## **Mallusk Integrated Primary School PTA Annual Report** ## **Y/E June 2023** ## **NIC: 106397** ## **1. The role of the PTA** Purpose 1: Improved relationships between home and school the benefit which flows from this purpose includes funding for additional resources for the school and links built with the local community. Purpose 2: Advancing the education of pupils in the school the benefit which flows from this purpose includes increased educational progress and attainment of pupils in the school and links built with the local community. Purpose 1 is demonstrated through having an active PTA that works in partnership with the school and engages parental support. Purpose 2 is demonstrated through pupils having access to resources, events, activities, and links with the local community which are not available through direct school funding. No harm arises from either purpose. The benefit is for children at Mallusk Integrated Primary School there is no private benefit Charity trustees (PTA committee members) are usually also parents at the school which their children attend and hence gain benefit in the same way as all other beneficiaries. This benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to all beneficiaries. ## **2. Overview of the PTA’s structure & how it is governed** The PTA are a registered charity and are therefore governed by Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Our Charity number is NI106397. We have adopted the Parent kind model constitution. This constitution sets out the type of association, its purpose, powers, members of the association, powers of the committee, property & funds, records and accounts, Notices, dissolution, AGM, and committee meetings guidance. Changes to the voted in committee this year: Chair – Paula Barr Chairperson/s - Emma O’Kane and Clare Gallagher Treasurer – Ana Caddell Treasurer/s - Sheryl McBride and Mhairi Kernaghan Secretary – Lisa Thompson Secretary - Louise Boyle Vice Chair – Cathy McGuinness Vice Chairperson- Erin Johnston ## 3. The decision-making process At the start of each year our principal Susanne Kinsella provides the PTA with a wish list of what she would like the PTA to fundraise for. This can be for the following year or following few years. The committee along with its members consider and discuss the list at the first meeting whereby it is decided what we can or cannot fundraise for. This is agreed via a vote. We also include our children in the decision-making process. ## **4. Highlights of 2023** This year we have raised an amazing - £ 6393.63 As a completely new committee as of November 22 we would like to thank our predecessors for the smooth handover and all the help and support they have given us throughout this year. The start of our tenure last year was around Christmas time. We were able to see the successful return of Santa Claus in his sleigh to the school and the children were able to ride on the sleigh and receive a selection box. As a long tradition the PTA also provided the children with Christmas crackers for the Christmas dinner in school. All reports and feedback were positive and the children had a great time. Also, a part of our Christmas events, we ran a Christmas Jumper Swap Shop. The overall aim for this was to reuse and recycle Christmas Jumpers. Donations were made by the whole school community. Christmas hats and snap bands were available for sale for anyone who was unable to find a suitable jumper. This event was a great success and raised £98.00. We hope to continue and build on this concept for this year also. Valentines Disco - The PTA were keen to run a fun event for the children and ran the school’s first whole school valentine disco. A massive Thank you to Micheal Erwin (parent) who kindly donated his time, skill, and equipment to DJ at the disco. This event was a lot of fun and raised an amazing £543.90 Easter Raffle - An amazing Easter Hamper was raffled off for PTA funds - £253.00 Uniform swap - As with the Christmas jumper swap the PTA were passionate about a school uniform swap to not only help families with the current cost of living crisis but to also be aware of the environment and be as eco-friendly as possible. Donations were made by the whole school community of uniforms no longer required or outgrown, Erin Johnston kindly gave up her Friday afternoons in May/June 23 to facilitate the swap. Eco-bins - The PTA received a letter from the school Eco- committee. There was a request for funding for recycling bins for each class room. The request was taken to the PTA committee members and an agreement was made to grant the funds £144.00 Summer Fair - The summer fair this year was an amazing event. This year the Fair included many new events not seen before at our school fair including Pony rides, Steady hand Stall, and ice cream stall. A huge thank you to the local business Centra and Spar for their generous donations towards the BBQ. We would also like to thank many local businesses for the generous donations to the raffle and prizes. Claire and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers for helping on all the stalls, setting up, and taking down. A special thanks to Sheryl’s Dad Colin McBride for building the shaky hand station and providing the air compressor to inflate the bungee cord ball prizes. On the last Friday of every month there is a non-uniform day for the children, this year the non-uniform days raised £528.48 The PTA focus for this year was to raise enough funds to replace the interactive whiteboards in each classroom. With all the hard work I have referenced above we are happy to report that with the PTA funds we have raised enough funds to buy 3 new whiteboards. Mrs Kinsella and the teachers are in the process of ordering and these should be operational soon. The PTA have traditionally contributed to the children's school trips by paying for the bus transport. This year that is still the case, however it is not included in the accounts or report this year as we are waiting for finalisation and invoices from the company. ## **5. Thank you** Thank you to all the committee members that have always taken the time to attend all the committee meetings, be part of sub committees and put in a lot of time and resources organising great events for all the children and families. Special thanks to Ivan from the Mallusk Academy Club for all his help and support throughout the year, he has helped by providing chairs, tables, contacts, and his time. We appreciate all your support. I would also like to thank all the school staff that have always supported the PTA and put in a lot of their time to assist us with putting information in children's folders. A very big thank you to the wonderful caretaker Mandy for always helping the PTA – we would be lost without her help. We wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you to all members and volunteers, for all you have done this past year. ## **6. Focus for the Committee** We will continue to communicate as often as possible with parents/carers to raise awareness of our events and continue to build the school community relationship. We will continue to work alongside Mrs Kinsella and all the school to include all children and their families in all our events. As a charity we will continue to work with the best interests of the children and represent them when making decisions on expenditure requests. Thank you again to everyone for their support of the PTA.