AGENDA
I’ve never met anyone who’s been on a PTA for longer than me
1998 2023 My PTA life
Caroline Warneck is PTA chair at Abbots Farm Junior School in Rugby, where she has been involved for 24 years
When did you fi rst join the PTA? When my eldest son started infant school in 1998, I went to a PTA meeting with a few other new mums. The lady who had been running the PTA singlehandedly was amazed to see us all and we formed a great team. I became joint chair and then started working at the school. In 2007 my job moved to the junior school across the road and I eventually became chair of their PTFA. I’ve never met anyone who’s been on a PTA for longer than me, but there must be someone out there!
What’s changed most about PTAs over the years? When I fi rst became involved, more mums stayed at home or worked part- time and they were available to attend meetings and volunteer. Nowadays, getting enough helpers is a struggle, although several parents are happy to do PTA jobs at home. The internet has also made a huge difference as we can order items such as raffl e tickets online. PTAs can also communicate more easily. We
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used to rely mainly on landlines and printed newsletters.
What are the most unusual events you’ve helped plan? I’ve been involved in some crazy things over the years! For one summer fair at
the infant school back in 2000, we decided that panning for gold would be a good attraction. We borrowed two old baths from the local tip and fi lled them with sand, water and small pebbles sprayed with gold paint. The children had great fun sieving for treasure. We raised a lot of money and took the baths back to the tip on the following Monday morning! We used to organise balloon races,
which were a huge success and raised a lot of money. We would track the balloons on a map and the owner of the one that got the furthest (always across the Channel) won a prize, as did the person who returned the label to us. Of course, we are aware of the environmental impact of balloon races these days, so I’m glad PTAs now do them virtually instead.
How do you feel about retiring from the PTA? That’s a tricky one – I’m in my early sixties now, and I really will retire in around three years, although our headteacher doesn’t believe me!
Balloon release at the summer fair in 2000
AS TOLD TO: DAN ETHERINGTON; PICTURE FRAME: OLEKSANDR SHCHERBAN/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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