About Skerries Community College

The History and Present Role of the Parents Association

Skerries Community College Parents Association has its origins in the Holy Faith De La Salle Parent /Teacher Association founded in 1982 and later changing its name to the Holy Faith De La Salle College Parent Support Group in 1991. The Mission Statement of this Association was:

“To play as full and meaningful a role as possible in the Education and Development of our children by working actively and in co-operation with our Partners in the Education system and by encouraging all parents to engage in this partnership”

The Holy Faith/De La Salle Parent Support Group was affiliated to the Network of the Holy Faith Parent Associations. This Network provided opportunities for support, pooling and exchanging of ideas for development and addressing issues and difficulties for each local Parents’ Association. The Parent Support Group was involved in providing Parenting Courses and CAD (Community Awareness against Drugs) Courses; holding meetings on the Points System, School Uniforms, weight of school bags; Fingal Education Resource Group; fundraising; and organising a Public Meeting on the Hand-over of Trusteeship of Holy Faith De La Salle to V.E.C. Archived material preserves the history of this Association.

The current Skerries Community College Parents Association was formed in September 1999.Some Committee members from the Holy Faith De La Salle Parent Support Group continued as officers of the new Association. The Committee is elected each year at its AGM. This Association has drawn up a Constitution, and it is affiliated to the National Parents Council, Post Primary. There are eight members on the committee and a member of the teaching staff represents the Principal at the meetings. Meetings are held once a month in the College. These meetings last for about two hours. The Chairperson of the Association meets with the Principal the day after the meeting to discuss the issues raised at the meeting.

The Parents Association is very supportive of the College and it is involved in the following:

  • Policy Formulation: As part of the consultative process, the Parents Association is provided with a draft copy of all new polices for their consideration.
  • Support for Parents: the Association has organised seminars for parents on “Study Skills” for helping their children with homework.
  • Fundraising: Each year the Association, in consultation with the Principal, decide on a specific need of the school for which they are prepared to fundraise. To date, the Association has raised funds for new lighting and curtains for the Stage area, a new Sign at the College entrance, new furniture for the science laboratories, display trophy cabinet and new books for the Library.
  • College Events: Parents are most willing to support the College during the production of the school shows, at sport events, training of sports teams, Sixth year and Transition Year Graduations.
  • Parents of new First Years: Each May, the Association hosts a Social Night for the Parents of new First year students, to welcome them to the College. This night also is an opportunity for the Association to invite new parents to join the Association in supporting the College. The Social night concludes with a Cheese and Wine reception.
  • Guest Speakers: Parents, apart from those in the Association, are very willing to come to the College, as Guest Speakers, to talk to students about their particular area of work/expertise. They are also willing to provide work experience to Transition Year and L.C.V.P. students.
  • Board of Management: Two parents are members of the Board of Management. These parents deliver an agreed report after each Board meeting to the following Parents Association meeting.