Proposals aplenty at St Colman’s Student Council meeting

An important grass-roots level meeting took place in St Colman’s NS last week when the newly elected members of the Student Council sat down with principal Mr Beehan and other members of staff to present their first proposals.

Mr Beehan started by congratulating the 17 members from first through to sixth classes on being elected by their peers and encouraged them to aim to be the best student council ever.

“You are representing all the other children who elected you,” said Mr Beehan, adding that newly elected member Ben had run last year but was not elected, and had then given the idea of the Re-Turn bottle bank fundraiser to then member, Austin, and Ben was voted in this year. “I want to hear all your ideas. The purpose of this council is to give all our students a voice.”

The first proposal came from Karl, who had a petition signed by sixth class students for the Lunch Bag to go back to an older baguette that had previously been on the school lunch menu but was replaced by a newer one the children like less. Mr Beehan told the council that they were “going to the right people at the right time” and they could all attend a Lunch Bag taste-testing session and give feedback there.

Mary Kate told of how the school’s portable goal-posts are hard to carry and getting damaged, and proposed that a bake sale might raise money to replace them. Mr Beehan agreed and welcomed the idea.

Ben suggested that a climbing wall would be a welcome addition to the playing pitch which students all the way down to junior infants would benefit from. After a discussion about safety concerns, location and cost, Mr Beehan asked that they leave that with him.

Lucy suggested a Wellbeing Wednesday where, once a month, every class in the school do a fun activity that makes children happy. Mr Beehan welcomed the idea.

Cillian proposed a follow-on from last year’s council’s Re-Turn bottle bank fundraiser, asking everyone to bring in one bottle per month, which he estimated would raise about €75, so would be a regular fundraiser while asking parents only for a bottle. Mr Beehan welcomed the proposal and asked if it might be increased to asking for two bottles. Lisa proposed that we hold a “bottle race” with a prize for the class bringing the most bottles.

Aliya asked about the possibility of a school garden and a slide for infants. Mr Beehan said that a new space will be created when the old prefabs are demolished and “we would like to have your input as to what will go there”.

Mr Beehan concluded by asking all the members to design posters to advertise the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Food Appeal (now open). In this “children helping children” initiative, children bring in non-perishable foods and household products which are given to SVP to donate to families in need in Mullingar.

Mr Beehan also told the student council that Christmas Jumper Day is Thursday December 18 and the donations of €1 per student will go to local photographer, John McCauley’s Tanzania Heavenly Homes charity.

Mrs Walters reminded the council members that “everyone has a voice and will be heard” urging them to “leave your mark and make our school even more child-friendly”.

Mr Beehan presented vouchers to members of last year’s council as a token of appreciation for their hard work.