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SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE
The PTA will be running its second hand uniform sale again this year. Please see info below:
Second Hand Uniform Sale letter
Garment Labels
Uniform Sale Price List
Copy of Sellers List
STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS
Regretfully, the PTA Ready Steady Cook meets The Generation Game diarised for March 9, has had to be postponed due to the field kitchens (and associated staff) being so generously loaned to us being unavailable.. ALL IS NOT LOST, however, and this great, family event has been rescheduled for 24 October. Please watch the school diaries and the PTA section of the Website for further information.
At last evening's Committee meeting, we received no grant requests, but were delighted to see photos of some of the girls wearing the numbered netball/hockey kit we purchased at the end of last year at the West of England tournament.
It being Mary Lawrence's birthday, it was with delight that we decided to send flowers and chocolates as a very small token of our thanks - Mary provides hot drinks and biscuits at every PTA meeting we hold and is always happy to lend us pristine, white table clothes and sparklingly clean glasses for our smaller events. We are very grateful for all she does for us.
At the PTA AGM on Tuesday 30 October, Anita Skyrme, Chairman, reported to the Committee as follows:
This year has been a difficult one financially. The economy remains in melt down and trying to empty people's pockets has been tough. That said, however, thanks to annual subscriptions and some fundraising, we have still been in a position to fulfill nearly all grant requests received – perhaps I can just mention a few of them to remind you – 3 mountain bikes and a mountain bike trailer for CCF, a set of match shirts for the U14 rugby team, a chip forge for the DT dept, a financial contribution to the Science Dept to help fund Science Week, furnishings, artwork and floor coverings for the 6th Form Café makeover (a great success as you will see!!), we have bought a new home cinema system for the Library, a world clock, world City posters and home nation flags for the Geography Department, new posters for the Economics Department, hockey & netball match shirts for the U15 girls and 2 Boccia Sets and 2 table tennis tables for general school use, to name but a few. It is, I am sure you'll agree, very satisfying to see how well spread across the departments these grant requests are and I hope that we can continue to provide the extras that we do, in the next twelve months.
As mentioned earlier, we are becoming more and more reliant on our parent subs for the main of the money we have to give back to the school by way of grant requests. Fund raising as we know is becoming tougher and we have reigned back on some of our usual events, knowing that at the moment, they are unlikely to be well enough supported to make the effort required to run them worthwhile.
That said, the Marches 7's earlier this year was phenomenally successful. The Marches Committee had an injection of new blood and these members helped to move the event on to a different level. This encouraged more spectators in general and more money through the cash tins in the PTA catering tent! The weather was perfect, the PTA were on fine form, the players were polite and grateful for the lunches we were sponsored to give them and a great day was had by all. Plans are already in hand for next years Marches – lets make it even bigger and better than this years!
As a committee, we then kept a fairly low profile in general, whilst all the time working behind the scenes on plans for our May Ball. This was another truly fantastic event. We used the sports hall for the first time – this had its pros (and cons) and whether we use it again remains open to discussion, but oh, what a night! Acassion Marquees as always provided us with the basics and we, as a committee, stepped up to the plate and made it look, well, stunning – our guests were genuinely amazed at how beautiful the sports hall could be made to look and this, combined with The Sisters great food, the polite and very patient U6 bar staff and the infamous Roddy Hankins disco made for a night to remember.
Our next appearance was at sports day. Now, sports day is never really a fund raiser – it's a service we provide for the pupils. We always have a fun day and this year was no exception. The children were, as always polite and grateful for what we provide in the way of cake, sweets and inappropriate fizzy drinks but, having watched them flying by the side of the marquee, nothing we sell seems to slow them down!
And here we are, another AGM. Another year, I suspect, of low key fundraising. Another year of meeting and greeting new parents, new pupils and equally as importantly, meeting and greeting potential new parents and pupils!
Everything we do is made all the easier by the simple fact that we, as a committee all get on. We are all supportive of each other, the school and the pupils – it's a recipe for success.
From my personal point of view, I know that I can ask for manpower, cakes, shopping and picking up and putting away services, and you always say yes. The staff support I have as Chairman and we have as a committee is second to none. I have been honoured to be your Chairman for the past twelve months and it simply remains for me to say, thank you!"
The Committee Officers were voted back on to serve for the next twelve months, as were all but one of the current Committee. We were pleased to welcome Catherine Hughes as a new committee member/6th Form representative.
We already have several exciting events planned for the coming year but, as always, are very keen to receive suggestions from parents (and indeed, pupils) too - please let one of us know!
Thank you!
Anita
Anita Skyrme, Chairman, HCS PTA
GRANTS
At our recent committee meeting, we were delighted to approve the following grant requests:
£175 - Geography Department for the purchase of a set of home nation flags and canvasses of some of the major world capitals to brighten up the hall in the department.
£900 - General school use, for the purchase of two table tennis tables & associated kit. It was thought that after the Olympic games and the hopefully increasing number of Chinese students into the 6th Form, that this would be an attractive option as a club and potential alternative sport on a Wednesday afternoon (tbc) for those pupils who feel less confident in a team situation.
£290 - General school use, for the purchase of two Boccia sets. This may be offered as a new sport on Friday afternoons (tbc) and possibly offered as a senior games option (tbc) alongside badminton in the sports hall. The advantage of Boccia is that is requires very little space to play and can be played inside and out.
As mentioned in previous updates, we will be gathering to make Christingles for the Christingle Service in December. Aside from the odd 'piercing' injury sustained whilst trying to push very hard sweets onto very sharp cocktail sticks, we have a really enjoyable morning making these for the children who love receiving them during this very pleasant service!
We are considering holding a Burns Night Supper in January. We would be very pleased to receive your thoughts on this proposal!
P L E A S E W A T C H T H I S S P A C E for continuing updates!!!
With kindest regards, Anita |
