many parents have paid for the PTA
project, some are yet to. She then went ahead to announce the amount in the
account.
The PTA
chairman Mr. Akintunde pleaded with all parents to pay the PTA levy thereby assisting
the school in its growth.
Mrs. Idajili
wanted to know if the payment was per term, to which the chairman answered that
it is once ,and per family.
The call by
the chairman to know the capacity of generator that will be suitable was
responded to by Mr. Francis Adi who said that he would need to go round the
school to make an estimate. Mrs. Alfred and Mr. Adeyinka Adewale volunteered to work with Mr.
Moses Oluwole to check the electrical appliances used in the school. Mrs.
Alfred suggested a familiar electrician be made to join the team.
It was
agreed that the school will need a generator of a suitable capacity. The chairman wanted to know if the feasibility
study would be concluded in one week and
the generator installed before the end of the year and possibly commission it.
He asked for
suggestions as to how to make the other parents who haven’t paid the PTA levy do
so. Mrs. Ene Sofia enjoined parents to pay up since it is for the benefit of
their children and that one of the reasons for choosing the school for her
children was because it has air conditioners. Mrs. Biola Olumodeji also encouraged parents to pay and that those who have financial challenges
can speak to the management to pay by installments.
The Head
teacher implored parents to work with the school in giving the pupils
qualitative education by paying for extra enrichment materials whenever the
need arises. The Director further explained that there are some books that the
pupils will find very useful but that the school has just one copy of each. The
school can however make photocopies, bind and sell for a token. Willing parents
can then buy for their children. The books are enrichment materials and so are
optional. Mrs. Ihedigbo supported the extra resources by saying that it is
better to get resources from the school than hire lesson teachers who may end
up confusing the children. Mrs. Chioma Onashapor opined that it would be nice
if such resources can be in the school library so that every child can have
easy access to them. Mrs. Attahiru suggested that all work sheets be put in a
booklet form for easy management. She also advised the school to have a
complete first aid box and ensure absolute cleanliness of the environment. She
was told that the school has a first aid box but will endeavour to upgrade it.
COMPLAINTS
Mrs. Olumodeji
complained about giving short notices of events to parents, as well as
inadequate information dissemination by the school. Mrs. Balogun expressed
displeasure with the change in plans concerning the nursery colour week.
According to her, parents were not duly informed about what the children
should wear for the event. She also
complained about the late information concerning the Independence Day
celebration.
Mrs.
Durojaiye asked if the communication book is meant for all pupils, and if so,
she would like to know why her child didn’t get one. Mrs. Idajili added that
though her own child has, nothing has ever been written in it and that teachers
do not even read nor acknowledge what parents write in the book.
Mrs. Longe apologized on behalf of the school
concerning the delay in the supply of school uniform, especially to the new
pupils. She explained that the fault was from the manufacturers and suppliers who
mixed up the specification, so the school had to return the ones sent and is
still expecting new sets.
Mrs. Ene
Sofia, a new parent wanted to know why the school doesn’t allow children to
take juice in the school. Mrs. Longe responded on behalf of the school by
explaining that due to increased cases of juvenile diabetes, the school is
trying to help curb the risk of such an ailment in children. She also encouraged
parents to make children drink more water, yogurt and milk as advised by the
school.
Mrs. Nosa
Igbemudia expressed her dissatisfaction with the way and manner in which the
after school care is being handled. She complained that her child is always
left uncared for and all children are put in the hall with their bags scattered
all over the place each time she comes in to pick her child. She was of the
opinion that there was lack of proper supervision and planned activities for
the children. The Head Teacher explained that the school has planned after
school care/ activities and that there are always teachers on duty to take care
of the children.
Mr. Enobong
Samuel advised that teachers should always appear neat and presentable at all
times, so that prospective parents on enquiry visits can have a good impression
about them and the school. He cited a not-too-encouraging example. The head teacher
promised that all the complaints would be looked into.
Mrs. Ihedigbo whose children are in the nursery
class wanted to know how she can assist her children at home without textbooks.
She said that, as busy parents, it is difficult to know what to do with the children
without textbooks to guide them. The director told her that children don’t use
textbooks at this stage and that they don’t need a lesson teacher either.
Mr. Oluwole needed help with teaching his child letter
sounds. Mrs. Longe said that she too used
to have that challenge but found a book
and CD she bought from the school shop very helpful.. She also stressed that young
children do not need lesson teachers. She however counseled parents to listen
more to their children and observe them. Mrs. Idajili was also of the opinion that
there is no need to confuse the children with a lesson teacher who is not
familiar with the Montessori curriculum, but rather talk to the school
authority to clear their doubts .
FIELD TRIP/EXCURSIONS
It was
unanimously agreed by all members present that the school should embark on a field
trip this session but be careful in the choice of where to visit.
BLOG AND WEBSITE
The
chairman, Mr. Akintunde told the house that the school blog is for better
communication (www.cornerstonemontessorischools.blogspot.com). He advised parents to write out
their e-mail addresses clearly so that the school can communicate with them through
email, in addition to SMS. Mr. John Oke volunteered to assist the school in updating
its website and further work on the school blog.
Mrs. Longe is not too satisfied with the way
the blog is programmed. She said that information that should be for only
parents, staff and pupils can actually be accessed by everyone who opens the
blog. She said that it would be nice if confidentiality can be ensured. In view of this, Mr. John Oke suggested a
login password for parents and teachers to access vital information on the
blog.
APPRECIATION OF TEACHERS
The chairman
encouraged parents to appreciate the teachers whenever the need arises. He also
thanked everyone present thereby bringing the meeting to an end.
The meeting
ended by 5:05pm with the closing prayer said by Mrs. Joy Uwa.
ATTENDANCE
1. SAMUEL ODU
2. ESOSA LONGE
3. AGEDE OYEDE
4. KOLADE BAYODE
5. ENE SOFIA
6. KEMI DUROJAIYE
7. CHIOMA ONOSHAKPOR
8. FRANCIS A.ATI
9. CAROLINE IYONSI
10.
ADULOGU GBEMI
11.
MOHAMMED ABDULLAHI
12.
NGOZI IDAJILI
13.
MAVAL JITUBOH
14.
BLESSING SAM- IONEMBER
15.
CHRISTIANA IBETO
16.
BADIYYAM M. YARADUA
17.
IJEH CHINYERE .E.
18.
GRACE ELVIS
19.
Dr. FAVOUR .E. ORJI
20.
LADY IJEOMA AZUBIKE
21.
JOY UWA
22.
Mrs. WAKAMA
23.
Mrs. OBI ANGELA
24.
OYENIKE WALE BALOGUN
25.
FATE GAMBA AETAHIN
26.
RACHEAL WJEH
27.
RUTH SWOMEN
28.
G ALADIMA FEN .D.
29.
IGBEMUDIA NOSA
30.
MOSES OLUWOLE
31.
Mrs. MERCY OSEKWUYE-ATOI
32.
ASARI ARIKPO
33.
ADEGOKE L.O
34.
UCHE UDEH
35.
OKUSAGA BUSOLA
36.
HENRY OMONIYI
37.
CLARA
AMEH
38.
F. KEHINDE
39.
RAKIYA OGAH
40.
MIDAH LAMINGA
41.
PAT MBAKWE
42.
ANYA NWOCHA
43.
JOHN OKE
44.
GLORIS IHEDIGBO
45.
KIKELOMO ISMAIL
46.
VICTOR-NWDIGO LINDA
47.
GBENGA ODUBAYO
48.
OGHOYONE UFOMA QUEEN
Mrs.
NNENNA GREY OKEHI
