Summer 2003 Newsletter

Christmas 2004 Newsletter

September 2004 Newsletter

September 2004 Newsletter

Dear Parent,

The 1st September saw the start of a new school year for Gryffe High School Parent Teacher Association. Among our objectives for 2004/05 is to contribute towards the cost of new curtains for the school theatre, which are very tatty and need replacing after 25 years service! The curtains are used as a backdrop for concerts, meetings, Young Musician of the Year and in house theatre productions to name but a few and are likely to cost in the region of £3,500. We have also been asked by various departments within the school to fund a digital camera, mapping books, atlases, Standard & Higher grade coursework notes and several items of computer software this term so far. So you can see the task is big however it is achievable with your help.

Here’s some of what we funded during 2003/04 -

· Computers
· Text books
· Football, basketball and netball kits
· Display boards
· Sheet music
· Food mixer

The children are now using, enjoying and benefiting from the above items.

Our first fundraiser of 2004/05 is a Race Night on 2nd October 2004 (put this date in your diary now). We ran this event last year and everyone had a fantastic night. We raised over £800 and as the PTA is a registered charity this amount was matched by Abbey Bank bringing the overall total for one night to £1,600. This “matched” donation can be done again this year so please buy a few tickets, come along and I guarantee you a very enjoyable evening. The more the merrier. Tickets cost £3 each and are available via email to info@gryffepta.com or by phoning myself on 01505 702483, Trevor Wilson on 01505 613784 or by contacting the school (box) office on 01505 690633.

Check out our website www.gryffepta.com You can help by logging on and using the links to buy anything from e.g. Amazon, PC World etc. (The school receives a small commission if you purchase anything via the affiliate schemes registered on our website). You can also join our 100+ club giving you the chance to win up to £200 every 3 months for only £12 per year. The website will be updated shortly with dates for your diary however here’s a note of what’s planned for 2004/05 so far!

2nd October 2004 - Race Night held in Houston Bowling Club.
8 till late. Tickets £3 each.

5th February 2005 - Ceilidh/Disco held in Houston Bowling Club.
8 till late. Tickets £5 each including buffet.

20th May 2005 - Quiz Night held in school staff room. Usually
7.30 to 11 p.m. Time to be confirmed.
Tickets £3 each.

Thank you for taking time to read this newsletter. I do hope you can come along to one if not all of our events. If you require further information please visit our website or call me on 01505 702483.

Regards,

Pamela McKie
President Gryffe High School PTA

Christmas 2004 Newsletter

PTA CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

Who can believe it’s almost Christmas? I can’t. It seems like only yesterday our children were returning to school after the summer holidays! So, as promised, this is our third newsletter, the Christmas Edition, which I hope you enjoy reading.

A lot has happened since school returned in August. The Parent Teacher Association has been busy making money by fundraising at several events over the past few months. I’m sure those who attended the recent Race Night will agree that everyone had a fantastic night. In the space of a few hours we had many laughs and managed to raise over £600. I can honestly say this was one of the best nights out I’ve had in a long time.
Thanks are due to past and present Committee Members as well as all the parents and their families who have supported this and previous events over the last few years.

What we have achieved since August 2003: -
Everyone’s enthusiasm and hard work has paid off and I am delighted to be able to tell you that since August the PTA has
· Presented the school with a cheque for just over £4,900 to pay for much needed computers,
· Funded the purchase of new football strips for the whole football team,
· Provided sheet music for the Music department so that our children have more of a choice.
I am sure you will agree that these are tremendous achievements and ones that will benefit most of our children.

So what’s next? The next PTA meeting, to which everyone is welcome, is on the 7th January 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in the school staff room. Following shortly after this date we will be having our annual Ceilidh (exact date is still to be confirmed). This years Ceilidh was a tremendous success and I believe people are asking about tickets already! Don’t worry if you don’t enjoy a Ceilidh – we also have a DJ half way through to slow the pace down a bit!!!
So, where can you find out more about these events? Check out our “currently under construction” new website – www.gryffepta.com for more information on this and future events. Why not make a New Years resolution; one that you can keep - JOIN YOUR PTA – you won’t regret it.
Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Pamela McKie
President
Gryffe High School PTA

Summer Newsletter

Our basic function is to organise various fundraising events throughout the school year. Any money raised is used to buy various items for the school – items that the school might not otherwise be able to purchase. Examples of some of the things that we have purchased are as follows: -

1. Display boards
2. Dictionaries
3. Textbooks for Art & Design
4. Listening Books for the Library
5. Digital Camera for the Computing dept.
6. Football Strips
7. Casserole Dishes for Home Economics Dept.
8. Lesley French Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Creative Writing

The money we spend is spread around the various depts.

We raise money by various methods: -
1. Providing Tea/Coffee/Juice at parent’s nights & other events (This is served in the staff room or in the entrance hall. Payment is by donation. Come & see us tonight!)
2. Run the tuck shop at school discos.
3. Watch out for some events that we are organising over the next few months – some examples are: -
(a) Race Night – 14/11/03 in Houston BC. Spend as little or as much as you want.
(b) Ceilidh/Disco in Feb 04 in Houston BC. This is a very popular event. The evening kicks off with a Ceilidh followed by a break when a light buffet is served. Thereafter there is usually raffle and the night ends with a disco.
(c) Quiz Night in May 04 in the School. Again this is great fun & is proving so popular that we have to move it from the staff room to the dining hall.
(d) Fashion Show in Oct 04 in the School.
We’ve just had a successful show on the 8/10/03. So get your name down for next year!

All of these events raise much needed money for the School and are excellent value for money. If you are interested in coming along to any event contact any member of the PTA, the School or phone Pamela McKie on 01505 702483.

By far the biggest fundraiser is our 100 club. See the attached. If you are not a member please consider joining. It only costs £1 per month! The normal monthly prize is £25 but once a quarter this increases to an amount, which equals the current membership x £1. Current membership is 252. But as there are over 900 children at the school a lot of parents/guardians are missing out!

Remember the money is spent on items for the school for the benefit of the children.
Please help if you can!