03 February 2008
VERULAM SCHOOL PTA
Supporting Verulam School, St Albans
Registered Charity no: 1023584
Supporting Verulam School, St Albans
Registered Charity no: 1023584
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Welcome to the Verulam School PTA website. I hope you find it useful – it is full of information about PTA events and ways in which you can get involved. Please use it to check on the latest information about an event, download a form or find contact details.
The PTA constitution says that we are here:
‘to advance the education of pupils at the school by providing (or assisting in providing) facilities for education and, in furtherance of this, to foster relationships between school and parents and to engage in activities which support the school’
This gives us a wide remit and in recent years our activities and funding have been very varied .
In 2002 we supported the school’s bid to become a Technology College with £10,000.
In 2003/4 the emphasis has been in providing better sports facilities and £15,000 has been spent to improvements to the Sandpit Lane Pavilion and the new long jump pit with further money being allocated for equipping the new Sports Hall.
In 2004/5 the creative arts will be supported with money for the photographic department and a new grand piano for which a special appeal has been launched.
In addition to these major purchases the PTA has encouraged other activities in the school by donations to support a fencing club, the jazz band and the bridge club. Requests for smaller donations for clubs are always considered favourably by the committee.
We have also provided money for new library shelving, for water fountains and for refurbishing the staff room.
The needs remain significant however. The school is to some extent a victim of its own success. The 6th form block I am told was designed when there were 60 sixth-formers, we now have over 200. The PTA will continue to make a difference to the schools facilities provided that you continue to support it. Your committee has been delighted with the success of the Christmas Fair, the Summer Ball and the Quiz nights in recent years. We are extremely grateful to Roger Protz for hosting beer tasting and to Isobel Bradley for organising the Ladies evening. Alison Turner raises significant sums at the uniform exchange, the 200 Club run by Fiona Turner and the Gift Aid administered by Marie-Claire Scherman are also significant fund raisers. Thank you to all of you who have supported these fundraising events so well.
One event that has been less well supported is the AGM. In fact the AGM has not been quorate for several years now. Important decisions are made at the AGM - elections of the committee and future plans. We do need your ideas for events and ways in which we can support the school. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and celebrate the achievements. In order to try and make the AGM more attractive this year we are combining the AGM with a party, as there seem too few opportunities to meet informally.
The PTA events are not just about raising money they also give the opportunity for parents and teachers to meet to support each other and share ideas and concerns. Perhaps as parents we should do more to understand about educational issues and the pressures teenagers are under. Please let me know if you think the PTA has a role here.
I hope that in the year to come you will be able to attend at least one PTA event and perhaps get involved in making them happen. Our aim is to encourage as many people as possible to become involved so that you will not be asked to do too much. We are always need volunteers for the Christmas Fair and Summer Ball. If you do help out at events you will definitely feel more a part of Verulam and also show your son that you value the school and the education it provides – hopefully that will help him to prosper in the school.
I look forward to seeing you at PTA events and thank you for your great support in the past.
If you wish to contact me at any time I would be pleased to hear from you via e-mail: paul_woods@tinyworld.co.uk
Welcome to the Verulam School PTA website. I hope you find it useful – it is full of information about PTA events and ways in which you can get involved. Please use it to check on the latest information about an event, download a form or find contact details.
The PTA constitution says that we are here:
‘to advance the education of pupils at the school by providing (or assisting in providing) facilities for education and, in furtherance of this, to foster relationships between school and parents and to engage in activities which support the school’
This gives us a wide remit and in recent years our activities and funding have been very varied .
In 2002 we supported the school’s bid to become a Technology College with £10,000.
In 2003/4 the emphasis has been in providing better sports facilities and £15,000 has been spent to improvements to the Sandpit Lane Pavilion and the new long jump pit with further money being allocated for equipping the new Sports Hall.
In 2004/5 the creative arts will be supported with money for the photographic department and a new grand piano for which a special appeal has been launched.
In addition to these major purchases the PTA has encouraged other activities in the school by donations to support a fencing club, the jazz band and the bridge club. Requests for smaller donations for clubs are always considered favourably by the committee.
We have also provided money for new library shelving, for water fountains and for refurbishing the staff room.
The needs remain significant however. The school is to some extent a victim of its own success. The 6th form block I am told was designed when there were 60 sixth-
One event that has been less well supported is the AGM. In fact the AGM has not been quorate for several years now. Important decisions are made at the AGM -
The PTA events are not just about raising money they also give the opportunity for parents and teachers to meet to support each other and share ideas and concerns. Perhaps as parents we should do more to understand about educational issues and the pressures teenagers are under. Please let me know if you think the PTA has a role here.
I hope that in the year to come you will be able to attend at least one PTA event and perhaps get involved in making them happen. Our aim is to encourage as many people as possible to become involved so that you will not be asked to do too much. We are always need volunteers for the Christmas Fair and Summer Ball. If you do help out at events you will definitely feel more a part of Verulam and also show your son that you value the school and the education it provides – hopefully that will help him to prosper in the school.
I look forward to seeing you at PTA events and thank you for your great support in the past.
If you wish to contact me at any time I would be pleased to hear from you via e-