Good Counsel College Parents Council

The Parents Council of Good Counsel College was set up in 2000. It comprises a group of parents who act as a representative group for all parents of the students in the school. An effort is made to ensure there are parents from each year group and from the geographic areas represented in the school. The Council holds regular meetings throughout the year and an AGM in June.  The Principal, Chaplain and teacher representatives attend all meetings.

Aims

The Parents Council aims to represent the views of parents and to provide a channel of communication between the school and the parents. It organises talks of interest and social events for parents. It also fund raises for “once off” projects to contribute towards improvements to the College for the benefit of the students.   The Constitution of the Parents’ Council is regularly amended.

Past Activities

Over the past few years the Parents Council has organised talks by well known specialists on a variety of topics and other activities of interest to parents and students. Speakers have included the national figures DJ Carey, Seán Og O Halpin, Gareth O Callaghan and John Lonergan. Some of the topics and areas of interest covered in the past have been:

• Positive Mental health
• Substance misuse awareness
• Dangers of the Internet
• Suicide
• Balancing sports and school work
• Healthy body, Healthy Mind
• Computer classes for parents
• Christmas flower arranging and carol service
• An annual 6^th year barbecue is held in May each year for students and teachers. This is a very popular social event much anticipated by the boys which includes musical entertainment provided by the boys themselves.

 
Members of GCC Parents' Council at 6th Year Barbeque 2009/10

Supporting the school

The Parents Council organises fund raising events which are used for specific projects. In 2005 an auction of gifts and promises raised in the region €24,000.   Previously the Council also funded the conversion of the first boarding house into the Fr. Jackie Power Pastoral Care Centre costing in the region of €25,000. Other projects supported through funding from the Parents Council have been:

• Computers

• Scanner reader

• Sports gear

• Bob Quinn Perpetual Cup

• Fast Forward Programme (for learning support Dept)

• Team Hop (training equipment for PE)

• Folding seating/tables for the Assembly hall

• Defibrillator

• CCTV cameras

Most recently a wonderfully entertaining and informative cookery demonstration by the renowned chef Phelim Byrne of the Wexford Academy raised €6,700.

In addition each year the Parents Council funds two bursaries for third level students who are past pupils to the value of €650 each.

Recently enthusiastic parents of the hurling and football players have been raising funds specifically to contribute to costs incurred for travelling to matches representing the school.

 
Smells Good! Parents cooking the burgers at the barbeque.

Friends of Good Counsel

Parents are encouraged to join the ‘Friends of Good Counsel’ through which they can make a valuable contribution to the developments in the school. By joining the ‘Friends’ parents can make a monthly donation of €7 which is used in conjunction with the other fund raising activities for the projects identified.   Please contact the school for further information related to the “Friends” of Good Counsel.

Members of the Parents Council may be contacted through the school office.

CONSTITUTION OF THE PARENTS’ COUNCIL OF GOOD COUNSEL COLLEGE,  NEW ROSS.