GIRAFFE Group

Introduction

In September 2007 a group of parents, guardians and school staff started working together to raise extra funds for the Infant school and Children’s Centre at Gorse Hill.

Our aims are to raise extra money through FUN, COMMUNITY SPIRITED events, to be used to enhance and extend the children’s experiences throughout their early years and education.

We meet regularly to discuss ideas and set dates for our fund raising events. The meetings are made on a flexible basis to fit around other commitments.

The Giraffe team

Listed below are the current members ;

Barb Anscombe – Chairperson

Hayley Page – Vice Chairperson

Jan Chadwick – Treasurer

Position available - Minutes

Dot Dagless, Dawn Brown, Mhairi Hammond, Amanda Musto, Lisa Davis, Becky Nolan, Gerry Francome,  Debbie Minns and Emma Williams

If you are interested in becoming part of the GIRAFFE Group just fill in the form at the back and hand in to your child’s class teacher. PAMPHLET CAN BE PICKED UP IN OFFICE

Any help would be really appreciated, either as a committee member or as a helper during one of our events.

 When will I hear anything?

We will try and respond to any enquiries as soon as possible sending you an invite to attend our next meeting.

 What will be expected of me?

If you wish to become an active Member we would like you to

·         attend as many of the meetings as possible.

·         be part of a team thinking up ideas and organising events.

·         Have some FUN and make new friends..

If you just wish to be volunteer helping out at events then your details will be kept and we will inform you about forthcoming events and check on your availability to help.

 How often do you do events?

We plan two main events a year, one at Christmas and one in summer. In between we will do small events to raise money to support the main events.

Latest news

We raised a whopping £804 at the Christmas Bazaar. These funds have not yet been allocated to a particular item however we will notify you all as soon as the school's wish has been requested.

Thankyou for all your support with the event and to all those who lent a hand. Without you it would not have been such a success in these difficult times. 

Dates for your Diary ;

Thursday 12th February - we are holding a Valentines Disco for all the Year groups at the community centre from 3.15 till 4.15. Tickets will be on sale soon for £1.50 a ticket. Any Volunteers are welcome. Please advise if you are interested by leaving your details with the office for us to contact you.

Tuesday 24th February - Bookfair week. This will be held in the School hall after school till Friday. More info to follow.

Wednesday 1st April - we will be selling Spring Treat cups and other treats as well as holding a second hand uniform sale after school in the playground to raise funds towards the school fete.

Saturday 4th July - American theme Summer Fete. 1p.m. till 4p.m. Details to follow

Working together,

           for our children’s future.

Giraffe Group AGM Report October 2008

Word from the Chairperson – Barbara Anscombe

September 2007 saw the beginning of Giraffe’s, a parents group set up by ‘the parents’ of Gorse Hill Infants School, to support the school by raising funds above and beyond the school’s budget.

Starting out with three members and introducing ourselves last October selling Treat cups, we managed to build a committee of ten members, most of who have returned to support us this year along with a few new recruits.

Through the year we managed to build a partnership with the school to ensure that the work we do and the money we raise satisfies both the parents and the staff of the school whilst making sure that a mutual agreement between both parties is reached so that the money is spent on something all the children of the school can benefit.

We held various fundraising activities and days to help build up funds supporting the Summer Fete and building up an expenses fund in our own account.

These included Treat cups, stalls at the Christmas Bazaar, egg colouring competition for the nurseries, non uniform day and we also arranged a Year 2 Leavers disco, which was a huge success.

The meetings throughout the year were made on a flexible basis and were combined with lots of fun, team building, preparation ideas and the making of new friendships.

The success of Giraffe’s was reflected upon the donation towards the outdoor play improvements for the amount of £1000.00. This was down to the hard commitment shown by the Giraffe team and their volunteers, the support of the staff and governors, the community and last but not least the parents and children of the school. Let’s hope that we can be just as successful in 2008 – 2009.

Many thanks to everyone for their continuing support.

Barb

Word from the Treasurer – Jan Chadwick.

Well what a year we’ve had. This time last year there was no money, no bank account, just three founding members with nothing but a bag of enthusiasm. Now members and willing hands have grown in numbers, along with money in the bank account. After just five money raising events we were able to hand over to the school a large cheque. The year went as follows;

·         October Treats raised £48.90

·         Christmas Bazaar Raised £77.66 after deductions of £19.92 expenses for refreshments and Tattoos.

·         Bank Account opened with £129.52

·         Easter Treats raised £63.60 with deductions of £8.83 expenses. £25 deposited in bank with remaining £38.60 put into petty cash.

·         Egg colouring competition raised £2.50

·         June non uniform day raised £166.85 to support funding the Summer Fete.

·         Summer Fete expenses amounted to £238.23 and £904.97 was raised from the event. Costs which will not recur for this years events will be Face Painting supplies etc

·         Donation £1000 made to the school for outdoor play improvements.

·         After Ticket sales and Photos for Year 2 leavers disco less expenses incurred we have a bank balance of £297.79 in the bank and £30 in petty cash.

(Please note that this year the Treasurer’s books have been independently checked by a professional body and found to be in a sound state of affairs.)

Thank you for everyone’s hard work and may next year be as successful.

Jan

‘’Giraffe welcomes any support from parents to ensure continuing Success.’