St Joseph`s PTA General Meeting: Form 4 and 5

Welcome Remarks to the General PTA meeting from the Current Outgoing PTA Executive Committee Chairperson

Kobe Kobson Motlhatlhedi

30^th March 2017

The College Chaplain, Father Alex

The College Manager

The Principal and all Staff of St Joseph`s College

Current Outgoing PTA Executive Committee members Parents and Guardians

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon

Here we are gathered on the occasion of the 1^st 2017 General PTA Meeting of St Joseph`s College, It is customary that we gather at this time, not only to give feedback to parents on the progress of the PTA and problems of our learners, but to meet with College Authorities, Staff and all those who are taking care of our learners studying in this prestigious Institution. I take this opportunity to welcome you to this meeting.

Let me first start by explaining the objectives and functions of PTA.

The objectives of the Association are to:

Ø Promote close contact and the widest co-operation between St Joseph`s College, parents, parish and friends for the good of, and advancing the education of the learners of the College;

Ø Raise funds to provide extra equipment and other benefits to the College which are in line with the College’s strategic plan;

Ø Promote wider community involvement in College life by offering social activities for parents, staff and friends of the College; and

Ø Support the role of pastoral care for families within the College as the need arises and other activities consistent with the charitable purpose of the Association.

I take this opportunity to announce to the House, that St Joseph's College has been constantly attaining position 1 nationally for the past 5 years and is a College well known for disciplined behaviour of its learners. I congratulate all stakeholders and pray for more successes in our quest for academic excellence and the drive towards attaining greater heights in nation building objectives.

No doubt, these are good results and I believe the parents can only be happy and thankful to the College authorities and staff for the hard work put in to achieve what you have before you.

The Association as a body has played a positive role in the scheme of things aimed at endorsing and promoting the image of the College and continues to strive in the objective of making our dear College a household name in and around its immediate environs. Nevertheless, I believe there is room for improvement on our activities as partners in progress.

As we all know, our children are our future. We therefore owe them good academic and moral education which is the reason why as parents, we partner and support St Joseph`s College in its unrelenting efforts in ensuring that its students rank among the best in the country and beyond.

Education is not about reading and writing alone, it is about building a generation of future leaders, good-mannered and trustworthy children who will contribute their quota in nation building and help uplift the name of our dear nation. This and more is what St Joseph`s College is all about and I testify to that in all sincerity.

It is this high level of commitment by the school that has gingered parents to give their full support to the College, thus making our work as the PTA Executive easy.

I will want to remind parents that the upbringing of learners starts from home not St Joseph`s College. St Joseph`s College is there to complement what we parents start at home. Parents, you have your children for approximately three months of the year. St Joseph`s College has them for approximately nine. So, if we want to make St Joseph`s College, a home away from home, you should emphasize on these learners the need to be in this College because the overriding goal is DISCIPLINE, inside which a lot has to be achieved if a child goes through a College like St Joseph`s. Parents, I urge you to help the Staff to make your learners better persons in society tomorrow.

At this juncture, on behalf of the PTA Executive, I would like to announce that St Joseph`s College will be having 90 years of existence next year, and the PTA Executive and College Management have agreed to immensely celebrate this 90^th Anniversary hallmark, through the assistance of all the parents, College alumni and other Old Associates of Kgale, commonly known as OAKS. The details of this 90^th Anniversary celebration would be explained during the course of this meeting.

I would also like to announce that the two year term for the current PTA Executive Committee members has come to an end, and one of the proceedings of this meeting is the election of the new PTA Executive Committee. I therefore like to inform you that I am currently welcoming you as the current outgoing Chairperson of the PTA Executive Committee.

Serving as member of the PTA Executive Committee is a voluntary initiative, however I urge parents to volunteer in this initiative. Parents are the backbone of our strong and supportive community in St Joseph`s College.  Parental involvement is a long tradition in our College and one of its greatest strengths.  The more you engage with the College community, the more rewarding your experience in St Joseph`s College will be.  I encourage you to look for opportunities to volunteer and share your experience and talents.  Small or big time commitment – there is a place for you!

Let me inform you that most if not all of us in the PTA Executive Committee were filled with reluctance when we were first elected into our respective offices 2 years ago. But now, all I can see amongst us is a spirit of teamwork. Therefore, allow me to express my utmost gratitude to all committee members who have never failed to serve our association with commendable endurance. I feel so proud and honored to have been able to lead this excellent team.

I understand that the committee and members have been through a lot of sweat and tears in order to secure our benefits and interests. I must admit that all of you have exhibited great loyalty and diligence towards your respective obligations. Truly, St Joseph`s College PTA is proud to have had such proactive members.

Throughout the past two years, several new initiatives have been introduced and implemented.  These include, but are not limited to; running of the College Tuck Shop by the PTA, commencement of other fundraising activities such as buy a block, shoe size, family fun day and so on, and the erection of a shade to accommodate all students during mass.

I sincerely hope that today a greater leader would make a bold move to step up and take over the new leadership. I believe that it is time for me to make way for new rising stars. Rome wasn’t built in a day. In order to raise St Joseph`s College PTA to greater heights, we need new ideas and fresh energy to run and improvise the Association.

As the outgoing Chairperson for this auspicious Association, allow me to welcome all of you with the warmest gesture, and may this gathering be another one that will bring us joy and happiness. It is my passionate hope that we will continue to forge stronger bonds of rapport and radiate our spirit of togetherness on all occasions.

The path towards success is full of obstacles. Should you fall, pick yourself up and continue your chosen path with refined vigour.

God Bless St Joseph`s College, God Bless Botswana.

Thank You!