Laragh Parents Association Committee Meeting
Meeting Date : 05 November 2015
Attendees : John Lucey,Mary Culloty,Julie O’Mahony,Ger O’Callaghan,Kathleen
Tobin,Gail Scally,Linda Daly,Denise Sinnott,Catherine Ronan,Ann Trunwitt,Brendan
O’Donovan,Fiona McCarthy,Norma O’Riordan,Maria Allen, Irene Twomey,Helen
O’Leary,Michelle Mulcahy
Apologies : Geraldine Gaffney,Alison Lane
AGENDA ITEMS :
1.Healthy Eating day 2015 : This will be held on Thursday 19th November.A community
dietician will attend and give a talk and do some demonstrations for the kids.Some suggested
topics to cover are importance of breakfast,the food pyramid, nutrition required for certain
sports – committee to fininalise this at planning meeting,Will need microwave setup to heat
soup. Suggestions/Offers so far include Banana bread (Julie) , Soup (Ellen
Lucey,Norma,Brendan ),Hummus+veg sticks (Helen)
Any other inputs/suggestions welcome!
All parents welcome to help out on the day and provide suitable foods.
Actions :
Confirm if date ok with school and if hall will be available - Mary
Ensure whiteboard available for presentation - Mary
Confirm dietician attendance once date set –Denise
Setup Planning meeting Thursday Nov 8th at 8pm - Mary
Firm up on plans – what dietician will discuss,what food items to provide –
Committee
Sponsorship Request to Supervalu/O’Donovans/Heavens Cakes - Julie
Ask Deirdre Claesson to get Carbery to supply cheese – Norma
Purchase plastic cups/paper cups/spoons/cocktail sticks/Napkins - Mary
2. The committee was read a letter of resignation by one of our members – Ann Trunwitt.It
was proposed and seconded that we not accept this resignation and the committee has asked
her to reconsider.However it appears that this will not be the case.It is with regret that we
accept the resignation.We would like to thank Ann for all her hard work over the last few
years and for her many contributions to the success of such items as the bazaar and Healthy
eating day.Ann was also instrumental in the process of designing the new school
jerseys.Thanks Ann for all your hard work.
3. CLOTHES RECYCLING The collection lorry will be coming to the school on Tuesday
17th November 2015. Gate Collections will happen on Thurs,Friday,Monday (Nov
12th,13th,16th).
Rota is as follows:
th
Thursday Nov 12
Friday November
13th
Monday November
16th
9am
Denise/Ger
Kathleen
2pm
Mary
Mary
3pm
Julie
Julie/Fiona
John/Denise
Mary
Norma/Julie
Will need help getting bags out for the collection van on Tuesday morning – anyone who is
available is asked to come along
Actions :
Verify time of van arrival – Mary
Send txt to parents with dates/times – Mary/Lucy
Once van arrival time verified txt parents committee members to request help
on morning of collection - Mary
4. Uniform Survey : Survey results have been analysed and results are available on website.
Briefly,a large percentage of parents expressed concern over the quality of both the jumper
and the tracksuit. As such a lot of parents feel that the current garments are not good value for
money.Main issues with jumper are sleeves/cuffs ravelling and main issue with sweatshirt is
colour fading over very short period of time. Committee to look at several options to try and
improve quality and keep price at suitable level.School has requested to keep both items
crested so will use this as basis for examining alternatives.
Action :
Approach current supplier with survey results and discuss options for
improvement - Mary/Fiona
Look at other supplier options - Norma/Helen
5. Electronic Payment of Term Bill :Ger reported that setup of this service would cost
approx. €50 per year to the school and would also cost €0.65-€2:18 per transaction for
parents(depending on card used). Most agreed this was added expense that parents would not
like to incur. Ger has agreed to see if possible to negotiate with system owner for better
price,He is also to look into PayPal as option.
REVIEW of OPEN ACTIONS :
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Brendan got quotes from alternative bus operator for private bus route – would work
out very expensive (up to €30 per week per child). School are happy for PA to get
outside quotes for future requirements.Will compare quote for next bus requirements
for school and see if alternative operator is more competitive.
Action :
Get bus requirements from school for current term and compare quotes
– Mary/Brendan
Christmas Cards for Schools idea will not be pursued as would work out very costly
for parents and school has had poor success with this idea in the past. Idea for
producing a calendar was seen as good alternative.Helen/Geraldine to look at this
option.
Scholastic Book Fairs–school already has very cost effective book purchase
arrangement with other supplier so unwilling to change at this time.
Change collection-this was seen as good fundraising idea but will keep on hold until
next year as limited time/resources to complete at this time due to clothes recly
day/Healthy Eating day/Christmas etc.
Kids to be supplied with plastic money bags (as used in banks) and encouraged to
collect coppers and return them to school once full.It was suggested this might be
good lesson for kids in saving.
Date for Christmas concert –Thursday 17th December
Pre Xmas social night for parents?– will keep this item open and include in upcoming
meetings.Maybe organise in term1 2016.
Broken light outside school gate.Will highlight again to council as it was
communicated to chairman that this was fixed but this is not the case. Road painting
to be completed shortly to highlight to drivers that there is a school ahead.John to
follow up on this.
Meeting Minutes and extra information now available on school website
(http://laragh.scoilnet.ie/blog/) in the Parents association section.This will allow more
information sharing with all parents.
OPENS : Can school support Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day -may conflict with St.
Vincent de Paul Hamper collection.
Setup interim planning meeting for Healthy Eating Day once date finalised-Mary Culloty