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Information for All Parents Regarding PA and AGM

Information Letter for all Parents / Guardians of pupils at Scoil Mhuire National School,

by the Parents’ Association Committee

First and foremost, we would like to welcome all new pupils and parents to the school. We hope that your years as part of the Scoil Mhuire National School community will be positive and happy ones.

Who and What is the Parents’ Association (P.A.)?:

The parents association is made up of all parents and guardians of each child in the school. Once your child is enrolled in the school, you are automatically a member. The aim of the parents association is to promote the interests of the students in co-operation with the principal, teachers, students and board of management. As a member, we hope that you can find a way of helping to achieve this goal. Examples of what we usually get up to are listed below. But, due to Covid-19 restrictions this year will be a little different.  We would appreciate any support you are able to give us during this time so we can continue support and fund whatever activities or school equipment requests we can.

Social Events and Activities:

We believe the social side of school is very important to each child’s growth. Indeed, it is often the friendships formed and the extra-curricular events and activities which we all remember from our school days. We would like to provide those opportunities to our children and we like to involve the children as much as possible in running events which are for their benefit.  Below are our general annual events which some this year will have to be postponed unfortunately.

* Our children have had the opportunity through the school to try out kayaking, music and drama, each of which is partly funded and supported by the Parents’ Association.

* Two Cake and Toy Sales are organised annually and run by 6th class in co-operation with the P.A.

* Fun Run – This event has been run by the Parents’ Association for over ten years now and as well as being a fun community and family social gathering it has the added benefit of encouraging children to be active. Parents help to steward and organise and many join the run too!

* A very popular annual community event in Schull is the Tree of Light Ceremony at Christmas. So many people get involved and we are very grateful to Santa Claus for taking time out from his busy schedule to pay us a visit. While the Parents’ Association co-ordinate this special occasion, it truly is a wonderful display of community spirit.

* The P.A. is active in the Schull-Le Guilvinec Twinning. Pupils from our school, along with their parents, visit Le Guilvinec and are immersed in the local community and culture during their stay. Pupils from France then attend our school for a week. The P.A. host our French visitors on their arrival and give them a great send off at the end of the week.

* 6th class graduation – The Parents’ Association sponsor pizzas and 5th class parents in particular help out with baking and hosting the event.

* Junior Infants Welcome Morning for Parents – A coffee morning to welcome parents of our new young pupils is hosted by P.A. members.

Support for extra-curricular activities organised by Teachers:

Teachers organise extra-curricular activities and some involve the assistance of the Parents’ Association. We are very grateful for the opportunities and experiences that the teachers provide in this way and endeavour to support them and help with organisational input into school events. A little additional pruning and weeding for the award winning school garden and some marshalling for the Green Flag (Travel) walking, cycling or scooting to school events are examples. The P.A. has also assisted with funding of buses for school sporting trips and events such as the Panto trip and school tours as well as help towards the funding of Tin Whistle lessons.

Fund-Raising:

We know that government financial support to school is not generous! As well as the activities listed above, there are many facilities in the school which have been made possible by the contributions of the wider community through the fund raising efforts of the Parents’ Association. In previous years, some whiteboards and maths and other classroom specific resources were provided indoors while outdoors there are benches, colourful stencils in the junior playground and a bike rack which were funded by the Parents’ Association. Also lately, sports jerseys, Numican Starter Apparatus and storage boxes were also purchased for the school.  This year, the P.A bought leaving hoodies for the 6th class graduation as they were unable to have a graduation party and we also funded the leaving party of Mr Duggan the previous headteacher.

The types of fundraising are very varied. There are numerous cake sales, the sale of Christmas cards designed by children, the Tree of Light, the Fun Run, Mad Hair Day, seeking sponsorship from local sources, and kind donations.

So What has this all got to do with YOU?:

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We hope that you will agree that the Parents’ Association is an active positive force in Scoil Mhuire National School. We hope this letter has explained what the Parents’ Association has been doing and has encouraged you, the parents, to be involved in your child’s school. We would like all parents to contribute their views, their experiences and their talents to making the school years of our sons and daughters the happiest and most fruitful they can be. Perhaps you will identify some ways in which you can get active!

We would ask every parent to be involved. There may be one or two events per year that you could help out with. If you have a skill or talent and a little time to spare, please let the

Committee know. Perhaps you have some new ideas to contribute and we constantly seek new activities to enhance school life especially in these current climates.

Please keep an eye out on Aladdin for various notes on upcoming events and for seeking volunteers to help out with activities.

In order to air views and put plans in place, there is a monthly meeting, (usually the first Tuesday of every month) of parents who have been elected to act as the Committee of the Association. These meetings can help establish the views of the parents and pupils and to plan and run activities that benefit the pupils and the school.

Below are listed our current Committee members. Please feel free to contact any one of us if you have any suggestions or questions that we might help you with.

Sarah Wood, Laurie Mason, Paul Wood, Danny Logan , Lynda Whelton , Noreen Murphy, Angelique Power, Clodagh O’Driscoll and Miriam Pyburn.

Usually at the upcoming AGM, we review the year’s activities and finances, air views and begin the discussion of ideas for the year ahead and elect a new committee. This year will have to be a little different.  Information will be sent out on Aladdin of what we got up to last year and the Treasurers report for everyone to view.  Hopefully these will be available to view on the website too.  If you have any queries, ideas or are interested in joining the committee please contact Sarah Wood by email on sarahlouisewood2005@gmail.com by no later than 30th September 2020.