St. Josephs Primary School

Parents Council Newsletter

I would like to begin with explaining a little about the parent’s council. Every parent is a member of the council. We are here to work in conjunction with and alongside the school to offer support and help in any way we can. Every year in late September an AGM is held at the school and all parents are invited to attend. At this AGM a committee is elected and parent reps. are put in place. It you have any issue that you wish to have discussed or brought up with the school, please do not hesitate to approach any parent from the list and they will be your voice.

Maria Kirwan, Eimear Kinsella, Claire Breen, Siobhan Lavin, Jennifer Fortune, Katrina Doyle, Karen O Raw, Mary Hearne, Emily Conway, Caroline Kavanagh, Valerie Lacey, Trish Middleton, Joan Dempsey, Michelle Kavanagh, Reiltin Tyrell, Paula O Brien.

Split the Pot

I would like to thank all parents that have been supporting our weekly split the pot envelopes. This has been a very successful way of fund raising with 100% of the money going to the school. Here are some of the things that the money goes towards. Next year we are hoping to expand this list and any suggestions are very welcome:

• Hoodies for our 6^th class students as a gift before they move on to secondary school
• Games for each classroom for those rainy days.
• Crisps/drink as a treat for our 2^nd class communion students.
• Crisps/drink as a treat for our 5/6^th class confirmation students.
• Flowers in the church for communion/confirmation ceremonies
• Milk/tea/coffee/sugar for all events at the school – grandparents day, communion & confirmation day, graduation day, open evening, jnr infants evening etc.
• Ipads that are used in the school

The split the pot would not happen without the parents that give up an hour of their time on a Friday evening to collect the envelopes and get prizes to the winners, so thank you ladies.

It has been decided to reinstate our weekly draw for pupils starting this Friday with 2 prizes of a big bar of chocolate. There will also be an extra draw on 14^th February for a Valentines Hamper. So make sure you get your envelope back into school this week for your chance to win!!!

Bingo Night

A bingo night has been organised in The Crosses for Thursday 20^th February for the school. Books are €10.00 each and we are hoping as many parents as possible can come along. Starting at 8.30pm.

Confirmation

The confirmation will take place on 1^st April this year. We will be asking 4^th class parents to lend a hand this day to help with the teas/coffees at the school after the ceremony. A letter will be sent out to parents nearer to the date.

Communion

The Communion will take place on 16^th May this year. We will be asking 1^st class parents to lend a hand on this day along with the parent’s council. A letter will be sent out at a later date.

Voluntary Contribution

Each year we ask every family in the school to make a voluntary contribution to the parent’s council which then goes to the school to provide some of the extras that our children need. In previous years the amount was €50.00. At a recent meeting it was decided to reduce this amount to €30.00 per family. This is a voluntary amount and any contribution that you wish to make will be very welcome. An envelope will be sent home later this week to each family and I ask you to return it to the school. If you wish to pay in instalments, a further envelope will be sent home in the following terms. I would like to thank parents for their continued support with this contribution.

Pop up ‘pre loved’ uniform shop

This was something that the parent’s council only set in motion last year and we are hoping to continue with. We are running this in line with the schools policy of reduce, reuse, recycle. We are asking parents to donate any items of uniform that they no longer need to the school. Later in the year the ‘shop’ will open at the school for 2 days and all items will be up for grabs for €5.00 or less. It is a brilliant idea and a great way to get what you need for less. More details will follow.