Parents Association
Welcome to the Parents Association of Scoil Mhuire. All parents of girls in Scoil Mhuire are automatically members of the Parents Association (PA).
The PA Committee is made up of members from each year to represent them, plus the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Our role is to support the work of the school, fundraise and to provide a channel of communication between the parents and the Principal and the Board of Management.
Reps are on the committee for a 2 year period and there are annual nominations made for new reps every year.
Summary 2019/2020
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our Class Reps who have provided invaluable support to the committee in 2019/20:
Junior Infants: Adrienne McDonnell, Kim Berg, John O'Donovan, Mary Coonan, Laura Sherry
Senior Infants: Anne McSweeney, Cormac Reid (2 vacancies going into 1st Class)
1st class: Ciara O’Brien, Laura Jayne Gilmore (1 vacancy going into 2nd Class)
2nd Class: Vicki Smith, Cathy Crowley (2 vacancies going into 3rd Class)
3rd class: Liz Field, Suzanne McKenna (2 vacancies going into 4th Class)
4th class: Kelli Kindlon, Grainne Forbes (2 vacancies going into 5th Class)
5th class: Michele Doran, Rebecca Green (1 vacancy going into 6th Class)
6th class: Judy Cavanagh
Some of the reps are at the end of their 2 (even 3!) year stint so, as we lose some key members of the PA, we would very much like to welcome the input from any parent who would like to get involved.
The Officers’ posts (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) will also be vacant.
Please do consider nominating yourself for one of these positions. We can genuinely say that being on the PA has been a great experience. Being able to have an input in how raised funds are spent, and seeing the impact of the PA’s activities on the school is truly rewarding work. We are also lucky to have a great Principal and Board of Management who support what we do.
Committee meetings are usually held monthly on a Tuesday evening, from 7.30 – 8.30pm in the Staff Room of the school (although in the current climate, these may have to be conducted virtually). The outgoing officers will be on hand to ensure a smooth transition so you won’t be alone!
Electing a new committee takes place at our AGM (usually held in late September/early October), but as we are unsure what the government guidelines will be then, we will keep you informed through class WhatsApp groups or Aladdin.
We understand that it is not possible for everyone to join a committee for a full year, but there are plenty of other ways to get involved, like helping out at one of our social events, sponsoring our annual Christmas Calendar or donating a prize at our Garden Fete. No contribution is too small, so please take part if you can.
Finally, we would like to thank all the parents who have generously donated their time, skills and funds to have made 2019/20 such a successful year, despite circumstances. We could not have done it without you! Wishing you a relaxing and safe summer, we look forward to seeing everyone in September.
Regards
Alan Morris (Chair), Chris Lysaght (Secretary), Peter O'Leary (Treasurer)
PA email address: scoilmhuirelakelandspa@gmail.com
2019/2020 PA Events and Activities
6th Class Year Book and Hoodie
As a special treat for the 6th Class girls, the school organised Graduation hoodies which was funded by the PA.
We also paid for the Year Book - thanks must go to 6th Class Rep, Judy Cavanagh and Ann Dalton for their hard work in putting it together and creating a wonderful memory of the girls’ 8 years at Scoil Mhuire.
Confirmation - Thursday 12 March
The 6th Class girls were fortunate that their Confirmation was held on the last day before Lockdown! They marked their special ceremony with family and friends who came from all over Ireland and around the world, as far as Australia. A big thank you to 5th Class Rep, Michele Doran, and 5th Class parents from Scoil Mhuire and Star of the Sea who provided refreshments after the church service.
Parents’ Talk—Wednesday 3 March
Former prison governor, John Lonergan, shared his philosophy on raising the next generation. "Parenting - the Challenges and the Rewards", focused on a number of important issues facing parents of children of all ages including modern technology and social media, constructive communication, and how to build a more positive and affirming relationship with our children.
STEM Week Workshops
The PA part-funded two exciting workshops for STEM Week in March—Pedal Power and Lego Robotics
Grandparents Day - January 2020
Grannies and Grandads of Scoil Mhuire girls were invited to the school recently to celebrate Grandparents Day. A huge thank you to everyone who baked and bought platters, plates and boxes of delicious food. Families were extra generous this year, we had 4 tables full of food —sausage rolls, frittata, sandwiches, muffins, cakes, buns and biscuits galore. One student stayed up till late making three different treats!
It was worth the effort as we received many lovely compliments from the grandparents, some of whom had spent considerable time travelling to Sandymount especially for the occasion. There was a huge turnout this year, the place was full with visitors and the PA volunteers were kept busy pouring cups of teas and coffees for most of the time. We enjoyed the morning nonetheless, there was a lovely warm atmosphere in the hall. Grandparents’ Day is an event that epitomizes the ethos and values of the school and we are glad to be part of it.
Christmas Carols
A group of Scoil Mhuire girls and their parents spent a cold December afternoon carolling in Sandymount Village. There was a great atmosphere and their dulcet tones helped them raise €475! Thank you to all who took part including Michael and Ciaran on clarinet and guitar.
Calendar
Each year the Parents’ Association, along with the teachers and students, work together to produce the Scoil Mhuire Calendar. Donations from our sponsors and calendar sales saw us raise over €10,500! A massive thank you to parents and their companies for their very generous support. Special thanks also to Grace Keely for her lovely design work. This year’s theme was The Environment and the winning artwork is August’s picture “Turn the tide on sea level rise” by 2nd Class (Ms McGuirk).
The Magical World of Science - November
The PA arranged for award-winning Irish comedian and scientist, Donal Vaughan, to perform at the school. From conjuring fire from seemingly thin air, skewering a plastic bag full of wee (actually apple juice) without bursting it, to creating a cola fountain, Donal performed tricks and explained the scientific principles behind them. The girls learnt how amazing science can be using everyday objects.
Literacy Circle Books
The PA purchased 25 sets of books for 3rd - 6th Class’ Literacy Circle. Ms Martley and librarian parent, Antoinette Prout, in conjunction with the 6th Class students, put together a list of books from the latest releases to lesser known titles.
A Little Princess - Tuesday 8 October
The girls enjoyed watching The Little Princess, performed by a touring theatre company, and funded by the PA. It was a fantastic production which explored themes such as friendship and bullying.
Golf Classic - Tuesday 10 September 2019
The Scoil Mhuire Golf Classic, which took place in Elm Park, raised over €4,500. These funds have been used to replace the interactive whiteboards in the Junior Infants classrooms. Our thanks to Peter O'Leary for organising such a successful event.