Thomas Whitehead School Association

Date of Meeting - 2nd November 2007

Present:- Mr Garrard (part of meeting), Irene Hawkes, Claire Hawkes, Gemma Hourican, Lisa Butler, Kim Martin,
Kerry Ambrose, Karen Riordan, Mikala Cornwell, Clare Lanceley

Apologies:- Angela Jefcoate, Amanda Noble, , Shelley Dunn, Brenda Thomas

Minutes:- Taken by Mikala Cornwell

POINTS RAISED:-

Sponsored Bounce - 12th October 2007
Mr Garrard thanked everyone for their help at the sponsored bounce. As as 5/11/07, we have raised almost 900.00.

Discos -
Yrs 1 & 2 - 13th November 2007
Yrs 3 & 4 - 15th November 2007
Blackboard to be put out this week, letting parents know about discos. Discos to start at 3.15pm for an hour after school. Children will be able to bring change of clothes and will get a drink and biscuit. Costs of one pound per child. Biscuits/juice needs to be purchased. Mikala to produce letter informing parents of discos.

Letters for Christmas Raffle -
Mikala has previously sent out five letters to GoBowling, Dunstable Gliding Club, Moores, Mentmore Golf Club and Old Palace Lodge. We have contacted these companies before and they have very kindly donated vouchers. Letters basically asking as they have been so kind in donating in the past, could we contact them again for future fundraising/raffle prizes etc. The Old Palace Lodge contacted the school to say that whenever we need any raffle prizes, we can just contact them and they will send us some vouchers.
Kerry Ambrose has typed a standard letter to more local companies. Majority of these could be hand delivered. Hopefully these will be ready for delivery by Wed 7/11/07.

TWSA Newsletter
Mikala to do 2nd newsletter, letting parents know how sponsored bounce went and to let them know of forthcoming events.

Christmas Family Disco-
To take place on Friday 7th December. After much discussion and a chat with Mr Garrard after meeting, it was agreed that we would NOT be doing food at the disco. During meeting it was discussed that we could do baked potatoes, a choice of fillings and hot dogs. But after some thought, the point was raised that there would be no time to prepare the food as the school kitchen will obiously be in use during the day. It would be a lot of work for the organisers, especially if the food was to prove as popular as it was at the bbq. Therefore, it was thought that the best idea would be to say to people to bring their own food. They will be bringing own drink anyway. The ticket prices could then be lower which hopefully will attract more people. Money can be raised on the raffle, tombola, sweet stool and maybe sell some tea towels (see below).

Senior Citizen’s Christmas Tea
Date decided for this was Sunday 2nd December. Letters need to go out to parents requesting if anyone can prepare food. Mikala to liaise with Irene/Brenda as to the food that is usually requested. Mikala to then produce letter. Letter will also include request for donations of items of food that can be put into hampers for raffle prizes ie. tins/jam jars/packs of biscuits/mince pies/small xmas cakes etc.

Tea Towels-
Hayley Cook has worked extremely hard to organise the tea towels. We have received the proof which means we could be taking delivery of these during the next couple of weeks. We decided that it would be a better idea to have one tea towel for the whole school so Hayley asked the teachers if the children could draw their faces during class time. She then stuck all the faces onto the template and sent it off. Once we have an idea of a delivery date, we will send out order forms. Hopefully people will buy at least one, but we’re hoping some may buy more as they would make great xmas gifts for nans, aunts etc. We could also have these on sale on the night of the family disco.

Christmas Presents Sale for Children-
Mikala to produce letter letting parents know about this sale and asking for donated gifts. A board could also be put out each morning and afternoon as a reminder. It was discussed that we could do two sales, one for nursery/yrs 1 & 2 and another for yrs 3&4. Suggested dates were Tues 4 and Wed 5 December. Suggested we could do these sales after school on these days and sell tea/coffee and mince pies for parents whilst children bought pressies. We could have two tables of presents and then a couple of tables for us to wrap and label the presents for the children.
Make sure the donated gifts are labelled so that children do not buy back the gift they have brough in. If we keep the donated gifts from nursery/yrs1&2 in a box we can then sell these to yrs3&4 and then vice versa. Must make sure that donated gifts are in good condition and worth at least 2.
Lisa and Gemma to sort out cupboard to find out what Christmas things we have available.

Christmas Presents for Children
Mr Garrard to liaise with teaching staff about the sort of presents to buy for the children. These will need to be bought and wrapped.

Christmas Tree
Mikala to contact local garden centres/farms etc to see if anyone could donate a real 7ft tree. Tree needs to be decorated by 1st Dec.

School Summer Fete
Date agreed for the fete was Saturday 21st June 2008. Thomas Whitehead do not have a school football team but a football tournament seems to bring more people through the gates. Mikala’s husband Andy has volunteered to organise a team. Possibly in April/May, we could run some trials after school to pick a team and then try to have training once a week until the school fete. Mikala to liaise with Amanda Brown as to the whereabouts of the two Thomas Whitehead football kits.
Ideas for stalls, displays etc can be discussed at future meetings. Local companies who have been contacted by us already will hopefully be able to donate raffle prizes.




NEXT MEETING FRIDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2007 @ 2.15pm