MMS Parents' Association
The MMS Parents’ Association (PA) aims to celebrate our community, support our families, and offer our parents and guardians a variety of ways to take an active part in the life of our school. This group is actively involved in the community with the purpose of connecting parents, guardians and teachers, and supporting student and teacher-led initiatives, and improving student learning within and beyond the school.
The PA is comprised of 5 elected roles by the parents and guardians of MMS – these roles are collectively known as the PA Leadership Team.
The PA Leadership Team works together developing initiatives to:
- Support families on their journey at MMS.
- Promote social connection and a strong sense of community.
- Motivate our community to become involved in school life for the benefit of students
- Provide information on how our community can help support each other and our rich School environment.
All parents and guardians of MMS students are automatically members of the PA and are encouraged to get involved in volunteering at MMS, including in PA initiatives.
Nominations to be a member of the PA Leadership Team are held in Term 3 each year and open to all MMS parents and guardians. Please see information below about the nomination process.
The MMS PA helps to run events, organise social gatherings and fundraise for the school. The key initiatives include:
- Welcome new families to MMS
- Social networking
- Conducting and supporting fundraising activities for the benefit of MMS and the community
- MMS Speaker Series bringing together leading educational thinkers to promote informed discussions about current areas of interest in parenting and education
- Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day celebrations
- Annual fundraising events
- ‘Thank You’ event for our teachers, staff and volunteers
- Open Day
As a community school, MMS relies on parent and caregiver involvement across the junior and senior school – from the Directors on the MMS Board and Foundation, Classroom Representatives, as well as the PA. Our community is our strength and one of our greatest assets.
The PA offers parents and guardians the opportunity to:
- Contribute to your child/children schooling experience and memories
- Demonstrate to your child/children the importance of everyone contributing to the community and that our school and its community is something that we truly value.
- Be part of a team that helps to shape our school now and into the future.
HOW can parents and caregivers contribute?
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to volunteer at MMS as a rewarding way of contributing to the MMS community. Opportunities to be involved in the school community are available through the following MMS Volunteer registration platform:
"When our children attend MMS, we all become part of the school community. Friendships are formed, stories are shared, and our children’s memories of their school years stays with them forever."
Contact Us
If you would like to get in contact, feel free to reach out to the PA via email (pa@mms.vic.edu.au).
MMS Parents' Association Nominations
Parents’ Association (PA) Nominations are held every year to appoint the five PA Leadership Team members.
All nominations are opened in Term 3 each year.
- Every family with a student enrolled at MMS is eligible to nominate themselves &/or other parents or guardians to be a member of the MMS PA Leadership Team.
- Appointment to the PA Leadership Team will be for 12 months (1 January – 31 December each year).
- Where multiple nominations are received for a Leadership Team role, a vote will be held by the members (MMS parents/caregivers) to appoint the successful candidate.
- Please contact the PA if you would like more information, pa@mms.vic.edu.au
The PA is a sub-committee of the Board and is governed by its own Terms of Reference. The PA is led by 5 elected roles by the parents and guardians of MMS – these roles are collectively known as the PA Leadership Team.
The PA Leadership Team works together towards a common goal – of supporting families on their journey at MMS by creating opportunities for connection, socialisation and providing information on how they can support each other and our rich School environment.
As a member of the PA Leadership Team, you have a unique opportunity be a part of a significant and rewarding group within our School and show our children how much we truly value our School and community, and the importance of contributing to the ‘greater good’.
MMS Parents’ Association Leadership Team – Role Descriptions:
Chair
- Act as a Chairperson at all Leadership Team Meetings of the PA
- Provide leadership for the PA
- Maintain order during the transaction of business, puts motions to a vote
- Plan the agenda, and schedule and conduct the monthly Leadership Team meetings
- Meet monthly with the School Principal
- In collaboration with the Leadership Team, develop an annual schedule of events for discussion and approval with the School Principal
- Create the annual budget with the Treasurer of the PA
- Provide updates at MMS Board meetings as required and report on the PAs work or participate in broader discussions about the way the PA impacts the school and community
- Present at the Community Meeting preceding the MMS Annual General Meeting
- Ensure adequate and efficient communication exists between the PA and other groups and individuals within the school community regarding PA events/initiatives
- Write a year-end report for the incoming Chair and MMS Board upon vacating the seat of Chair of the PA
Co-Chair
- Assist the Chair and assume the duties of the Chair when that officer is unable to perform them because of illness, absence or conflict of interest
- Attend monthly Leadership Team meetings
- Meet monthly with the School Principal and the Chair of the Association
Treasurer
- Responsible for the receipt of all moneys paid to or received by the Treasurer on behalf of the Association
- Work alongside the MMS Finance Department to ensure all funds received by the Association are paid into the account of the Association
- Provide authorisation for the payment of funds from the Association
- Submit to the Leadership Team a report, balance sheet or financial statement when required
- Provide (and if required, present) a preliminary annual report at the Community Meeting preceding the MMS Annual General Meeting
- Alongside Chair, develop an annual budget for the Association, capturing events and activities for approval by the School Principal
- Provide P&L and Balance Sheet update at each Leadership Team Meeting
- Track the expenses of the Association against budget
Secretary
- Take, distribute and file minutes of all Leadership Team meetings of the PA
- Within seven days of a PA Leadership Team meeting, send a copy of the minutes and any supporting documents to the Company Secretary
- Be responsible for all aspects of communications on behalf of the PA, work with volunteers on their communication needs, and take care of correspondence for the PA.
Volunteer Coordinator
- Be responsible for all administration relating to the online volunteer portal used to post and advertise volunteer opportunities for PA activities and events.
- Be responsible for recruiting volunteers for PA activities and events as required, and ensure these volunteers operate within the guidelines of the PA.
- Produce volunteer reports (via online volunteer portal) to the Leadership Team and the MMS Finance Department at intervals agreed to by the MMS Finance Department.
- Attend Leadership Team Meetings
