NPC Innovation Award winner 2019

The Parents' Association (PA) of Kilshanroe National School, Kilshanroe, Enfield, Co. Kildare

Project – to clarify the role and purpose of the PA to school staff, school children and to parents, to form a collective vison for the school, and utilise the PA to achieve that vision.

For many years participation rates within the PA were low, interest was waning, and the PA was seen only as a fund raiser. The PA decided to change this. Their project comprised 3 phases, with one further 4th phase ongoing.

Phase 1 Information gathering: The Parents’ Association members attended NPC talks and other information sessions. They learned about initiatives being undertaken by other PAs, especially NPC Innovation Award winners. The biggest impact was on surveying the staff and children in the school, and parents, on want they wanted the PA to be and do. They improved communication, by communicating often on a dedicated PA section on the app, Facebook page and by appointing a member to manage ‘PR’. Noticeboards were erected for further communication, especially for those not comfortable with the app. They issued a document showing all the PA committee members, their interests and contact details of how to get in touch with the PA.

Phase 2 Feedback: The main feedback from students was simply they wanted parents to be more involved in school, especially to play games with them, and support new games. There were also some academic suggestions. Parents overwhelmingly stated the role of the PA was not just fundraising, but also supporting the whole school community’s academic and non-academic objectives. This lead to the idea of an PA calendar to help parents plan more participation in PA and school activities. Also during this phase the PA contributed more to policy formation in the school.

Phase 3 Outcomes: The calendar is now in its 3rd year. A draft is presented at the AGM and finalised after. The PA also produce an annual report of the PAs work throughout the previous year. Last year the PA along with the principal highlighted the purpose of the PA around four main themes:

• Academic Support,
• Health and Wellbeing,
• Parents and Guardians Engagements, and &
• School Development Plan.

This put an overall shape and purpose to the role and purpose of the PA.

Phase 4 will further develop, communicate and enrol the board, staff, children and parents in building a school community. The PA are discussing a plan to roll out the NPC partnership programme in the school, starting with 6th class. They have commenced a process to review their constitution and bring drafts to our next AGM and will avail of NPC PA training during this process. They will align these initiatives with the four main themes of the PA articulated last year.