By Jesse Graham
Healesville Primary School is seeking people with skills and time to pitch in, with a group of parents and community members to be established later this month.
School staff will meet with interested residents on Friday 17 and Wednesday 22 February to establish Parents and Community Helpers of Healesville Primary School (PACH of HPS) – a group dedicated to pooling skills to help the school.
Staff member Louise George said the group would be similar to a parents’ club, but would include people in the community who had skills to offer, such as gardening or an interest in reading to students.
“It’s skills specific – if you’ve got skills to help with literacy, come in and help with a classroom,” she said.
“If you’ve got skills that help with fund-raising then great, come on in.
“But it’s basically to … sort of push it out into the community a little bit more than most parent groups.”
The Friday meeting will be held at the school staffroom from 9am, while the Wednesday meeting will be held from 7pm at the Healesville RSL.
Principal Cameron Heath said PACH was about gathering people from inside and outside the school community to work together.
He said the group would help with organising events, such as last year’s 150th fete, but would not be primarily focused on fund-raising.
“It’s about making connections and community, and having friends within there,” he said.
“That (fund-raising) might be the by-product, but the main reason is to create those friendships.”
Ms George said the time commitments for members would vary, depending on what events were happening, but that it would work with members’ schedules.
“If you can come in for an hour a day, that’s great – if you can work all weekend, fabulous,” she said.
“It’s what you’ve got to give, and utilising what people have got to give so everyone can help.”
Sue Bleumink said that about 25 people had expressed interest in the group as of Thursday 9 February, and that anyone wanting to express interest can call 5962 4053 or email healesville.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
