Message to PTFA volunteers
Hi all, we usually try to have a meeting each term and, with the Owl Hunt incoming we'd love your support in planning the logistics for this and the end of Summer Term Colour Run. To help spread the load we'd love it if a few people could own a small part of the day - obviously Lisa and I would help bring everything together - with our new secretary (TBC) but we've not been inundated with applications!

Please let us know if you can make the meeting and if not, whether you'd be up for volunteering for any of the below. Some can be done remotely - sponsorships, social media etc - which is a great option if you're still keen to help but can't make the meetings/Owl Hunt.

- cafe
- stalls
- sponsorship
- liaison with police/bus etc
- promotion - poster distribution, social media etc

Thank you as always.

Vacancy:

We have an opening for the role of PTFA Secretary open

Main Role of the PTFA Secretary
The PTFA Secretary supports the PTFA committee to build effective communication links between the school and the association, while maintaining accurate records.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares for meetings (with the PTFA Chair)
• Takes minutes at meetings, recording attendance, action points, decisions, and proposals
• Circulates approved minutes, along with reminders of agreed actions
• Updates trustee details with the relevant charity commission (as appropriate)
• Handles the association’s correspondence

Key Skills

• Organised and efficient, with the ability to keep accurate records that can be easily handed over
• A good listener, able to identify key discussion points, actions, and agreements
• Calm, friendly, and approachable, with confidence communicating with school staff and committee members

If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you at ptfs@st-marys.calderdale.sch.uk. We're happy to explore a job split if a few people would be interested in getting involved. Your support makes a real difference.

PTFA

The PTFA is here for you - the parents, guardians, friends and teachers of all the children who attend St Mary’s School.

Our main aim is two-fold:

(a) to provide an informal social network to bring our school community together to learn and have fun and:

(b) to enrich the learning experience of pupils by raising funds to purchase items that would otherwise fall outside the school's budget.

How does it work?

The PTFA is run by a core of volunteers who regularly attend the PTFA meetings and help to organise events such as the School Discos, Owl Hunt, Christmas celebrations, sporting challenges and support at school performances. As a registered charity we have to have officers of the PTFA – Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer but everyone is free to contribute as little or as much as they like as infrequently or as often as they like.

• Chair – Lisa Green – Child in Class 3 and another who is a St Mary’s Alumni
• Secretary – Position Vacant
• Treasurer – Lisa Malone – Children in Class 2 and 4

If you can’t commit to regular volunteering, we also have working groups consisting of volunteers who co-ordinate key events so, there is something for everyone

PTFA Meetings

Meetings are held roughly every 6 weeks during term time on a weekday evening. Everyone is invited to come along to any of the meetings whether it's simply to listen to what's going on, express an opinion, make a suggestion, volunteer to help or become a member of the committee.

Our efforts mean…

• We always pay for book bags for all our new starters
• We buy leavers hoodies for our Year 6’s
• Last year we paid for the whole school to attend the Christmas pantomime
• We contributed to the new school piano
• We were able to purchase the new school stage for nativities and school plays
• We can make regular contributions to new books and new IT for all classes
• We even had a mammoth fundraising year where we made a £10k contribution to the new classroom!

How can you get involved?

• Join the planning meetings – which take place first few weeks of every school term, publicised on Facebook and the newsletter….
  • Keep an eye on the school newsletter
  • Like us on Facebook (link to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1678577342365525)
• Volunteer to help at any event – if everyone donated an hour a year we’d be flying!
• Help us spread the word about fundraising events to your friends and family