Parents Association

Parents Association Overview

The Parents’ Association is the structure through which parents in a school can work together for the best possible education for their children. The PA works with the Principal, Staff and the Board of Management to build effective partnership between the home & school.

The PA has played an active role in supporting the school, organising a fantastic calendar of events aiming to organise at least two events per year for fundraising purposes. This is necessary as funding has increasingly become a concern for schools.

Our primary objective for the calendar years 2025/2026 is to raise funds for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the school.

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) plays a crucial role in Irish primary schools. Here are some key points regarding its importance:

1. Enhancing Learning: ICT can enhance, enrich, and extend children’s learning in primary schools. When deployed appropriately, it transforms the traditional classroom into a collaborative environment where students actively construct knowledge for themselves.
2. Changing Teaching Paradigms: Instead of the teacher having sole control over pupils’ learning, ICT allows for more student-centered approaches. Students can explore, create, and collaborate using digital tools, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
3. Preparation for the Future: As the world becomes increasingly digitized, access to ICT is essential for students. It prepares them for the future of work, where technology literacy is a fundamental skill.
4. System-Wide Commitment: To fully realize the benefits of ICT, there needs to be a commitment to a multi-annual budget, technical support for schools, continuous professional development (CPD) for teachers, and efforts to address infrastructural challenges.

In summary, integrating ICT effectively in primary education can lead to more engaging and dynamic learning experiences, better preparing students for the digital age.

The PA is not only about fundraising though. The School Uniform Bank Collection & the School Outdoor Cleaning initiative are just two of the many ongoing activities every year.

The Parents Association is open to all parents/guardians of children attending Scoil Naomh Pio. Our aim is to be as inclusive and representative as possible and we welcome any suggestions or ideas you might have.

If you would like to contact the Knockcommon N.S. Parents’ Association Email us at:

knockcommonparentsassociation@gmail.com

We would be delighted to help in any way that we can.

Thank you again for all your support.

Parents Association Committee Members

The Parents’ Association Committee is elected each year at the school AGM.

Committee Members

• Chairperson: David Piggott
• Treasurer: Siobhan Ni Mhaoildomhnaigh
• Secretary: Grace Coldrick
• Social Media Communications: Saskia Lynch
• Other Members: Patrycja Drennan, Adriana Dragota, Orlagh Smith, Jeannie Kyle, Laura Cosgrove.

Previous and Upcoming Events

On Sunday the 26th May the PA hosted a Walk and Talk Event on the beautiful Hill of Tara for pupils, families and our lovely teachers.

Although the weather didn’t play ball, good fun was had by all. The PA provided welcome cups of tea and coffee after the walk along with goodie bags for the children after.

Thanks to all who came and donated.

Parents Association Social Media Pages

• Facebook
• Instagram

Useful Websites for Parents

Here is a list of external websites that provide additional information to support kids, parents and teachers of Ireland:

• Department of Education & Skills – This is the website of the government department. It contains a section on information for parents, as well as all school related guidelines, circulars and inspection reports.
• National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) – Did you ever wonder exactly what your child learns in an Irish primary school everyday? This link provides excellent information on the content covered in each class level in the primary school, as well as very helpful videos and tip sheets to help your child’s learning at home.
• Tusla – The Child and Family Agency is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children.
• Scoilnet – A portal that contains many links to educational sites, updated regularly.
• Schooldays – A website with lots of information about parenting and education in Ireland.
• Web Wise – A great website to keep up with what your kids are doing on-line and with current technology trends. Gives advice and how you keep them safe in the current technology environment.
• National Parents Council Primary – National Parents Council Primary (NPC) was set up in 1985, under the programme for Government, as the representative organisation for parents of children attending primary school.
• Barnardos – Contains lots of information on childcare, bullying and a new booklet on your child’s numeracy development.
• Rainbows Ireland – The Rainbows programme supports children and young people affected by loss because of bereavement, separation or divorce. The service is available in local communities throughout Ireland.
• ISPCC – The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is Ireland’s oldest and most well-known children’s charity.
• Staysafe – The CAPP programme (Stay Safe) is a primary school based approach to the prevention of child abuse. The aim of the programme is to reduce vulnerability to child abuse and bullying through the provision of a personal safety education programme for children at primary school level, continuing professional development for teachers, training for Boards of Management and information sessions for parents.
• NCSE – The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children.
• Parent Line – We offer support, guidance and information on all aspects of being a parent and the reassurance that, whatever the problem, you’re not the first parent to face it. Sometimes, all you could need is a listening ear.
• Irish for Parents – When your children are doing school homework, does it happen that they don’t understand it, and that you don’t either? Do you want to help them, but can’t? Maybe you don’t understand the instructions, the terminology or what it is they are reading. You can get help from a qualified teacher through this site.