The Purpose of the Parents’ Association
The purpose of the Parent Association is to provide a structure through which the parents and guardians of children attending Scoil Chiaráin can work together for the best possible education for their children. The Parents’ Association will work with the Principal, staff and Board of Management to build effective partnership of home and school.
The Aim of the Parent Association
The aim of the Parents’ Association is to enable parents to play their part in ensuring the best possible education for their children, through the Association’s programme of activities.
The Parents’ Association will promote the interests of the students in co-operation with the Board, Principal, teachers and students in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998.
The Work of the Parents’ Association
The parent association will undertake a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents and which will support pupils, parents and school staff. In planning its activities, the Parents’ Association will consult with the school Principal.
The Parents’ Association may advise the Principal and Board on any matters relating to the school in accordance with the Education Act, 1998, 26 (2)(a)
The Membership of the Parents’ Association
All parents or guardians of children attending Scoil Chiaráin are deemed to be members of the Parents’ Association.
The Committee of the Parents’ Association
The members of the Parents’ Association will elect a number of members who will have responsibility for managing the activities of the Parents’ Association. This team will serve as the committee of the Parents’ Association.
The Work of the Committee of the Parents’ Association
The committee is the team that will manage the tasks of the Association on behalf of the parent body (the members). The committee will draw up a plan for the activities of the association, in consultation with parents and in accordance with their wishes.
The committee will be responsible for seeing that activities are run in an efficient and effective way. The committee will consult with the school Principal when planning the programme of activities for a particular year. The committee will arrange with the Principal and Board a system for ongoing communication.
At the annual general meeting (AGM) the committee will report to the parent body (the members) about its work.
The committee will manage and account for any funds collected by the Parents’ Association.
Membership of the Committee
The members of the committee will be elected each year at the AGM of the Parent Association.
The number of the committee will be a maximum of 12 with a minimum of 6.
Each member will be elected for one year. Members may go forward for election for a further year, providing they have a child in the school.
Parent representatives elected to the Board of Management are automatically members of the committee, but will not hold an officer post.
Co-options and Subcommittees
The committee may co-opt people onto the committee to assist in their work. Subcommittees can be set up for particular tasks.
The subcommittees may also co-opt people to assist in their work.
The subcommittees may not make decisions. They are accountable to the main committee.
Finance
The Parent Association will finance its activities through fund raising specifically for the work of the Parents’ Association, or through a small annual charge on parents to be agreed at the AGM.
A treasurer will be appointed from among the committee members and will be responsible for keeping the accounts of the Parents’ Association finances. The treasurer will give a statement of income and expenditure at each committee meeting.
A written statement of income and expenditure will be given at the AGM.
The Parents’ Association will keep a bank account in its name. The treasurer and at least one other member of the committee must sign cheques drawn on the account.
November 2009.
