PM/267.09

LE ROCQUIER SCHOOL PTA

Chairman’s Report for 2008/2009

I am pleased to report another successful year for your PTA.

The small, but hard-working Committee has once again- on your behalf - raised significant funds during the year (the details of which appear in the Annual Accounts).  By way of example, funds amounting to £3,700 have been raised from Car Boot Sales held between January and September 2009.  Although restricted to an outside venue, the PTA Car Boot Sales have once again proved popular with the local community, many of whom have become ‘regulars’ at our events and friends of the school.

Inevitably in our current circumstances, PTA Car Boot Sales cease once the winter months arrive, although in November 2008 we did attempt a final one that month… and nearly contracted pneumonia for our trouble!  So, we now take a break from Car Boot Sales until the Spring of 2009 - hopefully the first Saturday of either February or March - weather permitting.  [But, we’re still working ion your behalf - see the note below about “Christmas Bingo”!!].

At this point I would like to pay tribute - and say a big “thank you” on your behalf - to your hard-working Committee members, and also to co-opted members, for their support and encouragement.

As well as raising money, the PTA has also spent some on your behalf!  School projects enthusiastically supported by the PTA have included a Scalectrix track and cars; keyboards for the Performing Arts Department; materials for the now annual Le Rocq School Carnival - so brilliantly championed by Mr. Richard Ali - and a colour printer for the Art Department.  This is all clearly to the benefit of the School and, although it could not have been done without the PTA Committee, it also requires support from YOU, the parents and friends of Le Rocquier School. There is much you can do to help. As well as attending functions, parents and friends can also support the school by participating in the various ongoing schemes, such as the 100 Club* (monthly draws) and the Falles Garages petrol discount scheme (whereby the School benefits from a percentage of the amount you spend on petrol – BUT DON’T FORGET YOU MUST ASK AT THE TIME YOU VISIT EITHER FALLES AT LONGUEVILLE OR THEIR GARAGE NEAR THE AIRPORT AND GIVE THEM THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL!).

[* Don’t forget that it’s still not too late to join the current 100 Club - and you could win up to 2 prizes of £50 tonight!]

You may recall that one aim of the PTA over the last few years has been to assist the School in the provision of a protective canopy/ies over an outside area provided next to the new school canteen (now known as “Le Rocq Café”).  This project was brought to a successful conclusion at last year’s Year 7 Target-Setting Evening when the PTA was able to present to the Headteacher a ‘giant’ cheque in the sum of £12,000 to meet the cost of the splendid canopy which has been in use over the last year.  In addition to the canopy, an ‘outside classroom’ is being created between the social court area and the sports field, and it is hoped that this will be a green and pleasant area for all sorts of uses.  The centre-piece of this new area could well be, yes, another canopy; so the PTA will again be working hard in conjunction with the School to provide this further facility.

Plans are being made for a special and ever-popular ‘Christmas Bingo’ to be held on Thursday, 3rd December 2009.  Doors will open at 7 p.m. for a prompt start at 7.30 p.m.  This will be a PUBLIC Bingo event, which means that not only parents and friends of Le Rocquier School can take part, but everyone (i.e. the general public) will be able to attend.  In order to attract as many players as possible, the bug prize game will guarantee at least a whopping £50 for the winner - and it could be even more, because the more people that take part the bigger the prize will be!  Entrance tickets will only be £1 and we would hope to have these on sale from the School Office and at PTA events in due course.  So, once this is confirmed, we will ask you to tell all your friends and relations, and get them to pass the word around - Le Rocquier School is the place to be on Thursday, 3rd December!

May I take this opportunity of thanking, in particular, Deputy Head Phil Slater - PTA Vice-Chairman; and the Headteacher, management team and all the staff at the School for their continued efforts towards your children’s education.

In conclusion, a plea often repeated but nevertheless still a valid one: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do support the School and the PTA - and help to give all students at Le Rocquier School the best that can be provided.

Thank you for your continued support.  We look forward to seeing you all at future events.

Peter Monamy

October 2009

P.S. And please don’t forget that the PTA’s C.I. Co-Op Society Share No. is 313660 and that this can be used at all Co-Op stores throughout the Islands.  Thank you.