In Attendance:
S. O’Riordan, M. O’Shea-Pernot, G. Egan, A. Jennings, B. Conway, J. O’Dea, M. Jennings, A. Coyle, G. Quinn, P. McBride, M. Murphy, A. Hafdioui, B. Walsh, M. MacCourt, T. Hurley, T. Murray, J. Nevin

Apologies:
C. Devereux, D. Mescal, B. O’Meara, M. Murray, S. McCauley, J. O’Connor, N. Forde, V. Murphy, F. Maguire, M. Walsh, B. McMahon, E. Jones

1) Minutes of Meeting 10th January 2012
Agreed. Proposed G. Egan / J. O’Dea.

2) Treasurers Report
- €19, 668 main account
- €7,000 approximately to be deducted for seating for school musical
- €3,244 10k account
- 31 subscriptions have been received since Christmas. Reminder to be sent out after February mid-term break by TY students. J. Nevin to arrange for subscription letter and bank mandate to go on school website.

3) Principals Report
VEC New School Campaign
Thanks to all parents for completing expression of interest forms. As of Friday 13th January the Kildare VEC indicated their intention to apply for patronage or co-patronage of the new second level school for Maynooth due to open in September 2014. The date for submission of application forms has been extended by Department of Education and Skills to 24th February.

Maynooth 10K Challenge
Thanks to PTA for organising the second 10K Challenge for 20th May at 10am. The route, as last year, will take in Carton House, Maynooth town and the grounds of St. Patrick’s College. All proceeds again will go towards the playing pitch development on the Moyglare Road.

The 19th Annual School Musical – ‘Phantom of the Opera’
The wait is nearly over “The Phantom of the Opera” begins on the 1st February and will run for 5 nights until Sunday 5th February. Don’t miss out on your chance to see this mesmerising show! 2,500 tickets have now been sold and the show is now a full sell out. As part of the schools 40th anniversary we are proud to be the first school in Ireland to be given the privilege to stage this musical. It is with joyous excitement that the school and all the students involved in its production look forward to bringing you five magical nights of musical enchantment. Parent patron money - €30 – from each family will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Guidance
The recent announcement in Budget 2011 to remove ex quota guidance hours from schools and include these hours in the general pupil / teacher ratio will have serious implications for the provision of guidance in Maynooth Post Primary. I would appeal to you as parents, to contact your local public representatives and Minister for Education and Skills, to support the retention of the essential ex quota provision for guidance and counselling, so that young people and education may not be the victims of these cutbacks.

State Examinations
Teachers have provided all examination students with a final date for completion of projects. If your son or daughter in Leaving Certificate is doing Engineering, Geography, History, Art or Construction Studies, we advise you to cross check the final completion dates. In Junior Certificate Art, CSPE, Religious Education, Woodwork, Science and Metalwork have projects to complete. No extension of time will be allowed by the Department of Education and Skills.

All examination students should now be following a structured time-table of study and revision. Leaving Certificate programme, in particular is a full time occupation.

The fees for State Examinations are set down by DES as follows:
Junior Certificate: €103
Leaving Certificate: €109

These fees will be collected in the school after February Mid Term Break. Please note that students who have current medical cards are exempt from these fees.

BT Young Scientist Exhibition
Congratulations to Daniel Hobbs, who received third place in the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Senior Individual category with his project ‘Crystal Whiskers: their piezoelectric properties’.

Congratulations also to Ann McGloughlin – Senior Individual in Technology. Ann has been selected for the BT Young Scientist Business Development Programme. Involvement in these types of projects is always worthwhile and of tremendous benefit for the students. Well done!

Congratulations / Comhghairdeas
To our victorious Senior Boys Rugby team who won the Leinster Development Cup Final in December 2011.

To our Gael Linn who have qualified for Regional Final.

Sport
Our teams in Senior Boys Gaelic Footballl, Juvenille Hurling, Ladies Football, Minor, Junior and Senior Camogie, Cross Country Running are now involved in important matches and meetings.

Well done Emily Milner Winner of the West Leinster Senior Ladies Cross Country today 26/1/2011.

Enrolment for incoming First Years 2012 – 2103 – Saturday January 28th starting at 9.30 and finishing at 12pm.

Assessment for incoming First Years 2012 – 2013 – Saturday March 3rd starting at 9am and finishing at 1pm.

School Musical ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Wednesday 1st February to Sunday 5th February at 7.30pm.

Mid-Term Break – Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February inclusive.

Mock Examinations – commence for Junior and Leaving Cert students on Wednesday February 8th 2012 and recommence after the Mid-Term Break on 20th February for one week. Please note that Leaving Cert students and Junior Cert students are asked to bring in €30 (Junior Cert) and €40 (Leaving Cert) respectively for these exams to their tutors before Wednesday 1st February. Please refer to school website for further information (www.mpps.ie)

MPPS – Gala Concert Friday 24th February in Sports Hall. Full details to follow.

Senior Options Cycle scheduled for Tuesday 28th February 2012.

6) School Musical
G. Egan has organised catering needs for Sponsorship Reception and Cast Party. Those who are helping with Cast Party please bring jug and pizza slicer / knife!

7) 10K Fun Run
Meeting of 10K Team took place.
- Entry form will be available in February edition of Maynooth Newsletter.
- Press launch to be arranged for week starting 20th February.
- J. O’Dea to source training plan for website.
- Date of next meeting for 10K Team to arranged.

8) PTA Branding
It was agreed to hold competition for TY students to design a logo for PTA in conjunction with MPPS logo. S. McCauley to arrange.

9) Correspondence
National Parents Council Newsletter to be circulated.

10) Library
A meeting took place last week regarding use and access of the library. Many thanks to A. Hafdioui who has kindly agreed to manage the library 2-3 days per week.

10) School Patronage / Plan Strategy
T. Murray updated meeting on expressions of interest that have been lodged with DES. The VEC and Loretto Trust are the only two valid applications received.

The campaign for support of VEC will continue:
- Advertisements in Liffey Champion and Maynooth Newsletter in coming weeks.
- Forms to be delivered to crèches following advertisements.
- Advertisement in School Musical programme.
- Display at entry hall of school musical thanking people for support.
- Parental support forms to be delivered for distribution through school in Aghards (M. O’Shea-Pernot) and Primrose Hill (V. Murphy).
-Copy of Polish / Russion poster to be displayed in Maynooth Library (B. Walsh).

11) A.O.B.
J. Nevin to arrange school newsletter to go on MPPS website.

Disco
M. Murphy updated meeting on plans to host school disco in May and committee to be formed with parents and teachers. The following have volunteered to help: A. Jennings, J. O’Dea, G. Egan and M. O’Shea-Pernot. Details of date to follow.

Item for March Meeting:
Evening of Live Bands