Athenry Primary School Parents Association

The Parents Association plays an important part in the running of our school.

• Represent the views of parents.
• Liaise with Parent Representatives on the Board of Management.
• Organise talks on topics that interest parents.
• Provide a forum for debate and discussion on matters that are of interest to parents/children.
• Support staff at school events e.g. concerts, band events, Sports Day.
• Fundraise to finance bus fares & workshops for the children.

The regular newsletter that comes from the school gives parents a sense of what is going on in the school, but being at the Parents Association meetings provides an opportunity to ask questions and get more information. There are approximately 6 meetings in the school year. The meetings are an informal gathering and any parent who is interested in coming along is very welcome.
The meetings are also attended by a teacher representative and/or the principal. The ideal Parents Association is made up of a parent from each class in the school. They attend the regular meetings and also help out with any events that may need some parental assistance throughout the year.

At the Parents Association meetings parents are briefed on all the extra-curricular workshops and events that are being made available to the children. The principal of APS uses the meetings as a forum to get parental input on major policy decisions e.g. healthy eating, anti-bullying. The Parents Association meetings are the perfect forum for discussing thoughts and opinions on any of these items.

Each year the Parents Association does a small amount of fund-raising on behalf of the school. The funds from these initiatives are mainly used to:

• Finance buses for a number of different excursions (e.g. athletics, camogie, basketball, science week etc.). This means that the children can participate in these wonderful opportunities, without the school having to ask parents to fund them each time.
• Extra-curricular workshops for our children vary from year to year (e.g. lego workshops, heritage workshops, dance workshops, safe cycling workshops etc.).
• Treats for our children to mark special occasions & achievements throughout the school year (e.g. sacraments, band events, sports day, etc.).

All these “little extras” benefit the children, by providing them with additional opportunities that are not part of the mainstream curriculum.

Any parent willing & able to help out is always very welcome to do so. Athenry Primary School recognises that collaboration, help & support from parents is an integral part of ensuring its continued success.

Parents Association 2025/2026

• Chairperson: Ursula Brady 
• Secretary: Pavithra Kannan 
• Treasurer: Ciara Watson

Class Representatives:

• Deirdre Leech – 6th class
• Adam Zagorski – 2nd class
• Brandon Fredericks – 3rd class
• Aline Naughton – Senior Infants
• Namoi McComiskey – 2nd class
• Mikaelen Cardoso – Senior Infants
• Louise Byrne –  4th class
• Sanchia Morris –  6th class
• Linda Romane – 6th class
• Michelle Ruane – 2nd class
• Marian Sheridan – 5th class
• Claire O’Doherty – 5th class
• Claudia Aparecida Rodrigues – 5th class