Bunscoil McAuley Rice Parents' Association

Chairperson: Lorraine Delaney

Vice-Cahirperson: Karina Cahill

Secretary: Evita Hogan

Treasurer: Niamh Purtill

The Parents' Association wish to thank all parents, guardians, and the school community for their continued support.  It is a great pleasure to see our new school building looking so well, in the knowledge that this is due in part to your generosity in our fundraising efforts.

The Parents' Associtaion 

The Parents' Association has several functions within the school environment. We aim to work with the principal, staff and board of management to build effective co-operation and partnership between home and school. We also aim to promote the interests of the students in co-operation with the board, principal, teachers and students. The Parents Association is in place to advise the Principal or the Board on matters relating to the school and to adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents in the operation of the school, in consultation with the principal.


When do we meet?

We aim to meet on a regular basis, at least once per term. A message will be sent from the school to notify parents of upcoming meetings. The meetings generally will last for 1 hour and everyone is welcome. We have an AGM usually in October/November of each year.

What do we do?

The Parents' Association builds partnerships with the principal, staff and Board of Management. The money raised through our initiatives goes directly into improving many aspects of our school. We have provided funds towards school building projects,PE equipment and classroom resources. We have helped towards the installation of interactive whiteboards in all our classrooms and enabled the school to reduce the cost to parents of visiting teachers and swimming lessons. We run various fundraising events throughout the year, in consultation with the principal. We run social events such as a parents' coffee morning and provide refreshments for parents and children at various school events.

School Parents' Association Policy

The Parents’ Association is the structure through which parents in a school can work together for the best possible education for their children.

The Parents' Association works with the principal, staff and the board of management to build effective partnership between the home and school.

Partnership between the home and school is important because with positive and active partnership the child gets the best that primary education can offer.

The Annual Establishment of a Parents’ Association:

  • The Annual General Meeting of the Parents’ Association will be held in the first term of the school year. The election of officers and the selection of representatives for each class group will take place at this meeting or through a subsequent paper ballot involving all parents in the school.
  • The school Principal or Deputy Principal will attend all Parent Association meetings to promote clear lines of communication between the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association.

It is recommended that the Parent Association would become affiliated to the National Parents Council Primary.

Role & Function of the Parents’ Association:

The main aims of the Parents’ Association are:

  • To help the school achieve its aims and objectives to provide the best education possible for all children in the school
  • To liaise with the Principal
  • To represent the views of parents and to provide a forum for consultation with the Principal and the Parents’ Nominees on relevant issues
  • To provide support for parents, especially new arrivals in the school
  • To provide practical help when required in the school
  • To facilitate social opportunities for parents at school-based meetings
  • To help the school/BOM financially when suitable opportunities arise

What is the Parents’ Association not about?

  • Decision making and management issues in the school
  • Professional issues re. teaching and learning
  • A channel for complaints for other parents

Fundraising:

Fundraising in the name of the school must have the prior consent of the board of management. A Parents’ Association should consult with the board about fundraising for the school or school projects. The approval of the board is needed before these funds are raised. The expenditure of these funds is by the board of management, in consultation with the parents’ association. All monies raised or generated for an agreed project for the school should be lodged to the Board of Management account.