P A/ B.O.M
SEPTEMBER 2017
Some updates on Government regulations
GARDA VETTING
- In line with the "Vetting Act" please note that any parents helping with coaching, swimming, supervision an / or giving talks to a class will need to have school specific Garda Vetting in place. This will also apply to TY students who come to our school on work experience.
- Forms for completion can be obtained from the school
POD (Primary Online Database)
The Department of Education and Skills maintain an electronic database of primary school pupils including their PPS number which we are required to return annually. Please note this is a requirement of the Department and not the school.
JUNE 2016
Below please find an overview of the work done in the year 2015-2016 by the Board of Management of St. Teresa's N.S., Ballintogher
Overview of the work of the Board of Management,
St. Teresa's N.S., Ballintogher, Co. Sligo
2015-2016
* Election of a new Board of Management for St. Teresa's N.S.: the members of the Board are :
Patrons nominees- Fr Vincent Connaughton & Iggy Hegarty Chairperson,
Parent nominees- Edele Devins Secretary , Michael O'Connor Health & Safety Officer
Community nominees- Adrian McGoldrick Treasurer , Mary Conboy.
Teacher nominees- Nora Kearins & Ruth Sweeney.
* The following policies were ratified by the Board during the year :
Physical Education , Anti-bullying Policy , Child Protection Policy & Code of Behaviour.
* Fundraising Activities: Carols by Candlelight held on December 13th.
* Maintenance Work Undertaken: Carpets replaced , Painting carried out in one classroom, & the Ancillary Room, temporary repair work to school roof, heaters replaced in the prefabs, Playground markings.
* Teaching practice & work experience students.
* Resource Provision: Replace Data Projector in 2 classrooms, purchase of 3 tablets for ICT in the school.
* Whole School Review: Review of Visual Arts within the school in all classes, overseen by the Department of the Inspectorate and report to Board of Management. Standardised scores, Attendance, child protection & Anti bullying.
* Oversee School Initiatives including: School Self Evaluation, Whole school process to culminate in the achievement of our first Active School Flag, Olympics 4 Schools, Science Fair, Grandparents Day, Active Schools week, 1916 Proclamation Day, Music generation & concert in conjunction with Kilross national school , Sports day.
* Oversee Initiatives within the school to encourage parental Involvement: parent speakers, Sugradh le Cheile, Be Active After Schools programme, Health & Safety
Edele Devins
(Secretary - Board of Management – St. Teresa’s N.S., Ballintogher, Co. Sligo)
JANUARY 2016
The 2016 - 2019 Board of Management has been appointed as follows:
| Iggy Hegarty (Chairman) | Fr. Vincent Connaughton (Bishop's Nominee) |
| Nora Kearins (Principal) | Ruth Sweeney (Vice Principal) |
| Edele Devins (Parents Representative) | Michael O'Connor (Parents Representative) |
| Adrian McGoldrick (Community Representative) | Katherine Browne (Community Representative) |
DECEMBER 2015
We are holding our Christmas Raffle on Sun 13th December after Carols by Candlelight to raise funds for the school. We need your help. We are looking for items to make up hampers e.g. empty baskets, tea, coffee, sweets and other luxury items. Please return to the school by Wednesday 9th Dec.
We are also looking for volunteers to help make up the baskets on Wednesday night 9th Dec at 7.00 pm in the school. Also to sell tickets in the hall on 13th and help with tea and coffee.
2014-2015
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT REPORT
Our Board of Management has been very busy again this past year and has worked with its usual care and dedication to assist and develop our school. The scope of work of our Board of Management is wide and varied however, here is a general overview of the activities which it has been involved in:
- Policies Ratified: Equality Policy, Substance Use, Code of Behaviour and Enrolment Policy
- Questionnaire to Parents: Catholic Schools Partnership
- Fundraising Activities: Bag Packing, Clothing Collection, Christmas Raffle
- Resource Provision: Coaches, Schools Sports Day "Olympics for Schools"
- Talk for Parents: Internet Safety
- Teaching Practise & Work Experience Students
- Overseeing School Initatives: SSE, Green Schools, Science Fair, Grandparents Day, Catholic Schools Week, Sports Day
- Maintenance of School
- Whole School Reviews: Standardised Scores, Attendance, Health & Safety, Child Protection, Anti-Bullying
Many thanks to the Board of Management for their continued support and encouragement to the school and as they near the end of their term of Office we would like to thank them sincerely for their work and dedication.
MARCH 2015
St. Teresa's Primary School Parents Association
Minutes of meeting of the Parents Association held on 9th February 2015
- A letter was read out from the school Principal listing out a number of requirements which they would like the Parents Association to assist them with. These were:
- Volunteer to help with supervision in the boys dressing room before and after swimming lessons. It would be preferable that the volunteer be Garda vetted.
- Two volunteers to give a talk to the students, one regarding starting up their own business, and the other about the medical profession.
- A parent who is interested in gardening to work with a class once per week on developing the school garden.
- Parents to meet with other parents of new infant students who will be having an introduction to the school during three days in June.
- A Rep from the Parents Association to be part of the Critical Incidemt Team. - Marie Clancy volunteered for this role.
- Some fund raising which would be used for library books, playground equipment (e.g. goal posts and basket ball rings, etc.), subsidising music lessons, and end of school trip for sixth class, and computer equipment. Hugh Clancy said that he would ask St. Michaels GAA if they could give a loan of goal posts and kit to the school when they are not using them. It was also suggested that the Parents Association organise a book stall to come to the school which would sell books to parents, and some of the funds brought in by this would be used to provide books for the school. It was suggested that the PA run a cake sale on Easter Sunday after mass as a fund raiser for these. Further fund raising options suggested were for volunteers to take part in the "To Hell and Back" run, and the "Tour of Sligo" cycle. and to collect sponsorship for the school. Bag packing was also suggested.
- To find a sponsor for a new kit for the school team.
- Parents Association to send out letter to parents to volunteer to be part of focus groups to work with the school on parental elements of certain policies.
- It was agreed that the PA would again organise an Easter Egg Hunt for the school on the last day before the Easter break. €2 was agreed as a reasonable amount to ask from each child to ensure everyone would get an egg.
- It was asked if parents would be interested to attend cyber-bullying courses, but there was no interest expressed from those in attendance.
- It was suggested that for the PA
- Everyone was thanked for their attendance and it was hoped that there would be more in attendance at the next meeting. to help publicise the PA meetings and the work which it does it was suggested that the minutes be put up on the school website and also be sent home with the students.
NOVEMBER 2014
Ms. Taheny of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Ballymote, Co. Sligo (Tel: 071-9183894), has passed on the following which may be of interest to parents:
DYSLEXIA WORKSHOPS
"An initial meeting which took place last Monday has shown strong interest and need for Dyslexia Workshops for children in South Sligo area. At this meeting, it was decided to invite an active member of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland to speak to interested parents.
Ms. T. Dunleavy will attend on Wednesday 3rd December to give detailed information on setting up a South Sligo Branch of the Association and subsequently Workshops for children. The meeting once again will be held at 8 pm in Scoil Mhuire gan Smal Primary School, Ballymote."
SLIGO EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
Sligo Education Support Centre in conjunction with Sligo Leader Partnership are running a 12 week Incredible Years Parent Programme for 12 weeks commencing on Thursday 13th November (excluding Christmas school holidays) from 7.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. in Sligo Education Centre, I.T. Campus, Ballinode, Sligo.
This workshop will only run subject to numbers and is FREE.
To book please contact Sligo Education Centre. TEL. 071-913877 or email to info@ecsligo.ie before Friday 7th November.
OCTOBER 2014
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE PARENTS ASSOCIATION
We have been notified by Suzanne Thorn, Principal of St. Mary's College in Ballisodare that free talks are taking place after the mid term break, organised by the Parents Association who wish to open the talks to parents of children in primary school, as follows:
St. Mary's College Parents' Association warmly invites you to a series of talks that are taking place in the school over the coming weeks. All talks are free of charge.
Topic 1 Helping your child to deal with bullying and cyber bullying
Speaker Mary Hough, Director Education Centre, Sligo
Date Tuesday, November 11th
Time 7.30 - 8.30 pm
Topic 2 Parent Power: Techniques to help and support your child with home study
Speaker Representative of Amazing Brains
Further information is available from www.amazingbrains.co.uk/programmes/parent_programmes/parentpower. The workshop covers themes such as learning preferences, time management and memory strategies. It includes a question and answer session and each attendee will receive a Parent Power booklet.
Date Thursday, November 27th
Time 7.30-9 pm
Topic 3 Drugs and Alcohol Awareness for Parents
Speaker Christina McEleney Murray, NW Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force
This talk is an informative talk on drugs and alcohol and will help parents to identify the behaviour changes in young people who may be experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol. Samples of substances will be on display.
Date Tuesday, December 9th
Time 7.30-8.30 pm
JOBS AVAILABLE
For anyone who may be interested we have been informed that jobs are available on www.publicjobs.ie.
The closing date is early July.
NATIONAL PARENTS COUNCIL PRIMARY - Sligo Branch Presents:
TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO POST PRIMARY SCHOOL
An Information Session for Parents
Date: Tuesday 24th June 2014
Time: 7.30 p.m. (tea/coffee on arrival)
Venue: The Glasshouse, Swan Point, Sligo
There is no charge for attendance at this event but you must register to attend.
Please telephone 01 - 8874475 or email training@npc.ie to register
NATIONAL PARENTS COUNCIL
PRIMARY CONFERENCE 2014
Date: Saturday 14th June 2014
Time: 11am - 4pm (registration with tea and coffee from 10.30 am)
Venue: National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, Dublin 1
(Situated in the IFSC, on the LUAS redline, Mayor Square - NCI stop
The Conference is open to ALL parents. Admission is Free.
Please note you must register in advance.
To register please go to www.npc.ie or email your name and contact number to info@npc.ie or telephone 01-8874034
ALCOHOL AWARENESS WEEK 2014
Seminar on ALCOHOL AND ADOLESCENTS
Talk for teachers, parents, youth workers and other professionals working with young people on the use and abuse of alcohol among Adolescents and its harmful effects
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:
DATE: Tuesday 1st April 2014
VENUE: Sligo Park Hotel
Time: 7.00pm
FACILITATOR: Dr. Bobby Smyth
To register for this seminar please contact Sligo Education Centre Tel 0719138700 or email: info@ecsligo.ie
Dr. Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, will focus on how adults' attitudes and behaviours can exert both positive and negative influences on young people's alcohol use.
Teachers & Parents are invited to an Information Session on Bullying / Cyberbullying
Date: Thursday 13th February
Time: 7.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Hough
To book a place on this workshop, please contact Sligo Education Centre on 0719138700 or book online at www.ecsligocourses.com
on or before Wednesday 12th February, 2014
National Parents Council
Sligo County Branch
A Note from NPC Committee:
The Sligo Branch of the National Parents Council Primary has been reignited with a new committee.
We are hoping to host events that would be of interest to parents and would support you as parents while your child is in primary school.
We would love to hear your views on which aspects of your child's life in primary school would be of interest to you.
You can email your ideas to us at sligo@npc.ie. If you can get those to us by the 14th January we can plan our events for next year.
Kind Regards,
Sligo NPC Committee
St. Teresa's Parents Association
Any Parents who are available are asked to come to St. Teresa's N.S. on Wednesday 4th December to help with the making of Raffle Hampers for the 8th December - all assistance would be most appreciated
Board of Management (Members)
Fr. Vincent Connaughton Nora Kearins Fiona Wynne Maeve Diamond
Bríd Mc Goldrick Mary Walsh Ronan Balantine Michael Conway
2013-2014 The BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF St. Teresa's National School have had a very busy and productive year from organisational and administrative standpoint. The board has also assisted the staff and pupils in organising funding for Sports Day Coaches, overseeing Staff Development Planning and the general running of the school. The following is an overview of some of the additional activities in which it has been involved:
ORGANISATIONAL (Policies reviewed):
- Administration of Medecine
- Internet usage
- Child Protection
- Extra Personal Vacation Days
- Anti - Bullying Policy
- Literacy and Numeracy Policy fomation.
Some of the work undertaken has related to the school itself e.g.
- Health and Safety (Health and Safety review (start and end of year)
- The external school was painted
- A smoke alarm installed throughout the school
- New carpets for two classrooms
- New flooring in entrance hall areas, cloakrooms and toilets throughtout the school.
FUNDRAISING:
Many thanks to all those who assisted in the organisation of the Sandy Kelly concert and who showed their support for the event. Much time and effort was committed to the project and we would sincerely like to thank all those involved especially Sandy who gave so freely of her time and energy.
