Strandtown Primary School PTA
STRANDTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA PTA Annual General Meeting 12th September 2018 ANNUAL REPORT – 2017/2018
The school year 2017/18 was a successful one for Strandtown PTA, in all aspects of social, educational and financial terms. In addition, it was a year of very welcome growth for the PTA with last year’s AGM being very well attended and a number of new faces joined the PTA and the Committee.
The PTA are a team of parents and teachers who work together with the common goal of assisting the school management team with the running of the school. We are committed to raising as much money as possible through a range of events and activities for pupils and families and spending it for the benefit of as many children as possible to strike a good balance between educational needs and fun.
The growing success of the PTA is due to the dedication and planning of the parents and teachers on the PTA committee and the wider group of parents, teachers and school office and caretaking staff who assist throughout the year to ensure the success of all the events run. The PTA Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved for their efforts.
In addition to all the events run by PTA during the year, the PTA this year, thanks to increased volunteer numbers and support from the Board of Governors, established a funding sub-group. This has enabled us to apply for community funding grants and we very much hope to see some of this funding come our way very soon. It is hoped that PTA will be able to continue to develop this sub-group but it will only be possible with continued willing volunteers.
PTA have continued to support the Eco Club and School Council with funds to purchase gardening and new play equipment for the play boxes. Each year the Y7s are play leaders for the juniors and this year the PTA were pleased to provide two play leader awards in each Y7 class. These were presented by PTA at the Y7 leavers night in June.
It is now almost two years since the PTA became a charity registered with the NI Charity Commission on 17[th] November 2015. At the end of August PTA completed its first full financial year as a Charity and submitted our first annual return.
Full details of PTA finances – funds raised and how PTA spent its funds are found in the Treasurer’s Report.
PTA were active from early in the 2016 autumn term with the sale of pantomime tickets for Cinderella at the Opera House. Due to purchasing a group rate means that PTA can offer the tickets at a big reduction compared to individual purchase and still fundraise on each ticket sold – a win for both families and PTA funds!
Activities kicked off with a non-uniform day in October, closely followed by the ever popular junior disco for the Y4 and Y5’s in November, with our DJ ALDO making the first of two appearances of the school year. This is a major social event for the juniors and the tuck shop, nail and tattoo bar are very popular on the day and allow a quieter space for the kids (and helpers!) to spend some time.
Northern Ireland Charity number: NIC104244
Strandtown Primary School PTA
The lead up to Christmas is busy for the school and the PTA as there are a number of social and fundraising events.
The Christmas Craft Fair was held later on 15[th] December and was a very enjoyable social evening allowing talented parents and friends to sell their handmade crafts and gifts. The children again had great fun in the PTA craft room making Christmas decorations and cards. Parents and friends gather and chat in the mulled wine (non-alcoholic) and shortbread ‘grotto’.
In December we had our usual Christmas Hampers where children bring items to fill hampers and one hamper is raffled per class.
Many families then attended the Grand Opera House panto on either the 9[th] or 16[th] December. As has become an annual event, the Christmas term ended with PTA funds being used for an outing for all of our pupils to the Strand Cinema.
2018 started with another non-uniform day, closely followed by the Senior Disco in March, entertainment again provided by ALDO and tuckshop and other stalls run by willing volunteers.
For the second year an Easter themed treasure grid was available in each class and pupils purchased squares on the grids. The winner in each class received a large Easter Egg. Again, the popularity of this activity exceeded all expectations!
The Summer Fair in May was as always a great morning for family and friends, with the Y7s showing how well they had learnt their entrepreneurial skills as they competed for business selling a range of treats, handmade items and even sunglasses that Mr Smith assured me were donated from a legitimate source and didn’t fall off a lorry!
The income from this event is greatly boosted by the annual Grand Draw . This is only possible by the parents and local businesses who kindly donated prizes and the PTA volunteers who tirelessly chase up contacts and search out even more prizes!
A new event, a Family Fun Run, was introduced this year and took place on Friday the 9[th] of June. We had a great turn out for this with people of all ages and skill levels turning up to run a course around the grounds of the school laid out by the PE department. We have had great feedback on this event and hope to do it again in 2018.
The final PTA event was the Summer BBQ, which thankfully saw some sunshine and the great range of bouncy castles, slides and outdoor games went ahead as planned. Having out-sourced the cooking the cooking to a professional outfit the year before due to school contacts with the company ‘Foodie Folk’, this year as Mr McWilliams loves the cooking so much we brought the culinary skills back in house!
As in each year the Y7 had their own BBQ during a school day and this was funded by the PTA along with half the funding for the leavers’ packs and photos, helping to make the Y7s last few weeks a very special memory.
The PTA also supported the School Council in the running of the Sal’s Shoes collection at the end of summer term. Children brought in old pairs of shoes to donate to children overseas who are less fortunate.
Northern Ireland Charity number: NIC104244
Strandtown Primary School PTA
The PTA sorted all the (1,000+) pairs of shoes and delivered them to the charity drop off point. A huge thanks to a few of our own children who were cajoled into helping us with this massive job.
The PTA continued to support the running of the school in other ways through discussions around policies and new ways of communicating with parents; the equipment needs of the school.
Chair - Áine Doyle Secretary – Janette Osborne
Northern Ireland Charity number: NIC104244