North Hinksey Home School Association

Would you be interested in us participating in this fundraiser. Take a large plastic bag home, fill it with unwanted usable clothes and return it to school by the end of the week. It would earn 30p a kilo for school. We’d really appreciate some feedback…

Go to www.bag2school.org.uk for more details.

Unfortunately it was a little late in the season for many parents to respond to the Suttons fundraising catalogue.  4 parents responded.  The HSA will receive £22 from these efforts.  Thank you.

We would really appreciate your feedback.  Would you be interested in doing this next year if catalogues were issued early, in January?  Please comment.

The current proposal is to spend all money raised on Mufti Days on skipping ropes… we best jump to it!

Present: Maria Skoyles (Chair), Mandy Roberts (Secretary), Alison Barnett (Treasurer), Harriet Rutter, Pippa Browning, Clare Megarity, Gail, Nicky P, Jo, Cath D, Sarah Brown, Sally Wheatley (for first 15 mins).
Apologies: Emma Jeavons, Lizzie Griffiths

The minutes from the last meeting were agreed as a true record and were signed by Maria.

Raising Money for the outdoor classroom (need to raise £7k)
• Decorated/personalised hanging momentos: keyrings with a decorated card inserted into them. Inserts designed by the children at school. These can then be hung from the ceiling of the outdoor classroom as momentos. This was voted as a good idea.
• Pyrograph/paint benches. Sponsors pay to burn/paint a design on the bench and sign their artwork. This was voted as a good idea.
Useful purchases
• New Freezer. Sally said that the school has no room for a new freezer. With notice we can use the freezer in the kitchen.
• Sandwich style outdoor board. Sally said that we could use the easels that are around the school. These can be put out a few days before an event, so that parents are reminded of an upcoming event. Maria also suggested we buy black board sandwich boards that can also be used in the foundation class. These cost £50. It was voted that we should buy one and give it a go.
• A blackboard

Pageant
Sally explained that 50 VIPs have been invited to the pageant and these people have a free pass. However they will be given the opportunity to donate when they are there. She also explained that the 150th Committee agreed a price of £3.50 per adult and children under 16 go free. The 150th Committee felt this was a reasonable price for a one off event.
It was agreed that the HSA should serve drinks before the event, commencing at 6pm. Wine was put forward as an addition to tea and coffee. We could get this from Bookers on a sale or return policy. Drinks will be paid for by voluntary contribution.

Barndance
This is an end of term relaxed, family friendly event with a pig roast. We discussed various ways the HSA could be involved in this event. Suggestions included: H.S.A. providing drinks; the Fishes to come in and serve drinks then give the HSA a cut of the profits (say 10%). The H.S.A. was given the impression that there was an ‘organiser’ for this event. The H.S.A. struggled to identify an appropriate role they could play without encroaching on 150th Committee decisions. It was voted that H.S.A. involvement might be too complex. Mandy was asked to put to the 150th committee that people bring their own drinks (as they would do to the picnic). Members of the H.S.A are likely to be willing to help, but as ‘parents’ rather than H.S.A.

Uniforms
Maria had researched the cost price of the school sweatshirt.

24”-28” cost £7.65 (current price £9), 30”-32” cost £8.05 (current price £9/£10), 34” cost £8.85 (current price £10). In order to help clear the bag log of uniform in the back of the year one classroom it was voted to reduce the price of “unnecessary” items eg. Jackets, etc. On Tuesday 25th March, beside year 2 cook for books, we will have a stall with “offers” for these items and see what parents want to pay for them. We will also reduce the price of the sweatshirts for the summer term, stating it is this only while stocks last. Prices would be £24”-28” sell at £8, 30”-32” sell at £8.50, 34” sell at £9

Sports Day - actual date to be confirmed
This will run from 3.30 to 6pm, following sports day.
• It was voted that we could sell badges that say “Ive taken part in Sports Day 2008”. Cost 50p to make and sell them for £1. Quick and easy to make up as needed, just putting inserts into badges.
• Enamelled badges : It was voted that we could sell new enamelled school crest badges, 3 background colours to correspond with house teams. It was felt that £2.50 was a fair price for these. Maria to research and see if it’s possible to do it for this price.
We also voted to have:
A lolly stand (pick out a lolly, depending on colour of lolly stick, depends what you win). Face painting. Paint a mug; the mugs can be bought from IKEA and the children decorate them using special pens. £2 was seen as reasonable to charge for this. It was suggested that we fill the cups with sweets, put a cellophane wrapper round it and sell them. Chuck the chicken. Propel the rubber chicken into the paddling pool and win prizes. This will cost nothing. Mandy will check its available when the date for sports day is confirmed. Hit the hammer and make bell ring for prizes. Once again Mandy will check its available when the date for sports day is confirmed. Once again we have no outlay. Netball or penalty shoot out, ask Emma Jeavons if she can get some volunteers together to do this. A wine lotto is usually popular. BBQ (manned by the Governors ?), picnics, ice creams, hot and cold refreshments. A Pimms tent was also suggested and voted in as a must! Use of the timber trail and pre-school sandpit with clear signage that children must be supervised and it is used at your own risk. Sunshades. There are gazebos in the shed. Are they complete ? Ask Steve if we can borrow some. Bouncy castle. Photos of sports day. Richard Skoyles has offered to take photos and put together a slide show . Each photo has a number and parents can watch the slide show and make their orders. These are then emailed to the parents. Pony rides: Cath Davis has a contact for this. Hellium balloons and candyfloss were also felt to be a good idea.

Plant Sale
Through Sutton Seeds. Maria has received a couple of orders from the catalogues.

AOB
Jewellery recycling
Maria had found out about jewellery recycling. It was agreed that envelopes could go out in book bags. These envelopes are then filled with broken jewellery/watches. They are collected from school and valued. We then receive what they are worth.

Buy for school. Cath Davis suggested this. Like giving to charities in bags, it costs £1 per bag.

HSA Constitution
A copy of this was handed out. Everyone was asked to read it and provide feedback. It has not been looked at since 1993. For example it says that we need 6 people to make decisions. It also says that there must be 12 members of the HSA, not including the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.

Questionnaire responses
Maria said we had 32 returned. One was very negative. One made a comment about gift aid. We also received another slightly negative one. Apart from these, the response was encouraging. A feedback sheet was distributed.

Keeping in touch
Maria handed round a sheet that everyone signed to say that they are happy to be emailed about anything that requires a committee decision. The recipients have a week to respond and the majority verdict once the week is up, is taken as the decision made.

She also suggested emailing interested parties with the questionnaire and asking them to complete it and send it back. This enables all members to be involved, if they wish to be.

Thank you to everyone that supported the Easter Egg raffle.

You raised over £100.

- ideas generating meeting for parents. Staff VERY welcome.

o THOSE PRESENT & APOLOGISES

o MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING

o RAISING MONEY FOR THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM – IDEAS?

• DECORATED/PERSONALISED HANGING MOMENTOS? Sponsors pay £2.50 to decorate a card insert which is sealed into a plastic key fob. This kay fob is then hung with small cup rings into the roof joists of the gazebo. (Key-fobs =20p each. Profit £2.30)
• PYROGRAPH/PAINT BENCHES – sponsors pay £3 to burn/paint a wildlife design (what are we likely to see on the school field?) into the bench, signing their artwork. Are we able to purchase the benches before the main gazebo?

o USEFUL PURCHASES FOR H.S.A. & school?
• FREEZER – slim chest style. £120
• H.S.A. could use for ice cream / frozen fruit sales at events.
• School could use to extend cookery options.
• SANDWICH STYLE OUTDOOR CHALK BOARDS £50 each x4?
• H.S.A. could use for much needed signage at events.
• School could use in FOUNDATION play area.

o PAGEANT – 24/4/08
• Mrs W suggested the H.S.A. serve tea and coffee at this event. We need to confirm that facilities to make hot drinks are available. It seems a good opportunity to have a stand and promote our big project – THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. MS is producing posters and display boards with buckets for direct giving. Should we have GIFT AID envelopes?
• The OUTDOOR CLASSROOM fundraising activity.

o SPECIAL SPORTS DAY EVENT – date TBC by EJ
• 3:30-6:00pm?
• MAIN H.S.A. stand with buckets and display boards. We could also introduce sale of:
• personalised name pens with school crest (cost 70p, sell at £2) min order = 10!!
• I’m a “school team” winner ’08 badges (costs less than 50p, sell £1) min order = 10!! Print out all three winning options, cut and then make up badges as purchased (would take a few seconds at the table, about 2hrs prep time)
• New enamelled school crest badges, 3 background colours to correspond with teams.
• TOMBOLA – with sports theme (see pg 144 of Spring08 Baker Ross catalogue). 50p a ticket and 3 for a £1.
• LOLLY STAND (see pg 159 of BR cat). Pay 50p. Pick a lolly out of the sand pit. Some sticks are blank – you win the lolly. Some sticks are yellow and you get another go! Some sticks are red – you win a prize (see prize ideas)
• FACE PAINTING
• PAINT A CUP – buy mugs from IKEA (about 50p each), buy ceramic felt tips (fixed on impact – not oven fix). £3 a go. Return unused mags. Could use ceramic paints for glass candle holders at Christmas Bazaar.
• CHUCK A CHICKEN – via a friend of Mandy’s. Using the devise, propel the chicken across the playground. If it lands in the pool you get a prize. 50p for 3 go. 1 hit lolly, 2 hits icecream. 3 hits bouncy castle.
• HIT THE HAMMER AND MAKE IT RING – 50p for 3 goes - make it ring to go on the bouncy castle.
• NETBALL SHOOT OUT – 50p for 3 balls. 1 ball get a lolly, 2 balls an icecream ticket, 3 a go on the bouncy castle.
• BBQ
• PRE-ORDERED PICNICS
• ICE CREAMS
• HOT & COLD REFRESHMENTS
• PRIZE IDEAS
• A lolly
• Ticket for the bouncy castle
• Ticket for an ice cream
• USE OF THE TIMBER TRAIL & PRE-SCHOOL SAND PIT with clear signage that children must be supervised and it is at parents risk – like in public playgrounds/pub gardens.
• SUN SHADES
• BOUNCY CASTLE - £2 a go, or with a winning ticket.
• Hire complications due to unconfirmed date of event.
• PHOTOS ON SPORTS RACES / FIELD EVENTS.
• Ask Dr M & RS. Make up a slide show to present in LG classroom. Numbered slides. Order form for parents to fill in. Name, EMAIL, photo numbers. £1 a photo. Sent over coming week via email.
• PONY RIDES – any contacts?

o ALL PARENTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ADD AGENDA ITEMS – WATCH THIS SPACE!!

o AOB.

Dear parents

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Hello! We are the new chair, treasurer and secretary of YOUR Home School Association committee. This is our first – and hopefully last lengthy newsletter!! We are hoping that the new H.S.A. noticeboard in the year 1 window will be the main communication tool for you all, along with an updated website and possibly email updates? Firstly, we would like to thank S, K, and M and all the many parents for the hard work in raising funds for school.

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Secondly, we want to thank the 50 or so of you that completed the last questionnaire. The feedback was very useful and helped us to start making some informed decisions, particularly about the next Christmas Bazaar, now scheduled for Friday 28th November 2008 from 5-7pm: 58% felt that was the most appropriate time!

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Thirdly, we want to know more!! There are approximately 130 families in the school so the last questionnaire was a reflection of 38% of you. Only 22% of you might really think that a Friday evening is a good time for a Christmas Bazaar! We do sincerely hope not! We want to ensure that we make decisions that the majority agree on. This can only be done with ALL your help… so please spend 5 minutes ticking the boxes (or not!) and return the attached questionnaire to your year rep, or by posting it to us in the SEND US A MESSAGE file on the reverse of the new H.S.A. notice board located in the year 1 window.

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Which brings us onto ‘what we’ve been up to so far’. Since the formal meeting on 4th February the H.S.A. have:
o Made a new notice board – please check it out in the Year 1 window – it contains lots of information:
if you think something is missing let us know and we’ll add more;
o Cleaned the BBQ after the cooking at the Christmas Bazaar;
o Started thinking about a special Sports Day event;
o Organised an Easter Egg raffle – details out shortly (if not already!).

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Over the coming weeks we anticipate:
o Making more of the H.S.A. website ;
o Establishing a better Gift Aid scheme;
o Making a school address book;
o Planning a Sports Day Special.
We will also be reviewing the feedback from the questionnaires and acting according. Our plans may well change in accordance with what you tell us. At the last meeting is was also decided that there would be no Summer Fete this year so the school’s social plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary aren’t overshadowed.

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The H.S.A. is a committee made up of parents who volunteer their time for the benefit of the school community. All school children and families should be able to see how the H.S.A. contributes to school life, whether it is in a fundraising capacity or at a social level. Parents’ involvement is vital. There are currently two vacant posts. If you think you might be able to help in any of these roles please let us know. Many hands make light work!

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YEAR REP’s.
The year rep is crucially a communication role, feeding information to and from the parents in that year group. They may be asked to delegate tasks to parents in their class or be a face for collecting or distributing stuff. We currently require a rep. for YEAR ONE.

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SCHOOL UNIFORM DISTRIBUTOR
This role would suit someone who would like to offer time to school life but at their own convenience. This volunteer would: collect in uniform order forms; forward cash/cheques to the treasurer for banking; make up the order and distribute to the appropriate year rep./class teacher. They would also need to maintain the stock and order items when required. Please let one of us know if you can help.

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Our next meeting is at 3:15pm on Wednesday 19th March. This will be an informal meeting when we will be thrashing out ideas for forthcoming events, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND. A film will be playing to entertain the children. If you have ANY ideas please forward them to a committee member or write us a note by 3rd March. All ideas will be added to the agenda.

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FROM
YOUR H.S.A. COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
Maria Skoyles (chair), MR (secretary) & AB (treasurer).

Above is an artistic interpretation of what the proposed outdoor classroom might look like. The estimate for purchase and installation has been quoted at about £25,000.  You contributed over £300 to this project at the Pageant.  Well done!

Present: K (Treas.), M (Sec.), SW (Head), LG, Maria, MR (minutes), AB, CD (year 4-5) , JM (year 3-4), GM (Found),
Apologies: EJ, SS (Chair)

2. Xmas Bazaar Feedback
M gave feedback on the Christmas bazaar.

3. Financial Report
K presented financial report for 1st July 2005 to 31st August 2006. K gave SW a cheque for £800 to cover the last of the items on the staff wish list.

4. Dates for Diaries
Cook for Books, Mondays at 3pm.
25th March (Tuesday) (NEW date) – year 2
19th May – year 5-6
30th June – Foundation class
Mufti days: 4th April 2009, 18th July 2009.

5. Year Representatives:
Foundation class – GM
Year one – Vacancy – LG to add it to her morning message.
Year two – NP
Year three/four – JM
Year four/five – CD
Year five/six – vacancy – CD to canvass

6. Election of New Committee
S , K and M stood down from their posts.
New committee. Chair - Maria Skoyles
Treasurer - AB Secretary - MR

8. AOB Barbeque – needs cleaning.

At this point the new committee took over.
MS, chair. AB, treasurer. MR, Secretary.
K and M were unable to stay for the rest of the meeting due to family commitments.

1. Welcome and introductions.

2. Ongoing projects
Outdoor classroom. Currently the staff wish list is blank.

3. Suggested forthcoming events/activities.
School directory.
Website development.
Noticeboard.
150th celebration. Pageant, Thursday 24th April, 6.30pm.
Sports day with a picnic afterwards. BBQ and drinks too. Social event. The date will still be transferable, depending on the weather.
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TO DISCUSS AT A LATER MEETING
Childrens disco; Quiz night; Wii tournament. A good idea for another social event but it will not take place this term.

4. Meetings
a. Wednesday 19th March at 3.15pm. event planning and ideas
b. Monday 16th June at 3.15pm. Formal committee meeting.
c. 9th July at 3.15pm. Formal committee meeting

5. Questionnaire – Tabled, request for feedback. Plan to send it out after half term.

6. Christmas Bazaar.
This will be held on Friday 28th November 2008 from 5pm to 7pm. Further planning for this will take place at the meeting on Monday 16th June.

After new committee members have been elected.

1. Welcome and introduction of new committee

NEW FORMAT OF AGENDA FOR MEETINGS – given out about 2 weeks prior to meeting, to send out, read and then spend time agreeing actions at meeting.

Our committee objectives – do we have any, to find? (note to committee to action in next few weeks)

2. Ongoing / continuing projects –
o Like to make more of the H.S.A. STAND by featuring the ‘plans’ for future projects with collection buckets so people can just throw money in, rather than having to participate in activities to ‘give’.
o Like to make opportunities to sponsor projects (company charitable giving) a lot easier, maybe canvas companies for specific projects

ACTION – SOMEONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO WRITE ABOUT 200 WORDS ABOUT EACH PROJECT AND HOW IT WILL BENEFIT THE PUPILS AT SCHOOL. FINAL COST & TARGET DEADLINE. (this will be used on the H.S.A. stand to help fund raise through buckets).

3. POSSIBLE Forthcoming ACTIVITIES – CONFIRM DATES
i. GIFT AID – see questionnaire at end.
ii. SCHOOL DIRECTORY - £1.50 – see questionnaire at end.
iii. Website development
o Blogs
o School Shop
o Amazon link
o Diary dates
o Feedback from parents
o Progress on projects
o Ideas page from reps and parents – maybe to vote on?
iv. NOTICE BOARD – outside year 2 classroom?
v. Pageant – Thursday 24th April
o Teas and coffees
o Cakes and snacks
o H.S.A. stand with corporate stock available, 150th memorabilia. Idea to frame birthday months from calendars and sell as individual items?
o Any ingenious ideas for recycling tea towels?
IDEAS???……..
vi. Summer fete – July – link to Sports Day?
vii. Evening of Sports Day – link in picnic (party in the park?)
o Children playing instruments / singing e.g. music assembly
o Art gallery
o Set a topical art themed competition – panel of judges
o Performances?
o Table top sale in playground.
i. RESOURCES – sound equipment, display boards, tables, float, H.S.A. stand
ii. Menu for picnic? Breads, innocent drinks, cheeses, olives, pickles, crisps, meats/ham, crackers, cookies, cake, fruit. Soup and hot drinks? Packaged in brown paper bags and paper cups?
viii. Childrens Disco’s / parents quiz night?
4. Scheduled meetings –
Mrs Wheatley suggested having a selection of times, during school day, 3:15 and also evening and to plan meetings well ahead of time – to accommodate as many parents’ schedules as possible.
a. 3 formal meetings each year
b. 3 event planning meetings each year?
i. Next meeting – late March/early April – pageant planning/other progress, questionnaires? Ideas for future events – feedback.
o Evening?
ii. Late May/June – formal meeting – discuss responses from questionnaires and therefore EVENTS FOR 08/09, formalities with summer fete/sports day/picnic? – class rep activities. School spend of funds? 08/09 meeting and events dates/times
o After school 3:15?

iii. Early July – planning for events. And an ideal opportunity to discuss ways of promoting sensory garden and fund raising activities specifically for this. Ideas??….
o Time?

c. Autumn term
i. September – evening?
ii. October – after school?
iii. December – TBC in May/June formal meeting

5. Questionnaire (2 mins)
i. ISSUE draft and ask people to read through and feedback over next few days in playground to committee.
ii. Plan to send out to parents after half term?
iii. Collection in early March?
iv. Collate and feedback to reps next meeting, discuss and then formalise ideas to propose at formal meeting in May/June with staff.

6. CHRISTMAS BAZARR – date and time (1 mins)
i. Ideas for entertainment? Think and feedback at forthcoming meetings to then pull into a plan in July.
IDEAS???……
o Santa’s grotto yr 3/4/5 cloak room
o Salvation army playing
o Puppet theatres