BACK CHAT – Inspiring stories
‘We formed our own PTA’
‘After wondering what the PTA at my daughter’s school was all about, I thought I’d pop into the school offi ce to see when the next PTA meeting was. My inquisitiveness turned to horror after being informed that there wasn’t a PTA and hadn’t been for some time. After a brief discussion with the headteacher, it
appeared that Stephanie, a TA, had been doing what she could over the past few years, with little to no parent help. She had kept the school disco, summer, Easter and Christmas fetes alive while essentially fl ying solo – the parents and school have so much to thank her for. Once word spread that we needed help, some keen mums came together and we formed a PTA, with more than 20 committee members. In our fi rst term we have relaunched the PTA with a new logo and Facebook page and organised a successful walk to get to know others within the school community. Our latest adventure was planning and organising the Christmas fayre. We are looking forward to an exciting 2020 as a new
PTA that can provide the school, the children and Stephanie with the support they deserve.’ Abbie Dart, PTA chair, Shaw Ridge Primary School, Swindon, Wiltshire (420 pupils)
‘I wanted to give the children
a creative opportunity’ ‘When I joined the Friends of Downs Junior, I wanted to give the children a creative opportunity involving something they wouldn’t be exposed to as part of their normal school day. In 2017, we started a fi lm competition. We ask
Worth sharing
PTAs express their gratitude and tell us about inspiring projects and initiatives...
‘Thank you for putting up with me!’
‘My team are amazing and never stop working. Since I took over seven years ago, we have provided funds for a green screen, put in a £10,000 running track, planned a sensory garden in memory of a staff member and are now raising £25,000 for a sun canopy. Because our location is classed as affl uent, we don’t get extra money for anything – so we have had to hold lots of events, which is demanding at times. My team deserve recognition for their outstanding work and for putting up with me. I would love to say thank you to my team and my school – I love them all.’ Claire Cowling, PTA chair, Woodlands Primary School, Formby, Merseyside (359 pupils)
58 SPRING 2020
pta.co.uk
entrants to make a fi lm of up to two minutes long and offer fi ve categories: animation (which attracts the largest number of entries), drama, comedy, documentary and other. The technology is very different from when I was growing up – anyone can shoot and edit a short fi lm using a smartphone and a range of apps. The fi rst time we ran the competition,
I went to the school assembly to speak to the children and show some short fi lms. I then stood in the playground with a sign asking people to come and talk to me about the competition, and I also put posters around the school and made
fl yers with information on how to upload or email the fi nished fi lms. In subsequent years it has been easier to whip up enthusiasm because we already have the previous years’ winning entries to show. Around 120 children enter the competition each
year, and we get over 50 fi lms. People enter as family groups and friendship groups and often as a mix of year groups. We always use external judges working in the creative industries. We’ve had a documentary director, a TV writer and a lecturer from Brighton Film School, to name a few. Winners are chosen more for their ideas and dedication to fi lmmaking than for the perfection of their fi lms. Our local cinema, The Duke of York’s, shows the
fi ve winning entries, fi ve runners-up and a few other highly commended fi lms one Saturday before its weekly Kids Club. Everyone who gets their fi lm shown gets free entry that day. We also hold an event at the school where we hand out Oscar-style statuettes, chocolates and medals. Each participant also receives a certifi cate. We show all the fi lms and have a red carpet and a photo booth. People talk about the fi lm competition for weeks afterwards and we’re already looking forward to this year’s.’ Phillip Viner, Friends of Downs Junior School, Brighton, East Sussex (502 pupils)
HEART IMAGE: VLADYSLAV BOBUSKYI/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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