SCHOOL’S OUT l l Worth sharing
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‘The parents at our school support each other through
‘I made recycled uniform bunting as a farewell gift’
After ten years on the PTA, fairs and fundraisers had become staples in my calendar, and I was sad to say goodbye when my children left the school. At the peak of my involvement, we were raising up to £35,000 a year: the
World War II-themed summer fair made over £8,000 and the community firework display became a much-anticipated tradition. I wanted to leave the school a final gift. I wracked my brains for a suitable
idea, and inspiration struck when I suddenly remembered the bags of school uniform left over from our last second-hand sale. They were too stained to be given to charity, so I decided to turn them into 50 metres of recycled bunting. First I purchased 50 metres of bias binding. Then I set to work cutting out
triangles from the different garments: white from the polo shirts, fleecy red ones from the jumpers and summery checks from the girls’ dresses. As I pinned and stitched, the hours flew by. I can’t tell you how long I worked, but I made my way through an entire audiobook and a variety of films on Netflix! When I handed my uniform bunting over, I had one condition – that it wouldn’t be kept in a box and only brought out for special occasions. So when I saw photos of my little flags hung around the library and the classrooms, I was delighted to see it had brightened the school just as I’d intended. Sometimes I stop and think of the red
and white bunting hanging at the school. I imagine the teachers as they walk by. Perhaps they pause for a moment and say to themselves: ‘I remember that Mrs Presswood from the PTA!’ Ruth Presswood, former committee member of Saltford CofE Primary School PTA, Bristol (410 pupils)
58 SUMMER 2022
pta.co.uk
anonymous giving’ In our PTA, we always say that if you can be anything, be kind. So two years ago, we decided to put our words into action. We started an initiative called the ‘kindness cup’ to boost inclusivity at the school. It’s a way for parents to pay extra so that another child can attend an event or trip they might not otherwise be able to afford. We’re mindful of families’
different financial circumstances when we plan events, but sometimes charging for tickets is unavoidable. At times like these, the kindness cup can help. It’s not a real cup – we collect
extra cash donations which we store in a safe until we have enough to give to the headteacher. The kindness cup is advertised in the school newsletter so that every parent has access to the information without having to ask. We phrase it along the lines of: ‘If you can pay more, the kindness cup enables you to do that.’ This places the emphasis on the giving, rather than the receiving – we don’t want anyone to feel embarrassed. We make it clear to parents that they don’t have to pay for a whole extra ticket. Donations of any size are appreciated. The money is collected and passed to the headteacher, who distributes it to the families in need. None of the PTA know who receives from the kindness cup – it’s not our business.
Jacqueline Moonan, chair of Greenhill Primary School PTA, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland (260 pupils)
AS TOLD TO: ANNA SCOTT
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