
PTFA
ST MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL PARENT, TEACHER AND FRIEND ASSOCIATION
St Mary’s High School Parent, Teacher and Friend Association (PTFA) was established in December 2013. The aims and objectives of the PTFA are to advance the education and wellbeing of the pupils of the school by providing or assisting in the provision of facilities for education at the school.
This includes:-
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Promoting close co-operation and communication between parents and teachers
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Studying and discussing matters of mutual interest relating to the education and welfare of pupils
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Engaging in activities which support and advance the education of the pupils attending the school, including fund-raising and after school activities or contribute to the education of the pupils by organising and assisting in fund raising activities.
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Encouraging parental involvement in the life of the school.
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Supporting the school.
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Supporting each other as parents and
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Providing advice and signposting when and where is necessary.
We generally carry out a number of activities throughout the school year such as the annual bag pack in a local supermarket. This provides valuable funding for the PTFA and allows the PTFA to contribute to school charities, events and support projects such as the school Book Club, who benefitted from a set of new Kindles. We also host an annual information evening for parents, e.g. a recent one was held on Social Media and Internet Safety. Parents are welcome to engage in school life if e.g. they can contribute to a particular area of school life. The PTFA are represented at the Year 8 Prayer Service where a number of parents registered their interest in supporting the activities of the PTFA. We have in the past hosted raffles at Christmas time and school quizzes. We currently have a very successful Uniform Recycling Shop which supports parents financially by providing low cost quality uniform items. This is held once or twice a year. We fund the Action Cancer Big Bus to come to the school once a year. This service is available for teachers, parents and the wider community.
We continually receive the advice, respect and support of Mrs Cosgrove and all the Teaching Staff. We hope to progress with a number of activities throughout the coming year and invite parents to come forward with ideas, suggestions that we could develop and take forward over the coming year. We also invite your active participation in practical terms such as fundraising activities. If you are interested in being involved in the work of the PTFA you are more than welcome to join us.
The PTFA has also been working on improving how we communicate with each other. Our PTFA events should be available on the school app or the webpage www.stmarysnewry.com. It provides information about the PTFA events and updates on our activities. If you wish to contact us please forward any correspondence to the School Office marked for FAO PTFA.
