Partnership between the home and school is important because with positive and active partnership your child gets the best that primary education can offer, and with this in mind we would ask all parents to actively support the current Parents Association (PA). Please click here to download and view a copy of the Scoil Bhríde Nurney PA Constitution.

 

What is the Parents Association about?

The role and function of the Parents Association of Scoil Bhríde Nurney is to:

 

• To promote active involvement of parents within school life.

• To foster good communication between parents, teachers and Board of Management.

• To work on fund-raising events which will enhance the facilities and opportunities within the school for both the children and teachers alike 

All funds raised are used for the benefit of the children within the school, by way of enhanced facilities and further educational opportunities. All parents are welcome to their monthly meetings where your contribution will be gratefully appreciated.
 

 

What is the Parents Association not about?

 

• Decision making and management issues in the school

• Professional issues re. teaching and learning

• A channel for/about complaints for other parents

 

Particular roles within the Parents Association:

 

The Chairperson

There are two basic jobs the Chairperson should do:

a) Guide the PA to achieve its aims

b) Chair the meetings of the PA

Some of the duties of the Chairperson are as follows:

 

• Liaise with the Secretary/Clerk on the agenda and meeting arrangements.

• Welcome members and introduce guests.

• Ensure fair discussion and that everyone gets a chance to have their say.

• Stop anyone taking over or dominating discussions.

• Get through the agenda on time.

• Sum up issues, points and decisions.

• Ensure decisions are carried out.

• Work with the Treasurer to ensure that proper financial accounts are prepared for meetings, including the Annual General Meeting.

 

 

The Secretary

The Secretary plays an important role in supporting communication between PA members themselves and between the Parent Forum and the PA. It is important that the PA agrees how members of the Parent Forum can get in touch with the Secretary and that these arrangements are well publicised so that all parents know how to make contact.

Some of the duties of the Secretary are to:

• Make arrangements for meetings and prepare an agenda in consultation with the Chairperson.

• Send a notice of the meeting, venue and agenda to all PA members so that they will receive them in good time for the meeting. Agendas should be sent out for all meetings even if they are held at the same time and place each month.

• Keep a record of everyone attending the meeting and any apologies for absence.

• Let PA members know about all correspondence received and report any action taken since last meeting.

• Take a minute of meetings, recording decisions and actions to be taken and by whom. This can be a task that is shared amongst members of the PA to allow the Secretary to participate in discussions.

• Provide minutes for all PA members prior to or at meetings.

The Treasurer

Every PA that intends to raise money should make sure a Treasurer is appointed to handle the money coming in and going out of the group. The Treasurer is responsible for the proper handling of the finances of the PA but not the actual raising of money.

The tasks of the Treasurer include:

 

• Having a clear and accurate book-keeping system that records any money received and how the money is spent.

• Maintaining the bank account. It is good financial practice to require two out of three of the Officers’ signatures on cheques to allow any money to be withdrawn or spent.

• Producing a report for each meeting stating money paid into, or out of, the account since the last meeting.

• Advise on the amount of money available for the group’s work and warn of excess expenditure.

• Prior to the PA Annual General Meeting (AGM) the Treasurer should arrange for the year’s accounts to be independently checked and agreed with the Chair.

• The Treasurer should present the audited financial statement at the AGM and answer any questions on the accounts.

Groups

 

It may be useful to have some sub-groups of the PA to carry out some specific tasks. If you are setting up sub-groups these should be given a clear remit with someone taking responsibility for organising the group and reporting back to the PA. Some of the tasks you may consider allocating to sub-groups might include:

• Planning social events for parents, children and staff

• Communicating with parents which might include a newsletter

• Links with the community.

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When and where does the Scoil Bhríde PA meet?

In the Scoil Bhríde Nurney school library. Time and dates vary, but can be found on the school's weekly newsletter

 

Additional Information and Support

For additional information on effective Parent Associations and their role please click the following links:

 

• www.npc.ie

• Supporting each other - A guide to best practice for the effective partnership between Principals and Parent Associations