St. Brigid’s Parents Association

Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 13th April 2011

Present: Joanna Ross, Peter Dementiev, Justin Crosbie, Adel Carroll, Yseult Wall, Sandra Polley, Anne Deegan, Clare Lysaght, Vanessa O’Conaill, Jason O’Conail, Therese Clarke, Sharon Nolan, Ger Kirwan, Christy McDonnell

Apologies: Anne Gormley, Grainne Schaeken, Pamela Keane

• AIB Account €1674.44 as of the 1st of April.

Matters Arising

• The topic of raising the profile of the parents association was discussed. An on-line survey is going to be organised on the website for parents to respond to . The questions will relate to what parents would find interesting regarding guest speakers, what day and month suits parents to attend the presentations and would a pub quiz be another option to the parents disco. This survey will zone in on what will encourage parents to attend speeches and social events. Anne and Ger and Clare to discuss setting this up.
• Joanna to contact the National Parents Association to see if they have ideas to encourage more attendance and support.
• Pat and Aedeen are happy to include the scheduled meetings of the parents association along with the Christmas fair date on the back of the school calendar (which is issued at the beginning of the school term) along with the website details.
• The minutes of the meetings are to be put up on the parents association website.
• It was suggested to be more specific about directions into the school for the meetings. The subject of alternating the meetings between the boys and the girls school to encourage attendance. Logistics ? Joanna will talk to Aedeen.
• The class rep system is now coming into its own. Joanna is finding it a great way of organising volunteers etc and it takes the stress out of her running around asking people to volunteer for events.

Girls Board of Management

• The summer camp is only go to be for the 1st 2 weeks of the summer holidays. This is because summer works will be going on. The school is moving from oil to gas.
• The girls choir event in Tallaght was a great success. They will be singing in the National Concert Hall at a later date and they partook in the EBS feis ceoil.
• The school has been awarded the 5th Green Flag. The presentation date will be confirmed. This flag addressed climate change. It is a great achievement for the girls school and a special thanks to Nuala Keane, Kay O’Connor and Gabrielle O’Hurlihy for their help in achieving this.
• The garden day date to be advised.
• A new alarm system has been fitted in the school and they water conservation works are completed. The Christmas works on the rooms ensured an acceptable temperature in the classrooms.
• 3 more interactive boards have been fitted in the classrooms. Every classroom now has an interactive whiteboard.

Boys Board of Management

• The new junior infants evening for parents will be held on the 11th of May.
• There have been great results in the athletics. The boys won the best school award for the 2nd year running in the cross country event in Marley Park.
• The Santry trials are coming up.
• The tennis and soccer teams are doing very well.
• The handwriting and story competitions were very successful.
• Thank you to all who helped with the teas and coffees at the boys confirmation.

Educational Committee

• Joanna is going to try to organise a guest speaker for the term between September and Christmas. The names that have been recommended are Vincent Maloney and Gabrielle O’Herlihy.

Social Committee

• The disco was a great evening for all who went. Although attendance was low the night was great fun. Thanks to Therese and Sharon for organising it.

Tea Committee

• Volunteers to be organised for the teas and coffees for the communions. Class reps to be asked to encouraged volunteers. The parish centre will be used as it is much more practical (nearer to the kitchen). The parish centre was a great success for the confirmation teas and coffees, however a reminder given to block off the walkway between the kitchen and the serving tables because of the hot teas and coffees coming out. The possibility of setting up a procedure where the 1st class parents help was discussed. This is a practise currently used in many schools and could be a practical way of ensuring volunteers.

Any Other Business

• None

Next Meeting: Wednesday 11th May 2011.