The main functions of Loreto Parents’ Council, Wexford are to

    » Represent all parents/guardians in the school community
    » Liaise with the school
    » Liaise with students through the Students’ Council
    » Meet once a month
    » AGM annually
    » Appeal for funds annually

Parents’ Council update
Monday, January 23, 2012

The Parents’ Council continues to meet regularly (9 November and 12 December 2011,
16 January 2012) to discuss matters of general school concern.

The Principal, Mr. O’ Shea, attends all meetings and gives a report on current school and general educational issues. In recent times he has highlighted for us the rapid pace of change currently taking place in education e.g. literacy and numeracy programme, Junior Certificate reform, child protection procedures.

The Council has recently reviewed the possibility of a book rental scheme but, with uncertainty caused by changing textbooks in the face of a reformed Junior Certificate, the possibility of the introduction of e-books and the considerable financial outlay on such a scheme, the decision was made to concentrate efforts this year on holding a meaningful book sale in June.

A new e-mail address for the Parents’ Council has been established and is kindly monitored by a council member. To avail of this, simply go to the contact us section of the school website: www.loretowexford.com

Ms. Mary Fox has been elected Chairperson of the Parents’ Council.

The Council will, at the end of February, be seeking a €10 contribution per family to cover its operating costs and activities for the year.

The next meeting of the Council takes place on Monday, 27 February 2012 at 7.30 p.m. 

Parents’ Council update
Monday, 10 October 2011 – Annual General Meeting

Chairperson’s comments

Thanks  to:

    » all who turned up at the Parents Council AGM

    » Mr O’ Shea,  our Principal, who has taken the time to come and be present to furnish us
       with his annual report

    » our secretary, Frances White, and Treasurer, Jackie Owen, for all their hard work and
       commitment over the year

    » our board of management nominees - Owen Hillery and Patricia Hackett

    » all members of the council who have come regularly to Meetings and made their
       contributions

    » Special mention to our five new members who were co opted  when numbers at meetings
       were less than the number required for a quorum.

A reminder at this stage of the function of the Parents’ Council . We are primarily a consultative body. Our aims are to promote the educational interest and general welfare of the students of Loreto Secondary School and to foster good relations between parents, guardians, teachers and students.

Our areas of involvement throughout the last year were as follows:

    » A Cervical Cancer Vaccination programme was spearheaded to provide vaccinations for all
       girls outside of the group covered by the Department of Health.  The first of three
       vaccines was given students in December. This programme was completed by June 2011. 
       136 students took up the offer. Our efforts in this particular regard were rewarded by the
       significant number of girls who availed of this service. 

    » We surveyed the weights carried by the students in all of the 6 years to school on a
       random day. We weighed 59 school bags. The maximum weight of 15kgs. was carried by a
       second year and a sixth year student.  The average weight carried was 9.5kgs. 

The gym bags weighed separately were 5, 5, and 6 kg

The surprising result is that the first years are not carrying the heaviest bags, The 6th Years are carrying the heaviest bags followed by the second years.  The deviation in weights across the year generally decreases as the students get older, indicating that the students get better at managing their bags.  However, the percentage of bag weight to body weight shows that all the girls are carrying over the government recommendation of 10 percent of body weight. Our figures  indicate  that our girls are carrying 11 to 20 % of their body weight . Now that we have concrete evidence the challenge is to find a solution.

·             » We contributed funds towards a lecture by Peadar Maxwell, HSE, on the topic “How Best
       to support children through State Exams”. There was a good turnout from parents on that
       night.

    » We met with the Head Girl and her deputy and the Students’ Council at the annual
       Christmas lunch prior to break up in December. We find it very rewarding to meet students
       from all years at this meeting. It gives us an opportunity to explain our role in the school
       and to invite them to approach us if we can be of help in any way.

    » We contributed funds towards a prize winning Mosaic created by the Loreto, Wexford
       students as part of a CSPE project. You will have seen this mosaic mounted on the
       exterior wall of the school.
    » We attended the Green School Committee meetings. Funds have been made available to
       this committee in previous years and we are keen to make funds available in the future if
       sought. Congratulations to the school on attaining green flag status.

    » We continue to be involved in school development and planning by attending weekly
       meetings and by sending feedback from our monthly meetings.

    » We contributed funds to support the Paired Reading group after attending a meeting with
       the Special Educational Needs Support Team in the school.  The main aim of this group is
       to improve the school attendance of girls with special learning needs.

    » School  prizes  were sponsored at last years' prize giving ceremony to the value of €360.

    » A member of the Parent’s Council took part in the selection interview of the Head and
       Deputy Head Girl at the invitation of the Principal.

    » A blessed candle burned in the foyer for the period of the State Exams as a symbol of
       support during that challenging time.

    » First day of state exams- healthy snacks and bottled water were distributed to all
       students.

    » The policy concerning acceptable Internet  use has been reviewed at the urgent request
       of the Board of Management for the school and the updated policy can be seen on the
       school website. We urge parents to read this document as parents have the responsibility
       to ensure that all students comply with this policy.

Michele Winters

Parents’ Council update
Monday, 26 September 2011

Welcome everybody and wishing you all well for the forthcoming school year.


The Loreto Parents’ Council had their first meeting on 12th September 2011 which was very well attended. Thanks to all present. The school Principal, Billy O'Shea, attended the meeting and gave a succinct report on all works carried out in the school over the summer. The main elements of the report which he presented to the parents council is available to you on the school website in the letters to parents section. The thorny issue of the funding of the parents council was discussed. No funds were sought from parents in 2010/11 because the council felt parents were experiencing financial difficulties. No decision was made in regard to the future funding of the council.


The National Parents’ Council Post Primary (NPCPP) annual conference will be held on 14th and 15th October 2011 at the Sheraton hotel in Athlone. All parents who have children attending a second level school are invited to this conference.

The president of the European Parents Association, Mr Johannes Theiner will speak at this conference about the general aspects of the participation of European parents in schools. Doctors Amanda Fitzgerald and Barbara Dooley from UCD will present the findings of the first national study of youth mental health at the conference.

For further information on this conference please contact Sandra at 018302740 or email sandraboylan@npcpp.ie. To assist parents and teenagers with their move from primary to secondary school a book has been published entitled " Moving Up ".  This book will be launched at this conference.


The annual general meeting of the Loreto Parents’ association will be held on Monday, 10th October 2011 in the school hall at 7.30 pm. All parents of students in the school are invited to attend.

Any parent who wishes a particular subject to be included in the Agenda for this meeting should contact the chairperson at michelewinters1@eircom.net  before Friday, 30th September.

Every parents’ council needs to be reinvigorated with new members. NPCPP provide free training for any member of all parents' councils who wish to avail of same.

Dates and locations for these training courses are as follows:

6th October 2011  at  Gorey Community College

13th October 2011 at Enniscorthy Vocational College.

Meeting at 7.15pm until 9.15pm  approximately. Tea and biscuits to be provided at host school.   Application forms for these training courses are available from sandraboylan@npcpp.ie