Money necessary

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 23

Money necessary

The Education Board can’t provide everything a school would like. That’s why the Villa Maria P.T.A. pitches in each year to organise the Fete. Once the money is counted and the bills paid, the P.T.A. sits down to consider applications from the teachers and decide where the money should be spent. There are usually one or two big projects to fund, such as the solar heating of the swimming pool and the newly begun gymnasium fund. Traditionally the P.T.A. give a substantial grant to the Religious Education department and the library. Last year this paid for a new set of encyclopaedia. Necessary bits and pieces of sports equipment usually take a high priority, too. The Fete paid for new high jump equipment, four new volleyballs and wet weather gear for the sports team. Last year’s money also

bought a new camera for the Art Department and two new computer terminals. Villa Maria is very proud of their sports record — their team has won the national secondary schools netball tournament for the last two years — but Headmistress Sister Mary Hanrahan hastens to point out that their pride is not just in sports, but in any extracurricular activity which gets the girls involved. She believes it’s very important for all young people to have a constructive interest outside of school hours, be it sporting or otherwise, and the P.T.A.’s support through the Fete is invaluable in providing the Villa Maria girls with the equipment they need for a full education.