At our last meeting before the Summer break we said goodbye to, and thanked, two very hardworking committee members – Marie Dennis for her service over more years than she would care to admit, and Verity Conner for her six years as a very able Chairman. They will be greatly missed, but the remaining committee will be doing its utmost to continue the good work! At the AGM in October we therefore welcomed a new Chairman (Pat Thorpe), along with our new Treasurer, Liz Chadwick, new Secretary, Sue Fraser and five new committee members. Cheryll Tunnucliffe remains Vice-Chairman.

Our first event was the Fun Quiz held on 11th October, with Mr Ian MacDonald as Quizmaster. 28 teams, including 9 made up from students from the College, battled it out for the many prizes on offer, with the adult victors being “Classless FM”. As well as having a very enjoyable evening we also raised well over £300, which will be used towards fitting out some of the space created by the building work recently completed at the College.

A couple of forthcoming events are still in the planning stage, but two are already in hand. We are hoping for another successful evening on 22nd November when we hold our Christmas Fair at the Dove Campus, and of course you can be looking forward to our village event, the Duck Race on Rolleston Brook on May 17th 2003.

Sue Fraser (Secretary to de Ferrers PSFA)

de Ferrers Calendar

December
Fri 6th - Prize evening – Trent Campus 7.30pm
Tue 10th - Year 12 Parents’ evening
Thu 12th - Senior Citizens’ Party
Mon 16th - Carol Service, St Mary’s, Stretton
Tue 17th - Carol Service, St John’s, Horninglow
Fri 20th - End of Term

January
Fri 3rd - College closed (in lieu of Staff Twilight Insets)
Mon 6th - Term begins
Fri 24th - INSET Staff Training
Wed 29th } Year II Trial Interviews
Thu 30th }

February
Fri 7th - Song & Dance Evening, Trent Campus
Mon 17th – Fri 21st Half Term

March
Mon 3rd – Fri 7th - Year 7 Geography trips

As the end of fund raising draws to a close, for this academic year, de Ferrers P.S.F.A. has over £5,700 set aside to help the College with furniture for the new buildings on both the Trent and the Dove Campus. Now that de Ferrers is a specialist Technology College, a huge building and refurbishment programme has started and should be finished by the Autumn. The Duck Race, at the start of Rolleston’s highly successful Jubilee Festival made over £1,100 thanks to support from the whole Rolleston community. With the Riddings Brass Band offering a workshop to youngsters in April, as well as giving a rousing concert in the evening and the excellent Fashion Show from “Fatale” of Tutbury, the Summer Term proved busy and very successful. 

With the arrival of the new students to the college in September there will be new parents to offer their time to help the very able Committee with their tireless fund raising. As my son and daughter have both finished at the college, I will no longer be able to act as Chairman. During the last six years I have been so lucky to have so much support from staff and parents. The Committee have done a fantastic job and I wish them well in the future.

There are already plans in hand for another Quiz Night on Friday 11th October at Dove Campus, Harehedge Lane, starting at 7.30pm. Ian MacDonald, himself a parent, will run the Quiz and there will be a licensed bar. A team of four will cost £10 to enter and this will include refreshments. Telephone the Dove Campus to book a table for this popular evening. Remember that the Christmas Fair will be on Friday 22nd November at 7.00pm on the Dove Campus. On 8th November the P.S.F.A. will support the Music Department by providing a bar, when there will be a lively Concert to show off the musical talent in the College.

I still look forward to meeting parents and friends of the College at all these and other fund raising events.

Verity Conner, Chairman 1996~2002 

Spring heralded a Fashion Show put on by 'Fatale' of Tutbury It was great to have a model and five very accomplished Bar Staff from Year 13. Mrs Whyman and Mrs Edwards, who are members of staff, had produced some beautiful flower arrangements so that Dove Campus Hall looked absolutely splendid and these flowers made wonderful raffle prizes. Several businesses also gave prizes and there was an atmosphere of excitement as the audience settled down to watch the models on the catwalk. The finale allowed the menfolk to take to the catwalk to escort the ladies. Principal Michael York stole the show. A pleasant time was had by all and £480 was raised to help students at de Ferrers. 

Riddings Band came to de Ferrers at the end of April to share their expertise with the young people at the College, who play Brass instruments, as well as those who joined in from the local Feeder Schools. The concert was a great success and inspired the audience and performers alike.

This year the Duck Race was at the start of the Rolleston Arts Festival and Village Jubilee Celebrations on 25th May. At 1.00 pm the ducks swam off down the Brook by the Spread Eagle and in accordance with tradition The Principal and his two Vice Principals were on hand to catch the winners.

With the building programme well under way the P.S.F.A. are hoping to help with the refurbishment on both the Trent and Dove Campuses with money raised this year.

Many thanks to all of you, who support our efforts. Students and staff appreciate your generosity and the Committee have enjoyed working together in a successful team once again this year. For some of us this is the parting of the ways as we will no longer have students at the College. As Chairman for the last six years I have seen the High School grow into College status but as ever there is a greater need for funds to help provide some extras. That is where the P.S.F.A. have stepped in and have been able to make a realistic contribution. Putting on our events has been fun too. I would like to wish the new Committee well in the future.

Verity Conner(Chairman)

de Ferrers Calendar

June
Mon 3rd - Half Term Week
Mon 10th - College opens
Thu/Fri 13/14th - Year 10 Geography trip
Wed/Thu 19/20th - Year 8 Parents’ evening
Sat 23rd (week) - Year 12 Geography Trip
Thu 27th
- Technology Show
- Year 9 Science visit
Fri 28th - End of GCSE Exams

July
Mon 1st (week) - Year 12 Science field work at Rheiddol
Mon 1st – Wed 3rd - Year 12 induction
Wed 3 – Fri 5th - Year 7 French Trip
Thu 4th - Staff Twilight INSET
Wed 10 – Sat 13th - College Production “Grease”
Tue 16th
- Year 6 Visit to Dove Campus
- New Intake Parents’ evening
Thu 18th - College closes for Summer 

September
Mon 2nd - Staff Training Day
Tue 3rd - Term starts for students

With spring in the air De Ferrers P.S.F.A. are able to look back on a splendid winter of fund raising. The Christmas Fair was a huge money raiser with plenty of press coverage and lots of people looking round and buying.

The Auction as always was a great success and all the games proved very popular. The College has embarked on a building programme, which will improve facilities for all the students. No doubt the money will be needed to help with the refurbishment.

January brought the 'Red Herrings' to present the Murder Mystery 'Strangled in the Stockroom' to a large audience. The hot food provided by the very willing workers on the Committee was delicious and the desserts were greeted with enthusiasm. The bar staff were kept busy and seven groups actually deduced that 'the caretaker did it.' The event raised £600 to add to the £2300 made at the fair.

As always the P.S.F.A. are planning ahead and there are two excellent events in the pipeline. On 19th April at the Dove Campus 'Fatale', the exclusive fashion store in Tutbury High Street will be putting on a Fashion Show. Tickets will be on sale from the College Offices or by telephoning 01283/ 813414. This will be a chance to sit back and watch the professionals give a polished presentation of the new season's clothes.

This year the Duck Race will be the first in a long list of Rolleston Arts Festival happenings. On 25th May at 1.00 pm the ducks will swim off down the Brook for the first of many heats. When the nail-biting final is reached there are cash prizes at stake. Tickets are always on sale right up until the heats begin so remember to come along and join in the fun.

Many thanks to all those of you who support our efforts. Students and staff appreciate your generosity and the Committee have enjoyed working together in a successful team.

Verity Conner (Chairman)

de Ferrers Calendar

March
Tues 5 - Year 10 Exams
Mon 11 - Staff Training: College closed for Students
Mon 11-Fri 15 - Year 10 Work Experience
Tue 12-Fri 15 - Year 7 Geog Field Visits
Wed 20 - Spring Concert
Thu 28 - End of Spring Term

April
Mon 15 - Summer Term starts
Wed17/Thu18 - Year 7 Parents’ Evening
Fri 19 - PSFA Fashion Show
Tue 30 - Prospective Yr 12 Parents’ Evening

May
Mon 6 - College closed, May Day Holiday
Tue7-Fri 17 - SATS and Dove Exams
Mon 13 - AS Exams commence
Sat 25 - PSFA Duck Race, Rolleston

June
Mon 3 - Half Term week

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Last updated: 12 December 2002