Letter for the parents of new starters
Dear Parent/Carer,
On behalf of the ‘Friends of St. Michael’s Primary School’ I would like to welcome you and your child to our school. We hope that your time here is a happy one and that your child experiences the very best our village school can offer.
We are the ‘Friends’ and were established, mainly to provide additional financial support to St. Michael’s School, which in turn, allows our children to have those little, or sometimes, big ‘extras’, which they would otherwise have to do without. Its existence relies purely upon parents’ involvement and support throughout each child’s time here at St. Michael’s.
Here is some useful information about the ‘Friends’, who we are, how we raise money, what we use it for and how YOU can help!
Who we are:
The ‘Friends of St. Michael’s Primary School’ (our PTFA), is made up of parents whose children attend the school, a teacher, usually Mr Phillips the Deputy Head, also attends, so that we maintain a close link to the school itself and are aware of its needs. All parents of children at the school are automatically member of the ‘Friends’ but a small committee and parents meet up, usually once every half term to discuss and plan events/fundraisers. These meetings give you, the parent, an opportunity to raise any concerns, share your thoughts and inject new ideas for fundraising. It is also an opportunity to meet new parents and hopefully have an enjoyable hour or so. For some parents, it is their only opportunity to socialise.
A list of the current Committee members, together with their contact details, can be found on the ‘Friends’ notice board at the rear entrance to the school.
How we raise money:
We plan a series of varied activities throughout the year mostly aimed at children, parents and families. Such evenings include the annual Easter Bingo night, which is a great chance to have fun with the family whilst raising money for the school. We also traditionally run the May-Fest tea tent and are involved in various other fundraisers throughout the school calendar year. These fundraisers have included; treasure hunts; family sports days; bag packing at Morrisons and sometimes parents and teachers collect sponsorships ie: cross Wales walk, and donate it to the ‘Friends’.
Parents of the school also organise the creation of Christmas cards designed by the children and the DVD recording of the Children’s Christmas play performance annually, both of which generate additional funds for the school. The annual December Christmas village fair, is something that the ‘Friends’ are getting more involved in too.
What else we organise
We also provide the children with ‘treats’ such as a Christmas theatre visit to school; Christmas parties for both infants and juniors; Easter Eggs for the children at Easter time; and a Leavers’ Party in July of each year, where we say a big goodbye to all children leaving for high school and a big hello to all Year 2 pupils who will be the new juniors in September. In order not to use up all our hard earned money, we have started to ask parents for a minimal contribution towards each ‘treat’, usually £1 per child, which generally includes a non-uniform day too. This way the children get a quality treat and although each event requires a lot of organising and hard work on our part, we are not significantly out of pocket from doing it.
How the money is used:
It is decided at our meetings what to spend our money on. Usually, the school puts forward a request for us and we then actively fundraise for it. In the past we have received big requests ie: £3,500 target for new reading books to allow a complete overhaul of the reading scheme and then smaller requests ie:£500 for an internal climbing wall. We always aim to spend the money on ‘educational resources’, because of the sheer hard work involved raising the money. Our most recent project was to update the school’s computer technology, namely by raising funds to buy new laptops/pads at an approximate cost of £8,000.
10 Ways you can help!
1: Attend the Meetings
We all lead busy lives and keeping family life ticking over smoothly does indeed require a great deal of time and effort - as parents ourselves, we really do appreciate this! But, it is us busy parents who keep the ‘Friends’ running, which in turn gives our children the very best educational experience they could have at St. Michael’s. Your attendance at our meetings will undoubtedly benefit your child/ren. We appreciate any fresh or new ideas, your suggestions for improvements and new fundraising opportunities, which haven’t been looked at etc… please make time to come along and share your views!
2: Join the Committee
Please don’t feel pressured into becoming part of the ‘Committee’. We do need a ‘Chair’, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary to continue each year, but your attendance at our meetings is also appreciated. Never feel like a job will be forced upon you, if you just come along. This will not happen unless you are fully willing and prepared to take on a role, within the ‘committee’ itself.
3: Help with organising an event.
A fundraiser usually requires a lot of work, but delegation is the key. If you have any skills, you just fancy a challenge or are just up for helping, let us know.
4: Come along to events – Support what we do.
Don’t feel bad that you cannot commit to helping to organise an event. Even if you just turn up on the day or night itself, you will be supporting us. Without you, your family and friends attending, we wouldn’t raise any money. We also rely upon you spreading the word and getting everyone to come along, to make any event a huge success.
5: Provide a raffle.
At all of our fundraisers, a raffle is a given! It is a sure way of raising a substantial amount of money with minimal effort. Anything you can give us, perhaps a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine, would be great! Send it in with your child to school or drop it off with their class teacher. You will probably receive a letter from the ‘Friends’ requesting prizes prior to the event itself, but even if you don’t…send one in…we will use it!.
6: Volunteer to help run the kitchen at an event.
You will never be expected to do this single-handed so don’t panic. A team of support will be allocated to staff the kitchen at each event.
7: Make cakes for an event.
At most events we host, we require the kitchen to be open selling refreshments and cakes. This is another opportunity for us to raise money and we appreciate all offerings. However, only offer if you like baking and never feel pressured into offering a tray or two. Baking isn’t appealing to everyone.
8: The Giving Machine.
We are signed up to the giving machine. This is an internet non-profit making company which, if you go through their website first, will donate a percentage of your purchase, to St. Michael’s.
All you have to do is log into www.thegivingmachine.co.uk, register your name (no financial details are required), then each time you buy anything using the internet, remember to go via thegivingmachine.
All money raised gets transferred into our bank account each month. It costs you nothing and it’s as easy as that!
9: Find out if your Employer can help.
We are a registered charity and any assistance we can get is appreciated. Perhaps the place you or your partner works, can help out financially or otherwise. If you have any success, let the ‘Chair of the Committee’ know.
10: Send in a Donation.
If you cannot help out, or indeed attend any of our events during the school year, but would like to help us financially, then please do! Again, any assistance is very much appreciated. Send your donation into school with your child, in an envelope clearly marked ‘Friends’ Fundraising Donation’ and we will make sure that it goes into our account.
Remember, all our fundraising helps the children at St. Michael’s and that includes your child/ren
I hope this letter has addressed any questions you may have, but should you require any further information, please ask a Committee member. We will be only too pleased to answer any pending questions you may have.
We look forward to seeing you, at the next ‘Friends of St. Michael’s Primary School’ meeting.
Yours sincerely,
The Chair, Friends of St. Michael’s Primary School