Our Parent Association

The purpose of our Parent Association is to help our children by helping the management, teachers and staff throughout the school year. Each year we support the school community in many ways. We represent the parents in the school community and support the children and staff of both schools.

Our meetings take place the first Friday of every month at 9.00 am in Castaheaney Community Centre which is located in the grounds of the senior school. We plan for our meetings to be just one hour however sometimes the meetings go on for longer as we enjoy a Tea / Coffee and a chat. Please feel free to arrive/leave as per your availability and bring the little ones too if need be.

Current members of PA committee are: Lorraine Shakeshaft, Jean Murdiff and Róisín Glynn.

Mary, Mother of Hope Schools’ Parent Association is a joint association across both the Junior and Senior Schools. Each year, parents to Mary, Mother of Hope National Schools automatically become members of our Parent Association. It is entirely up to them if they are interested to participate.

Below is a list of some of the activities that we help out with, details of what we do, how we raise money and some of what we may anticipate for the new year.

PLEASE NOTE: Mainly, the timing for the school events we are asked to help are during the morning. If you are unable to attend these mornings, please remember that you are more than welcome to attend our evening meetings either way. Thoughts and ideas for how to help the school and fund raising are shared and welcomed at each meeting. We appreciate that time is of great importance in all our lives, if you can help, fantastic, be it frequently or infrequently throughout the year.

The Junior School Hall

Below is a list of some of the activities that we have helped out with last year; detailing what we do, how we have raised money and some of what we may anticipate for the new year.

Fund Raising for the School

We organise Sponsored Walks, Social Evenings, Christmas Fairs, Funky Hair days and the innovative idea of selling of Homework Passes just before Christmas.

Fund Raising for Others

We regularly hosts fundraising coffee mornings in the Junior School Hall – over the years we have supported St Francis Hospice, Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day, Down Syndrome Ireland, Autism Awareness and The Leukaemia Trust Charities. These Coffee Mornings are also a great chance to meet and catch up with other members of the school community.

Helping Out

We host the receptions for new Junior Infant parents, Communion, Confirmation, Junior and Senior School Graduations. We prepare supplementary resource packs in the Junior school, help with registration for Junior Infants and help out with the Welcome Ceremonies. We help run the Annual Book Fair in both schools and over time have covered and organised 1,000s of book for both Junior and Senior school children.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place in September each year when we review last year’s events and fund-raising and plan for the coming school year. Everyone is welcome to the meeting – the more input we get from parents the more effective our association can be. If you would like to actively join our committee, please leave your name and mobile number with Ana or Marie – secretaries in both schools.

The Parent Association is a great way to get to know other parents from the school community. Ask any of our team! It also means a lot to children to see their mums and dads helping out and getting involved in their school. Maybe this year is the year you choose to get involved, come along, you will enjoy it!