About Friends of Roundwood Primary
Friends are Roundwood Primary’s School Parent Teacher Association. Comprising of a group of parents from across the school, our main aim is to raise vital funds for the school, and to bring staff, parents and children together socially in support of the school.
All parents are automatically members of Friends when your child joins our school. Thanks to the wonderful support of our committed parents and the local community over the years, Friends have successfully raised thousands of pounds for the school. This money has been invaluable in funding many projects that enhance the children’s education, and help to create the happy environment that makes Roundwood Primary such a special place.
The success of our goal of supporting the school both socially and financially depends entirely on the support we give. Without the help of parents, our events simply cannot take place – so we urge our parents to please get involved! Not only is getting involved fun, and a great way to meet other parents, but your child will also enjoy participating in events and furthermore will enjoy the benefits of the funds we raise! By working together we can make a difference to our school.
The Friends Committee
We are a registered charity and consist of a General Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer and committee members. Sub-committees also organize the large events. The Friends Committee meets once or twice a term to discuss our event calendar and to set up working groups for each planned event (usually in an evening over a glass of wine…). New members are always welcome, so do please get in touch with us if you would like to come along to a meeting.
Class Reps
Class Reps are the link between parents and Friends and are vital in promoting and supporting our events. Each class usually has two class reps. As well as arranging regular class social events class, reps also help to organise a rota of volunteers for our parent stalls at the Christmas/Summer Fairs. Reps are warmly invited to join our committee meetings to share any feedback or thoughts, but it is not compulsory! Being a class rep is a great way to meet other parents and support the school.
Our events
We hold a number of annual events each year of varying sizes. Over the last 12 months, we have organised:
- a Christmas Fair
- a Sponsored walk
- childrens discos (summer and Christmas)
- Dad’s football match
- Childrens Christmas Lunch
- Treasure Hunt
- Quiz Night
- Book Fair
- Second Hand Uniform Sale
- Summer ball
Other fundraising enterprises last year were – cake sales, apple juice sales, ticket sales commission (Fireworks, Music Festival), Christmas cakes and pudding sales. The evening summer ball for parents is held every other year, at the Luton Hoo, which is definitely not to be missed! We are always exploring new, fun events to add to our calendar and welcome your ideas!
How much did we raise last year?
In the financial year ending 2015 we raised just over £21,000; in the financial year ending 2014, we raised just over £33,000.
Where your money is going
The funds raised by Friends are used directly to benefit the children by providing equipment to support the children’s education and/or educational experiences that would not be funded elsewhere. We liaise closely with the school to ascertain what is needed and we also act on suggestions from parents. All expenditure is approved by the school governors. Just some examples of the items we helped to finance in 2015/16 include:
- 26 laptops as part of replacement programme
- 18 new iPads
- Maths and Reading schemes
Funds also go towards ongoing provisions such as:
- school librarian
- music teachers
- supply cover for teachers taking children on sporting or music events
In previous years, funds raised have gone towards to the following projects:
- Wi-Fi network for the school
- 16 ipads, a MacBook Pro and a security trolley
- Hall projector and screen
- 26 computers and a laptop (as part of an ongoing computer replacement scheme)
- friendship benches and a table tennis table for the playground
- the canopies over the foundation unit, facilitating outdoor learning for the children
- the train in the infant playground
- new KS1 & KS2 play equipment
- upgrading the computer room
- providing musical equipment and stands
- new tables and chairs for the dining room
- artificial grass in the nursery garden
- hall projector and screen
- sports coaches for sports day and Frisbee workshop
- foreign language books
What can you do?
If you would like to help out – whether your interest is in joining the main committee, helping with a certain event, manning a stall, or if you have a particular skill that you would like to put to use, i.e. marketing, design, face-painting (?!), then we would love to hear from you. Please speak to one of the Friends’ team or to your class rep who can put you in touch with us.
Just an idea of some of the various jobs that go on behind the scenes of events include:
- Putting up posters
- Contacting local businesses for sponsorship
- Shopping – eg. Food / drink / sweets / gifts
- Wrapping pressies / hampers
- Baking cakes
- Counting laps at the sponsored walk!
Second Hand Uniform
We aim to hold a second hand uniform sale every term, donations of good quality clothing or other school accessories (bags, trainers, etc.) are always welcomed. Please contact Claire via friendsofroundwood@gmail.com to make a donation or if you are in urgent need of uniform outside of sale dates.
The Parent Fund
We are enormously grateful to everyone who contributes their time and also for your continued financial support, without which none of these projects would come to fruition. If you are unable to find the time either to help out at events or to attend them, then please consider signing up to the Parents Fund, which is a monthly direct debit donation scheme – all donations, no matter how small, are gratefully received. Please contact Friends if you would like to further information about this.
Friends Communication
News and information from Friends will be communicated via the school newsletter, so please do keep an eye out for these! We will keep you informed about forthcoming events, how much an event has raised, what the money is going towards in school and when our next committee meetings will take place. Please also keep an eye on the Friends noticeboard at the entrance to the playground, as we will post any essential information there.
Many thanks again for your support and we look forward to meeting some new faces!
Contact us
Email: friendsofroundwood@gmail.com
Chair – Chris Woodhead
Secretary – Ben Woodley
Treasurer – Sophie Bryson
Deputy Treasurer – Nicky Saunders
Committee Members – Suzanne Webb, Lorna Wilkinson, Natasha Vallance, Sanjeet Johal
Class Reps Co-ordinator – Claire Bates
Second Hand Uniform – Claire McShee
