Manor Gardens Primary School

2012 SGB welcome message

The Manor Gardens School Governing Body (SGB) welcomes parents and children to a new school year. 2012 is going to be both challenging and exciting. We will be commissioning some much needed new facilities funded by a generous donor which will enhance the learning experience at the School. This will include a new media centre, new foundation phase reading room, aftercare facilities and some additional classrooms to replace prefab structures which have present major maintenance challenges. Advanced planning will also be finalized for a Grade R facility as required by government policy and which will accommodate those pupils not already entering the school through the excellent feeder pre-schools that have been long term partners or Manor Gardens Primary. We will also be bringing on stream the new combo-court facility on the upper field for PE lessons and sports such as netball.

Whilst the school might resemble a construction site for a period of time this year, we also look forward to a year of continued academic performance and improving extra-mural participation and performance. MGPS has a proud reputation as an innovative school with talented staff that puts children and their needs first in its approach to designing its programmes and seeks where possible to be inclusive and supportive of a range of academic needs. 2012 will see continued shifts in government educational policy and MGPS will carefully consider how best to work with amended frameworks such as CAPS. The School will strive to continue to perform well beyond the relatively narrow and modest targets set by government in seeking to help all children achieve their full potential.

The Manor Gardens Primary School community values very highly the School’s smaller classes and the opportunities that are made possible by an enrollment generally under 400 pupils. With a strong commitment from parents to paying school fees the School has been able to draw on the skills of additional staff including specialists in fields such as additional languages, music and sport. This enables us as the community to provide a unique offering which helps set the conditions for outstanding academic achievement in a caring and creative environment.

The SGB is elected in terms of the South African Schools Act and is comprised of parents, staff and community members. In the early part of the year the SGB parent representative elections will take place where at least five representatives will be elected for a three year term alongside a number of co-opted members who will offer further support. Parents are urged to participate in the process of nominating candidates and voting for representatives. This is your School – participate to ensure the best future for your children. Whether it is selling hot dogs, advising on legal matters or doing gardening there is a role for you.

Should any parent wish to contact the SGB please feel free to do so through the School Secretary Ms Sharon Kriel skriel@mgps.org.za

Glen Robbins on behalf of the MGPS SGB

Current members of the SGB
 

As a Section 21 government school, the South African Schools Act requires schools to have an elected governing body. The main function of the SGB is to raise fees and allocate resources towards the optimum functioning of the school in a sustainable way. In real terms at Manor Gardens Primary School, this translates primarily to working in partnership with the school management team to enhance the learning environment through the various key areas. The School Governing Body is comprised of elected parents, the Principal, 2 educators and 1 non-educator. Parents who have specialized skills can be co-opted. The SGB meets monthly.

The following items are generally covered in these meetings:
* follow-ups on project items from previous meetings
* a report from the principal as to the recent functioning of the school and identification of matters that might need attention (staffing gaps, programme organization etc)
* a monthly report and discussion on school finances and consideration of any items with a budgetary impact
* a report and discussion on the work of the maintenance sub-committee (covering a range of maintenance issues as well as larger projects)
* reports and discussion on key school projects such as fundraising, school development plan, sports programmes.

As the SGB we are committed to working with staff, parents and children and our broader community to make MGPS a place that inspires hope and one that represents our aspirations for a future South Africa.