Parents’ Association Meeting Sept 25th
ENS Parents’ Association Meeting Minutes
Date: Thursday, 25th of September, 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: ENS Staff Room
Minutes Taken By: Claire McCarthy
Meeting Attended By:
Jenny Butler
Rebecca Treanor
Claire McCarthy
Lorna Ganda
Brian Troy
Kat O’Shea
Mariusz Cwirko
Fiona Eason
Natasha McCormack
Anna Newman
Apologies:
Eileen Tobin
Nileptha Sergeant
Agenda:
● Welcome, Ice-breaker & Open Comments
● Open Treasurer Role
● Picture Day
● Halloween Quiz Tuck Shop
● Proposed Events 25/26
● Any Other Business
Welcome & Apologies / Open Comments:
● Representatives were in attendance from the Residents Association from the
neighbouring housing estate, Cnoc na Scoile. They discussed their concerns over the
parking situation at the beginning and end of the school day:
○ A safety issue where cars are trying to manoeuvre while there are many child
and adult pedestrians nearby.
○ Blocked in residents and damage to green areas/gardens.
The issue is occurring outside of school grounds and neither the school nor PA have
authority over parking in these areas. Previous and potential actions were discussed
with the agreement that action will be discussed with the committee and
communicated back to the resident association representatives. Discussions included:
○ Communications could be made with the parent community on social
media/aladdin with a request that drivers consider pedestrian safety, and
resident access and property.
○ Raising the issue with the council, e.g. with requests that they include the
heavy school traffic when considering future development of the area.
○ A preferable solution to alleviate traffic would be to have an additional
entrance/exit to the school but this is not currently an option.
● 6th class teachers have shared through the committee that the PA donation of sanitary
pads are being used. A suggestion was raised to provide a caddy in those bathrooms
where students can leave their own sanitary products for discrete access when they are
needed.
Picture Day:
● Volunteers are confirmed for the following times:
○ 08:30 Eileen Tobin
○ 11:00 Rebecca Traener
○ 13:45 Jenny Butler
● Wipes are in the Halla kitchen for giving anyone a quick wipe clean if needed.
● Actions:
○ PA to place notification on social media
○ School to do new notification via email/aladdin
Treasurer Role:
● Role was outlined and request put out for volunteers
● Rebecca Treanor is to be Treasurer (nomination: Eileen Tobin, second: Brian Troy)
Proposed Schedule of PA events for 2025/2026
● Discussion was had about what to include in the calendar of events this year. The
decision is to use the majority of last years’ schedule as it went very well:
○ Picture Day (30 Sept 2025)
○ Tuck Shop at the Halloween Quiz (est. 22 Oct 2025)
○ Tuck Shop at Christmas Disco (est. 5 Dec 2025)
○ Tea and Coffee / Raffle at Christmas Concerts (Dates TBC)
○ Flag Day (est. 7 Feb 2026)
○ Bingo Night (est. Spring 2026)
○ Holy Communion Reception (9 May 2026)
○ Fun Day (est. June 2026)
○ Graduation Reception (end of June 2026)
Flag Day:
● Brian Troy to apply for permit for 7th February 2026
Photographer to be booked for events ASAP (Jenny Butler)
● Confirmation at the cathedral 21st March 2026
● Holy Communion at the school on 9th May 2026
Tuck Shop at Halloween Quiz:
● 8 volunteers will be needed
● PA to coordinate with Mr. Eoin Walsh on date and details.
● Discussion on costume donations/sale. Decision made to do this again and collect
donations and sell them at the quiz.
● Reminder given to look for deals at wholesaler when buying supplies for tuckshop
● Actions:
○ Requests for volunteers will be put on whatsApp group.
○ Box to be placed in foyer for donations (from 1st Oct onwards – Jenny Butler).
○ PA to post to social media next week (beg 29 Sep 2025) for costume donations
○ Brian Troy to communicate the same through Aladdin.
Any Other Business:
● The balance of the money from last years’ Book Fair should be utilised to supply
books to the school.
● A parent raised concern through PA that there is not enough time for their child to eat
at lunchtime. The lunchtime routine was outlined: children have 40 minutes at lunch
which is on the upper end of lunchtimes in local schools. The total time is split
equally between eating in the class (20 minutes) and time to play (20 minutes). To
help children maintain calm and focus on eating lunch at this time, an idea was
suggested that children could listen to stories (e.g. using a Tonie or similar), if their
teacher thinks that it would be a helpful option.
Next Meeting:
Thursday 12th November 2025, 7:30pm.
ENS Staff Room