PARENTS ASSOCIATION 2025/2026

Ger Keogh            Chairperson

Louisa Carr           Treasurer

Lorraine Madden    Vice Chairperson

Aoife Walsh           Secretary

Carley Quigley       Committee

Caitriona Minogue  Committee

Aoife Bermingham O’Shea Committee

Cliona Davey Latham Committee

Jenny Noirant        Committee

Michelle Lavelle     Committee

Deirdre McKeon     Committee

Valerie Hogan        Committee

Catherine Olivera   Committee

Denise Kerrigan     Committee

Elaine O’Brien        Committee

pa@sthelensjunior.com

We are always happy to welcome new members.

The Role of the P.A in St. Helen’s Junior National School

The Parents’ Association represents all parents and guardians of our school. Its role is to build strong links between home and school, support the principal and teachers and promote the welfare and education of every child.  (www.npc.ie)

The Parents’ Association in a school works with the Principal, staff and Board of Management to build effective co-operation and partnership between home and school.

The role of the Parents’ Association is set down in the Education Act 1998 as follows:

A Parents’ Association shall promote the interests of the students in a school in co-operation with the Board, Principal, Teachers and Students.

The Education Act also sets out two broad tasks for a Parents’ Association which are: 

• To advise the Principal or the Board on matters relating to the school
• To adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents in the operation of the school, in consultation with the Principal.

We have a wonderfully active P.A. that promotes and supports partnership between parents/guardians and our school in a number of ways:

• The P.A. supports the school in the organisation of many school initiatives which take place throughout the school year. Some of these events include: Christmas card charity and school fundraiser, Halloween dress-up-day for nominated charity,  Teamhope shoebox appeal, Santa’s visit to the grotto, pancakes with healthy toppings for the children on Pancake Tuesday, the Easter Bunny Egg hunt in Millennium courtyard, assisting at Sports Day, providing refreshments to families at First Holy Communion, organising Communion party in school for our 2nd classes and serving refreshments to our guests at school during first day of school for JI parents, Grandparents Day and other Parents information occasions.
• The P.A is extremely helpful in supporting the school community and their contribution has been significant in supporting Healthy Eating Guidelines, management of headlice and other infectious diseases, Safe Route to School to name but a few.
• The P.A provides opportunities for parents/guardians to meet and network with one another and to plan how they can help to enhance St. Helen's JNS
• The P.A works in partnership with the Board of Management. While their role is not to deal with individual complaints or school management issues, the volunteers are always open to supporting our school community. 

Parents who are involved in the P.A have found it rewarding and a very useful way of making a contribution to their child’s development. It also provides an opportunity to become more informed about what is happening in the school. Together we aim to make St. Helen’s J.N.S a welcoming and supportive community for all children and families.

Useful links

https://www.npc.ie/helpline-information/information-leaflets

https://www.npc.ie/primary/your-child-and-school-faqs