Hope everyone had a lovely mid-term break. Just to recap on some of our past events and to inform you of our upcoming events.
Recent Events:
Halloween Raffle – Was a great success and we raised €370.00
Halloween Cake sale – So much fun was had by all and a whopping €721.00 was raised.
Clothing collection – Thanks to everyone for donating all the unwanted clothing. We are delighted to announce that €660.00 was raised.
Thank you for your support
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Upcoming events
Pedal powered cinema night. – November 25th 2016.
Get on your bikes for Shanbally. N.S
We have had great interest in the pedal powered movie night. These are the ways that you can help.
Be a cyclist – Please return your form to the school by Thursday 17th November.
Sponsorship cards
(1) Make a donation as a family of €25.00
Or
(2) Fill up your sponsorship card to min value of €25 or more, and this can be your family’s donation
Or
(3) Do both. The more we make the more we have to put back into the school for you as families and all the fabulous pupils.
Spread the word
We have set up a gofundme page on which you can donate at and we ask you to SHARE SHARE SHARE this link with all your family and friends who may live far away but who would like to donate.
Sponsor a Bike
We are asking local companies to sponsor a bicycle for €50. This is a great advertising opportunity, where your name/ company name and details will be displayed at the event, on our school website and Parents Association Facebook page. If your company would do this or you know anyone who would be interested please let a member of the Parents Association know or use the gofundme page.
Santa Visit – The Parents Association are organising a special visitor with a present for each child in the last week of term.
Our next clothes collection is on Tuesday 7th March
So what exactly does the Parents Association do and where does all the money go?
My family are new to Shanbally National school so in September I decided I should pop into the Parents Association meeting and see if I could learn a bit more about this school and lend a hand if needed.
Let me begin by saying the parents association are a very passionate group of individuals. They give up their spare time to ensure that their children and your children have great opportunities during their time in this school. I could not believe the passion that comes from these individuals. Many evenings are spent brain storming to come up with novel fund raising ideas to raise funds for things that will benefit the children.
So far this year some of the things we have paid for include skipping ropes for the school and the balance for the bus trip to Mayfield for the Sciath na Scol final. The €5 that was requested from each child towards the transport and entrance to the game simply wasn’t enough to cover the cost of the bus. Before I joined the parents association I would never have known that the bus could cost €750.00 to drop the kids to the match. It’s when you hear things like this you realise how, without the fundraising from the Parents Association outings like this for the children would not be feasible.
I cannot stress enough the dedication that these parents have for this school and its pupils. Rain hail or shine they are working away behind the scenes. As I sit here typing this I am aware that back at the school there are a number of the Parents Association out in the lashing rain loading the clothes collection bags onto the truck to raise more funds.
The Halloween cake sale was a great success we raised €721 and the children absolutely loved it. It was my first time at the Shanbally cake sale and when I saw the beaming faces on the kids I realised exactly why these ladies work so hard to raise funds for these wonderful children. The cake sale was full so of happiness and innocence you couldn’t help but be uplifted by the kids excitement.
This year after lots of deliberation (and I mean lots & lots of back and forth & multiple WhatsApp conversations) it was decided that the Christmas bazaar would not go ahead. Instead Shanbally, for the first time ever will host a cinema night “powered by pedal power”. This I’m sure will entertain both the kids and parents alike, and once again I think we should spare a thought and give thanks to the Parents Association for all the work that is going into planning this event.
You might wonder what all the money that’s raised is used for, well each year the school comes up with wish list that would benefit the kids e.g. this year we hope to purchase new maths kits, trundle wheels, money kits etc., Standardised Testing Manuals and Irish reading books for the library.
I guess my reason for including this information in the newsletter is to make you all aware of the fabulous parents association that we have behind us here in Shanbally and I wanted you all to know how well they are taking care of your children’s interests. It’s very easy to forget that so much work goes into raising money, coming up with new ideas, sourcing spot prizes, setting up, manning and cleaning up after events. Your continued support for the various fund raising events is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Your Parents Association