3[rd] October 2022
Poyntzpass Primary School Chairperson Report – AGM
Good evening everyone,
I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to you all, and particularly any new attendees joining us this evening. We are delighted to have you here as part of our PTA committee. We are a great team of like-minded people with the best interests of the pupils, staff and the school at the core of everything we do.
A BIG thank you to all for your continuous support throughout the last 12 months. It’s been a busy year to say the least and when I sat down to look back on our work, I can’t believe how much we have achieved.
We began last September on a high after the success of our first-ever tractor run. Raising that staggering total of £7500. £4500 of which was formally presented to the Air Ambulance NI charity on 12[th] October at their base outside Lisburn. The Tractor Run sub-group followed this up by distributing Thank You Letters to all businesses and individuals who supported us so generously before and during the event. The volunteering strength of the PTA (and their families) on the day was also greatly appreciated.
The effects of Covid-19 were still rippling through the school as teachers and pupils tried to return to some level of normality in Term One of 2021. As a committee we were able to support the school with some additional costs as a result; such as money towards extra cleaning support. There have been many other ways in which we have supported the school infrastructure throughout the last year. We have covered costs for Bus Hire for trips, Cinema Trips, Sports Day Medals, P7 Leavers Hoodies, new playground markings, selection boxes for every child from Santa, helped with costs incurred for IT support from Ray, bouncy castle hire and made donations back to other outside charitable agencies who have visited our pupils as part of building on their curriculum experiences.
We are not ones to let the fundraising dust settle for too long and as we moved on further into Term One we turned our attention to Christmas. A new fundraising idea was presented to us in the form of a bespoke Christmas 2021 School Bauble which we sold to families connected to the school. They were a lovely idea, and Mrs Henry (classroom assistant) did a beautiful job in sketching the school building which featured on the wooden design. That Christmas we also made a contribution of 100 x new story books and stationary kits to the J29 Project in Banbridge along with donated new Pjs from the children of the school. We also produced 70 x Christmas Care Bags which were distributed to the more senior members of the local community. I know first hand these were so appreciated and gladly received by the recipients, some of whom wrote lovely thank you cards back to the pupils who contributed beautiful cards and artwork.
I can’t talk about Christmas without mentioning the spectacular Nativity production held in Simon Best’s farm shed. The PTA committee supported staff with props, lighting, seating and refreshments for the children. It was a sight to behold, and lovely memories made for all who attended.
Moving on into Term 2 the PTA supported staff in attaining the TOPS award (TAKING OUTDOOR PLAY SERIOUSLY). Our support came in the form of donating requested items, helping during an outdoor tidy afternoon and Elaine McKee and I sat on a working group along with Miss Fenton and Miss Cromie working towards to the evidence file needed to achieve the award.
Another fundraiser came next and another first for the committee. The Easter Egg Trail around the village was open to all members of the community and was very well attended. The Trail itself was free to do and all participating children received a free egg (funded by the PTA) as a way of thanking the local community for their support with our events year in and year out. There was a raffle held at the end which generated nearly £600 on its own.
We supported the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in school by supplying sweet treats and goodies for their outdoor afternoon tea and by covering costs of any party supplies.
We secured a School Pollinator Grant of £3017 from Live Her Love Here organisation. Which will roll out this school year in the form of a school garden.
We hosted a School Uniform Exchange, for a second year, which is always greatly received. And even had a table set up of second hand, excellent condition items during the New P1 open day.
Finally, our Summer Staycation Raffle was again a huge success in June raising an amazing amount of money for our pot, allowing us to continue to support the school, staff and pupils in whatever way we can.
I would like to add at this point, I feel very privileged and proud to be a part of this PTA committee and the things we have achieved as a team. Your support to me as your chairperson during the last year has been unwavering and we couldn’t achieve what do without that ‘can do’ spirit and those willing hands (and Jackie Ferris’ shed!) I hope you are all as proud as I am to be a part of this school community and I look forward to this coming year as being as successful as the last.
Thank you and well done!
Claire Acheson
Chairperson