December 2008

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 1st edition of the St. Mary’s Junior & Senior School’s PTA Committee (08/09) newsletter.

Firstly, let us explain the role of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA):

1. With your help, we support our two schools by raising much needed funds for computers, sports material, library books, The Special Education Fund etc as well as the purchase of ad hoc equipment / services such as photocopiers and even cleaning materials, which the Department of Education does not fund. Without our fundraising efforts, the schools and our children would simply have to do without. In consultation with the Board of Management from the Junior & Senior schools we develop an annual Calendar of Fundraising Activities (see overleaf) and agree how funds should be used to benefit the schools, and ultimately our children.

2. We are the representative body for the parents whose children attend the Junior & Senior Schools. We liaise with the Board of Management of the schools to provide feedback, suggestions and address any issues that may exist (for example the crossing between the Senior School & Junior School which is currently under construction, after very long & tedious negotiations).

What we have raised so far this year…
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank parents and the wider community for the very generous donations made to our Halloween Fancy Dress sponsored walk, which raised a fantastic €9990, which will be primarily used to buy an interactive white board for the Junior school and library & maths equipment for the Senior School. Despite the wind and rain, the children really enjoyed dressing up, and walking around the town (and scaring onlookers with their costumes!), and were delighted with the treats we provided when they returned to their classrooms. Well done also to the teachers for their fantastic costumes on the day!

The first of this year’s Hot Dog days was held on 14th November in both schools and raised €375 (after costs). The children’s anticipation and excitement about the day was evident, and the children were delighted with their delicious hot dogs!

Events this month…

As a thank you to parents, and as a means of getting to know each other, we’re having a mince pie morning on Friday, 19th December from 10:30am to 12 noon in the GP room (Junior School).

This year’s PTA Committee members are:

Raymond Horan (Chairman)
Orla O’Brien (PTA Communications)
Sandra Bealin (Secretary)
Jenny Kavanagh (PTA Communications)
Mary O’Brien (Treasurer)
Esther Ashe, John Carron (Teacher’s Rep, Jnr School)
Annette McLoughlin, Geraldine Moynihan (Teacher’s Rep, Snr School)
Aisling Dermody, Lisa Charles (Parent’s Rep, Jnr School)
Brenda Kearns, Chris O’Connor (Parent’s Rep, Snr School)
Aileen Mahon, Lorcan McMahon (Parent’s Rep, Jnr School)
Tony Duffy (Parent’s Rep, Snr School)

If there are any issues you’d like to raise, please feel free to talk to one of our committee members.

Finally, the PTA committee would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009

St. Mary’s Junior & Senior School’s PTA Committee Calendar of Events 08/09 Dates for your diary Kalendarz Wydarzen

	Do you have time to spare?
The PTA is always in need of helpers, sometimes for as little as an hour at a time. If you would like to help, please contact Sandra Bealin on 086 271 8868.