The following is a list of the activities undertaken by the Parents’ Association:

Monthly Meetings

The Parents’ Association Committee meet once a month to deal with any association business. This meeting is generally held on first Tuesday of the month during school terms.

Newsletter

The aim of the newsletter is to keep parents informed of school events/ children’s achievements / PA activities/ NPC meetings etc. The newsletter is published at intervals during school year each half term.

Review of school policies in conjunction with the Principal and Board of Management (BOM)

Parents Association committee is invited to review and provide input to school policies before approval by Board of Management.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in September of each year. In this meeting, committee members are elected to the PA committee. Expressions of interest in joining the Parents’ Association Committee will be invited in advance of or at the Annual General Meeting.

Below is a list of the events that the Parents’ Association Committee organises (most on an annual basis):

First Communion

• Parents Association organise tea/coffee in Parish Centre on information night for parents of First Communion children
• Act as ushers at the masses
• Prepare the school hall prior to First Communion parties
• Provide tea/coffee and celebration cake for Communion party
• Parents Association of both Clane national schools share funding of flowers in church for ceremony

Confirmation

• Parents Association act as ushers at the mass ceremony
• Parents Association of both Clane national schools share funding of flowers in church for ceremony

Christmas activities

• The Parents’ Association organises and fund entertainment for Christmas celebrations in school (e.g. Mrs. Claus visited in 2010 and sang with children)
• A gift for each classroom is organised in consultation with teachers (e.g. educational games and dolls/ playdoh etc for younger children)
• The gifts are wrapped and presented to the class and each child receives a small Christmas chocolate treat

6th Class Graduation Yearbook

• Preparation of yearbook which is presented to children at Graduation Ceremony
• Organise set-up and catering for Graduation party in the school

Staff Appreciation Lunch

• Takes place in June as a thank you for all the staff’s hard work during the year.
• Volunteers provide various dishes for the lunch which is set up in the staff room.

Second hand book sale and Uniform exchange

• Volunteers collect books/ organise class lists of prices of second hand books
• Provide collection point for used uniforms to be donated by parents
• Help out on the day itself- setting up /selling books/ collecting money/ return monies to girls whose books sold etc

Help out with the Fun day which is organised by the school

• The PA supply and dispense drinks to children at a stand out on the school grounds during the school fun day
• The PA organises and book on site First Aid cover.

Other business may arise during the year and this is brought to the attention of the committee at the monthly meetings

The following is a list of the fundraising activities carried out by the Parents’ Association Committee during the school year. The PA also helps out with other fundraising activities organised by the school as required.

Sponsored walk

• This is usually held before Easter
• It is the PA’s biggest fundraiser and involves organising sponsorship cards/planning route/ compiling quiz questions & answers / organising prizes and donations / getting volunteers to act as (a) stewards along the route; (b) helpers to set up and man the main tables/ dispense drinks and crisps (c) distribution of no homework passes (d) organise raffle etc

Second hand book sale and Uniform exchange

• Volunteers collect books/ organise class lists of prices of second hand books
• Provide collection point for used uniforms to be donated by parents
• Help out on the day itself- setting up /selling books/ collecting money/ return monies to girls whose books sold etc

No uniform days

• Children are invited to dress to a specific theme (e.g. Wear pink or red for Valentine’s Day) and requested to give a small donation to the Parents Association for this

Used Clothing Collection

• Parents are invited to leave bags of used clothing to the school on a specific date
• The clothing is collected from the school and weighed and the school receives a price per kilo

 

New Sports Equipment for Scoil Bhríde.

Thanks to the generous support by parents for the Scoil Bhríde Parents’ Association fundraising activities last year the committee was able to give the school a donation to fund much needed new sports equipment.

In addition to buying games and sports equipment the money was also used install new retractable basketball hoops and to mark out the hall for playing both basketball and spikeball.

Let the games begin!