Friends of John of Rolleston Primary School News 2013
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The first half of the Autumn term has flown by, and we are already thinking ahead to Christmas! As always the start of a new school year sees changes within the FOJORPS Committee as key players move on and new members join. At our AGM in September we said farewell to some long-serving stalwarts who have dedicated a great deal of time over many years, including our Chairman, Shaun Carlton-Greaves. We were also pleased to welcome on board some new members, meaning that the FOJORPS committee is enjoying some fresh faces bringing new ideas and enthusiasm to our meetings.
Our first events of the school year have already taken place. The Children’s Discos are always a firm favourite, and the following week saw this year’s Autumn Quiz with teams stepping up to the challenge and giving their brains a work-out. Our first 'Bag 2 School' collection also took place in October, with unwanted clothing and shoes being donated. We also hosted another of our popular Friday evening Movie Nights. Over 100 children stayed to watch the summer blockbuster, Monsters University.
Our annual Christmas Bazaar will take place on Friday 6th December, starting at 3.30pm. We look forward to a wonderful seasonal afternoon with a variety of festive stalls, entertainment from the school choir, and a chance for the children to visit Santa in his grotto whilst parents enjoy a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine.
Thank you to all our pupils and their families who continue to support us in our mission in 'Creating Childhood Memories'. If you would like any further information about FOJORPS and our work, or may be interested in joining us, please email JOR for further details, office@johnofrolleston.staffs.sch.uk, or follow us on twitter (@FOJORPS)
All that remains is for us all at FOJORPS and John of Rolleston to wish you a very Merry Christmas! See you in 2014!
Dates for your Diary 2013-14
January 16th Bag2School Collection (9.00am)
January 31st Ladies Night
February 7th Movie Night #3 (6pm till 9pm)
March 8th School Disco’s (1pm till 5.30pm)
March14th Quiz Night
April 4th Movie Night #4 (6pm till 9pm)
May 11th Rolleston Carnival
May 16th Movie Night #5 (6pm till 9pm)
June 7th Community Day
June 12th Bag2School Collection (9.00am)
June 20th Movie Night #6
July 5th School Disco’s (1pm till 5pm)
July 9th Year 6 Leavers Disco (6pm till 9pm)
Soeli Morgan for FOJORPS
Well Done & Thank You
I would like to thank the families of John of Rolleston for your support of FOJORPS events over this last year, whether you purchased raffle tickets, sent your child to a disco or movie night, sent in a Blue Bag, or joined us at Community Day last month – A Huge Thank You To You.
I am sure you will be pleased to learn that with this tremendous following and support we have done it again, we have reached a new milestone in our fund raising activities: we have raised over £25,000 in a single school year.
As with all monies we raise our children are continually benefitting from these funds, whether it is by going off on a school trip, a theatre visit into school, reading the new library books, using the new playground equipment and furniture on both sites, or using the new ICT equipment during lessons – this is all FOJORPS funded.
As with previous years we try to provide something for everyone but especially our children. It is always great to see the children at our discos and movies; I was pleased to see approximately 50 children and their families representing FOJORPS in the Scout Carnival in May and taking 1st prize again in the ‘Walking Float’ category. Something I have been really proud of over recent years is getting our children involved in Community Day, and this year I think we excelled at this; I estimate that there were 200 (that is over half of our school children) involved in some way at CD13.
As with most years we do lose well established committee members as their children progress off to higher education, however this year is an exception as FOJORPS loses 6 members, the most lost in anyone year. These members are: Helene Pulker, Helen Pearson, Claire Prince, Sue Carlton-Greaves, Pat McKeown, and myself. I would obviously like to thank these members and the remainder of the ‘committee’ and our ‘parent helpers’ for the hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to making our children’s time at JofR more enjoyable with the provision of better facilities, equipment & experiences that we provide. I appreciate with our busy events calendar as it is, there are times when there seems to be nothing else on our minds other than FOJORPS, but I do hope you all get a good sense of achievement with what we have raised and organised over the last 12 months.
For myself, it’s a time of mixed feelings, on a high from what we have achieved yet again, but also on a low for leaving it all behind and that my two children are also moving on. However, I would like to thank each of you for your endless support of FOJORPS which allows us to create those childhood memories, especially over the last 4 years during my time as chairperson; this is a period that I will look back over with great memories. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of our departing year 6 children the very best in their journey to further education.
FOJORPS is within the top 10% most successful pta’s in the UK, this is something we should all be very proud of. I would urge you all to continue supporting the committee in the new school year, and help them to continue the good work they do for the benefit of our children.
Thanks again to you all for your support, have a great summer holiday, and I look forward to seeing you at the bar at CD14!
Best Regards, your retiring chair,
Shaun Carlton-Greaves
With Easter behind us we are now two-thirds through another school year! FOJORPS has continued its work to raise money to provide additional resources for all the children. Amongst other things, we are pleased to have been able to sponsor a new patio area for our Junior site to enjoy.
The Spring term was, as always, a busy time for FOJORPS, with several fundraising events taking place. The half-termly Movie Nights continue to be popular, with children and adults alike enjoying the films ‘Madagascar 3 - Europe's Most Wanted’ in February and ‘Hotel Transylvania’ in March; the next one will take place on Friday 17th May. The Children's Spring Disco was a great hit, as always, being well supported. We raised a disco-tastic profit of £772, plus a further £635 fund matching! A great result.
FOJORPS has also continued our events for the community to enjoy, by introducing 'Silver Screen' afternoons. Here, you can enjoy recent cinematic hits on our school's big screen, without the hassle of getting to a large multiplex. Tea and cake is served too - what could be better! Recent screenings of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' and 'Les Miserables' have been a great success. If you, or someone you know would enjoy this sort of event, please do join us - all over 16s welcome. Our next event is Saturday 13th July, showing 'The Guilt Trip'. Tickets are £5 including refreshments, available from Starbucks.
FOJORPS is once again looking forward to participating in the Rolleston Scout Carnival. Last year over 40 children paraded in their costumes as part of the walking float representing the school in the Carnival Procession, and we hope to have a great response again this year. We wish the Scouts every success with the event. Look out for us at the sweet stall!
The start of the summer term sees our focus turn towards Community Day. This year’s event will be held on Saturday 8th June. Gates will be open at 11am for a fun-filled day, with a range of attractions for all the family, including a 5-a-Side football competition, talent Show, games, local stalls, ice-creams, refreshments, licensed bar and much more. We are well overdue a sun-filled Community Day, so fingers firmly crossed! Please do join us if you can.
The next Bag2School collection is scheduled for Thursday 13th June. Filled bags can be left at either site from Monday 10th June, or phone Shaun (563312) to arrange collection.
Remember -
Community Day – Saturday 8th June
Bag2School Collection - Thursday 13th June
Silver Screen Afternoon - Saturday 13th July
Soeli Morgan for FOJORPS
At the time of writing, we are already a month into 2013 and the Christmas decorations have been put away for another year. The Christmas Bazaar, held after school on Friday 8th December, now seems a distant memory! There was festive spirit in abundance with a steady stream of children visiting Santa in his grotto, whilst mums and dads enjoyed mince pies or browsed round the many stalls and attractions. Musical entertainment was provided by the school choir and a selection of our talented school musicians performing Christmas songs. Thank you to everyone who supported the event in any way.
We have an exciting fundraising year ahead. Kicking us off, on 18th January, was our second Bag2School collection of the school year, providing people with the opportunity of clearing out their wardrobes. We collected a hefty 940kgs of unwanted clothing, which converted into £410 cash for school funds. Our next collection is scheduled for 13th June; anyone wishing to donate items can leave them at school (either site) before 9.30am on this date, or phone Shaun (563312) to arrange collection.
Further events planned for this term include the ever-popular Ladies Night on Friday 8th February with disco, licensed bar and local duo 'Short & Sweet'. Our Children’s discos will take place on Saturday 9th March. The Spring Quiz will take place the following weekend on Saturday 15th March. This is always an entertaining evening with teams of up to four people giving their brains a gentle work-out, whilst enjoying a drink or two from our licensed bar. Look out for the posters around the village for more information, we would love to see you.
FOJORPS are also thrilled to announce the launch of 'Silver Screen' - movie screenings held on our big screen, exclusively for the more mature members of our community. If you, or your older relatives, friends or neighbours, would feel unable to attend a big multiplex cinema, but would love to see the latest films with other like-minded people, then please do join us! Our first Silver Screen film afternoon will be held on Saturday 23rd March, 2.30pm for a 3pm screening. We will be showing the hit 2012 film, 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'. Tickets cost £5, including a hot drink and piece of cake, available from Starbucks or Rolleston Coffee Lounge or for more information contact Fiona (509022). Strictly over 16s only please.
Looking further ahead to the summer, all are welcome to join us for Race Night on Saturday 11th May - test your luck with a flutter, enjoying the thrill of the races on our big screen. Guaranteed galloping great fun! Look out for further details. This year’s Community Day is on Saturday 8th June. All the usual favourites will be there along with new attractions – fun for all the family. We look forward to joining once again with the many groups, businesses and individuals from within the village and beyond, who support this event year on year, making it a true community occasion. Fingers firmly crossed for good weather, we are surely owed it after the rain last year!
Dates for your Diary 2013
Children’s Discos – Saturday 9th March
Spring Quiz – Saturday 15th March
Film Night - Friday 22nd march
Silver Screen Film Afternoon – Sat. 23rd March
Race Night - Saturday 11th May
Film Night - Friday 17th May
Community Day – Saturday 8th June
Bag2School Collection - Thursday 13th June
Soeli Morgan for FOJORPS
Last updated: 2 February 2014