Supporting your school
Community
Initiative of the Year Award
Winners: St Kevin’ s Parent Council
“ This event really showed us the impact that a little effort and thoughtfulness can have on our community.”
“ The Friendship Garden began as a grassroots idea from St Kevin’ s Parent Council in late 2023, inspired by a shared desire to transform an underused patch of vacant land into a space that could support outdoor learning, wellbeing and community connection. Driven by the belief that every child should have access to safe, engaging and green environments, the Parent Council worked closely with school staff, the local authority, and local businesses and organisations to bring the idea to life.
The aim of the project was to create a sustainable community garden that would primarily benefit children at the two schools and the local nursery, while also welcoming wider community use through partnership with the nearby Safety Zone community centre. The goal was not only to repurpose disused land but to create a lasting community asset that could be used for learning, growing food and bringing people together.
The initiative quickly gathered momentum throughout 2024, with funding from North Lanarkshire Council and the UK Government. More than 50 individuals played active roles in planning and delivery throughout 2024 and into 2025, including members of the Parent Council, teaching staff, community volunteers and parents from both schools. Pupils contributed through a garden-naming competition – ultimately won by a Year 6 pupil from Bargeddie Primary – and helped plant the first crops in spring 2025.
The Friendship Garden has provided new learning opportunities, a space for both schools to connect and is a point of pride for the community.”
- Words by Gareth James, Chair
Images: Stocks Green School Association, St Kevin’ s Parent Council
PTA Transformation of the Year Award
Winners: Mary Hare School for the Deaf PTA
“ The PTA has become a trusted, influential partner.”
“ In 2024, the Mary Hare PTA underwent a remarkable transformation. The growth took off when we launched our all new“ 100 Club” lottery in 2024, which raised significant funds in an engaging and fun way. The funds were reinvested into student-led projects through a Dragons Den style“ Pitch to the PTA” initiative, where students proposed ideas for improving their school environment, invaluable in building their speech and language skills as well as presentation ability. Successful pitches included new common room activities, astronomy equipment for the boarding houses and sixth form space upgrades, culminating in a Pitch Fund of £ 1,400 being reinvested in these projects.
One of the highlights of the year hosted by the PTA was the Mad Hatter’ s Tea Party, a wonderfully whimsical event that brought the school community together. Each year group designed their own fabulous‘ MAD HAT’ table centre piece, turning the marquee into a colourful parade of imagination.
The PTA understands how vital strong communication is in maintaining meaningful connections with parents – especially in our boarding school – and we have worked hard to ensure families feel informed, included and engaged in school life. The PTA enhanced communication through monthly newsletters and a dedicated PTA page in the school’ s“ Soundwave” publication, showcasing the PTAs achievements and inviting further engagement.
Through these efforts, the PTA has become a trusted, influential partner, bridging the gap between home and school.”
- Words by Michelle Fellows, Communication Lead
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