2022 Chair’s Report
2022 Chair’s Report
Since September last year we have hosted a wide variety of events, From the Childrens Jubilee Disco, to the Parents only Quiz night, our first post covid Christmas Bonanza and Wreath making evening, Seasonal after school sales - Valentine’s Day Sale and Spring Sale and Coffee mornings.
We have welcomed Ukrainian families with the help of a parent translator, held Student led Bake Sales, Own Clothes Days, organised social outings for parents and armed with our tokens and our SumUp contactless card machines, we hosted an amazing Summer Fete.
The school wide Sunflower competition saw over 150 sunflowers planted and cared for in gardens across Ealing.
We also guided Year 6 students in running their own innovation stalls at our summer Fete, and were absolutely astounded by their success.
Thanks to a grant secured by our previous PTA team, We have funded a new school gardening project in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society, that I couldn't be more proud of.
We held a half term working bee for parents and children to work together, and have transformed the old forgotten allotment area into what is now a useful and productive garden space. The gardening club continues to excel, supported at each weekly meeting by PTA members, and children have now achieved 4 out of 5 possible levels to receive a ‘5 star garden rating’ for our school. They have also earned monetary rewards to the value of £150, and continue to aspire to attract more diverse wildlife to the garden, and produce enough fresh produce to contribute to school dinners to feed their peers.
The remainder of this grant money will be used to further environmentally beneficial projects including the installation of classroom recycling bins, litter picking in and around school, and the replacement of the two water fountains in the main playground.
With the money raised from our many events we have sponsored Writing workshops for KS1 & KS2 for World Book
Week, and World Book Day Authors Visit. We have provided Science resources including practical experiment kits, installed an additional vegetable patch and new mud kitchen in the nursery playground, provided Topic Books and Low level book shelving for Early Years, and funded the refurbishment of the now new Performing Arts Room.
Signing off on the work of last year - Our new initiatives have led the way in raising the amount of money that we have this year. Holding events straight after school has really helped to retain attendance in a school that is now smaller, and boost funds. The introduction of both contactless card machines, and the use of Tokens instead of cash floats was also beneficial. Post Covid we are working hard to rebuild our school spirit and a sense of community, making new connections and friendships between parents and we believe that this is equally as important as the money we raise.
Briefly, since we have started back this academic year we have already seen new events and funds raised. The money raised through our Ealing Half marathon sponsorship will go towards the refurbishment of the play dell, and our Cheer Squad outside the school gates on the day was the loudest and most encouraging in the area.
We have also celebrated world Teacher’s Day with the very popular Dress Like a Teacher Day, and opened the PTA Second Hand Uniform Shop, which is not only generating regular funds for the PTA, but is also assisting families in gaining access to the correct and complete school uniform without the pressure of the cost.
Looking forward, we are currently gearing up for Christmas with our Christmas Card fundraiser, and our annual Bonanza. And further on in the New Year, we can already project a fun and full PTA events calendar.
On a personal note, I would like to thank my fellow committee members, our retired committee members, our class reps, our parent helpers and volunteers for their endless energy, enthusiasm and plain old hard work, for their last minute whatsapp messages and panic buying emergency supplies from the Lane. I can also extend a thousand thank yous to Our wonderful office staff, our groundskeeping team, our Teaching and support staff, and our leadership team - who are open and supportive to our sometimes odd but well meaning requests. All of this would not be possible without our combined efforts, and our will to want to do the best we can.
Thank you!
Louise Della Gatta.
