On Friday 3rd October, an interest meeting was held at school to see what interest there would be from parents to the idea of starting a new School Association. Together with representatives from the school’s governing body and teachers, eight interested parents attended and confirmed their interest in this new initiative to further broaden and strengthen the link between the school and parents.

The first meeting of Our Lady’s School Association was chaired by Mr Harold Hands, Vice Chair of Governors; who set out the purpose and suggested aims of the new Association; to be:

• To support the School in its work with pupils.
• To represent the views of parents.
• To promote contact between the School, Parents, Pupils and the Parish.
• To support Teachers.

Details of the make-up of the new Association were discussed together with a suggested constitution; which was distributed to all present for further consideration. Minutes of the meeting were kindly taken by Mrs Cath Henny and will be available together with the draft constitution to anyone who wants copies, through the school office.

It was discussed how the Association could help with the forthcoming Christmas Fair on Friday 5th December and in time take on the overall responsibility for the organisation of this and other social and fund raising events which it may wish to run.

Officers for the new Association; Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be required, but as no one was willing to commit at this time; for the present it was agreed that Mr Hands will chair the Association’s meetings whilst it has time to establish itself. Candidates to take on any of these posts will be gratefully received, as will all offers to serve as elected members.

The proposals were greeted with general agreement and it was also the strong feeling of those present that the Association could provide a valuable way for Parents to be able to socialise together, which in-turn would also benefit the School and its pupils.

The date of the next meeting was fixed for Friday 9th January 2015, and in the mean time if anyone wishes to find out more about the amount of involvement and commitment required to be actively involved please feel free to discuss the matter with Mr Hands, Mr Charlton or Mrs Johnson.

Pictured left to right – Rear: Mr Harold Hands acting Chair, Mrs Barratt, Ms Adams, Ms Henderson, Mrs Purugganan and Mr Purugganan, together Mr Steve Charlton, Parent Governor. Front: Ms Barr, Mrs Charlton, Mrs Wong, Mrs Lyz Duffy, Teacher representative and Mrs Mary Johnson, Honorary President of the Association.