About the PTFA
What’s a PTFA?
PTFA stands for Parents, Teachers and Friends Association. Most schools have one, to arrange fundraising events and activities to help the school.
Who are we?
A small but merry band . . . The usual suspects are:
Parents:
Gina Baker (Treasurer)
Sarah Bays
Christine English
Yvonne Rix
Mandy Urch
Viv Wymbs-Maskrey
Staff:
Shelagh Maple (Acting Chair)
Debbie Spooner (Secretary to PTFA)
Simon Woods
(Gina also works here at school)
Friend:
Cym Cant (Community Governor)
Others are always welcome!
Do you raise much money?
Our spending
At the moment we're working with Steve Prentice, SPC Facilities Manager, to improve the students' outdoor area. We've already funded picnic benches; now we've funded a long, curved stainless steel seat so that more students can sit down and enjoy lunch with their friends outside.
We've also helped with the costs of lots of other things, for example:
- Activities Week
- Books for the Library
- Television for the breakfast room
- Radio mikes for school performances
- Bird boxes
- Refreshments at Parents Evenings and other functions
Our income
We've tried a lot of things over the years, including a series of car boot sales on the old East Site - usually in the rain! We've found that many of our efforts involved an awful lot of time for not much income, so at the moment we're sticking to our tried and tested PTFA Quiz and Chips nights! We have these twice a year - in 2011/12 they will be on Friday 25th November and Friday 11th May.
- Up to 8 people per team
- £7 per head, including a meal delivered by local firm Chish and Fips
- Brainteasers from our knowledgeable and entertaining Library Assistant, Stef Burnett
With a raffle and 'Heads and Tails', we can usually clear £350 - and everyone has a good time, even if they end up with the wooden spoon!
What are you working on at the moment?
Our next challenges are:
- Setting up a '100 Club', which might suit parents, teachers and friends who want to support us but don't have much time
- Recycling school uniform - trying to match nearly-new items in good condition with the right-size students! We've mad a start - watch this space . . .
We've been ably chaired by Gina Baker for over six years now . . . her son Gregg is now at uni, and her daughter Gemma has just left Year 11. Gina says she's happy to stay on as Treasurer, but she stepped down as Chair at the end of last term (Summer 2011). Aylett Law attended meetings for over eight years; Minka Nicholson also served for a long time, and they both also stepped down this summer. Sincere thanks to all these parents for everything they've done to support Blyth-Jex and Sewell Park College.
How can I help?
Our next meeting is the AGM on Tuesday 27th September at 7 pm in Room 1. (Turn right inside the main entrance – that’s next to Mr Hale's room, for those of you who attended Blyth-Jex yourselves!)
You could just turn up, or contact Shelagh Maple at Sewell Park College on 01603 411721(leave a message) . . . or email smaple4nrv@nsix.org.uk
How often does the PTFA meet?
We meet about once a half term, depending on what's coming up. Most of our meetings last about an hour.
All support is warmly welcomed. Please come and join us!
Good news!
The PTFA is proud to announce that it is funding a new seating unit to
extend outdoor seating facilities, to be installed by September 2011. The
steel unit costs £2,700. It is six metres long, smart and durable - it will
enhance new development at the north of the school site, between Science and
Design.
Because the school is able to finance delivery and installation of the new
bench, the PTFA has also been able to provide the Music Department with
a £300 Samba kit, so that Mrs Prescott and Miss Fisher can start a new Samba
group.
Click here for PTFA flier July 2011
Best wishes to all parents and families for a relaxing summer break
The PTFA Committee