Newbridge Primary School Association

[NPSA][Committee][Frockswap]

All parents are automatically members of the Newbridge Primary School Association (NPSA).

The NPSA meets regularly to plan support for the school in many practical ways, including social events. This support is highly valued by the school because it strengthens the links between parents and teachers as partners in the learning process of children.

Sat, 30 Jan 2010

NPSA Committee Meeting 25/1/10 Minutes

Newbridge Primary School Association

COMMITTEE MEETING
25 January 2010

MINUTES OF MEETING


1. Apologies for absence

2. Nomination of KS as Vice Chair
Nominated by IT, seconded by SA.

3. Treasurer's Report
£4,700 in account and £5,500 has been raised with £2,230 coming from sale of calendars - this is more than last year with the profit coming from the printing, thanks to KL for this. £2,870 was raised at the Christmas fair, the nativity DVD raised £294.50 and £105 came from the children's Christmas disco. So far only £395 has been spent on outdoor teaching equipment, PTA membership and cookery ingredients. This gives a total of £9,800 in the account but no trips have been requested yet and agreed funds from last meeting have not been spent. Uncommitted funds therefore are £4,845. The bird box with camera will cost £250. There is a movement sensor on the camera that triggers image recording and it can be moved onto a feeder in no birds are nesting in the box. Point made to LL to clarify if NPSA can claim back VAT - yes.

4.Report on school calendar
JC was amazed how well it was organised and asked for thanks to be passed on to all concerned. Request made for it to become a regular annual event, agreed.

5.Report on nativity DVD
Lower school nativity was videoed by an outside party with 100 copies being made, 92 of these were sold at £6.00 each. There was also an offer to deliver some for a fee (£1.50) due to the timescale (very close to the Christmas holiday break), 26 asked for this to be done. This was offered as a service rather than a fundraising opportunity to ensure anyone who could not attend could see the nativity and it also presented a design competition opportunity as the children designed the DVD label image. Suggestion made to offer it again in the same manner, agreed. JC asked how the quality of the recording was. Comments were - the background was pale so children in white were difficult to see, panning missed children at the end of rows, perhaps the person recording could have been higher, however generally you did see each child more than once. Comment made about the final song for all the children to stand up and face the audience. Professional recording would have been £8 per DVD so there would have been no profit. JC is happy to do it again and will take on board comments on the direction and pass them on to staff. Question was raised about what to do with spare copies - suggestions were to give them to staff involved or to low income families - 7 remain. JC will buy one.

6. Report on Christmas Fair
A really busy event as usual, the children really enjoyed it and it went very well. A large amount was raised (see Treasurer's report). Lessons need to be passed on for next year to continue to make the job easier. IT has some feedback and will make a report to file. It would also be useful if everyone who runs an event or a fundraising activity sends a file to the NPSA hotmail account. JC said details can always be improved but generally it was fabulous and received positive feedback. Thanks to all who helped, especially those children who got involved.

7. School requests
At the last meeting the subject was raised to do up the Lower School Hall. The School Council are involved to rename and redecorate it. It is in dire need of a multimedia system. A quote of £3,800 has been received from the same company that did the Upper School to include screen, projector, laptop and radio mikes. Average quotes are around £3,500. In addition to this basketball posts are needed for the Upper School and would cost £1,500 for sturdy posts and digging and setting. Also, the boat in the Lower School playground has had to be condemned as the wood is rotten. The School would like to replace it with a play boat or long boat or extra long boat, the last option being 5.2m long and costing £1,900. The breakfast club also needs developing. It is currently run in the Lower School Hall but it is being investigated to move it to the Blue Room which would be a cosier environment but funds are needed for better games and toys, £500 is needed for this. SW asked JC for priorities - the boat must come first, the multimedia system could, if necessary, come from devolved capital with possible top up from NPSA. SA asked if the boat could be cheaper if it was made by the people who made the conservation area equipment. Suggestion made that the basketball posts for the Upper School and the boat for the Lower School would balance well. Votes were taken for these two items and were carried. This leaves £3,500 left in the account. A vote was taken on providing the breakfast club equipment too and this was also carried. JC asked for help for someone to look into sourcing the boat, or if anyone knows a carpenter who could make one, SA will put a request in the newsletter. SW agreed to take this on and KS offered to help. Another big raffle is planned so a big fundraising project will be needed to go with this. It was felt the multimedia system is ideal for this. TM thought a cover for the Lower School theatre was needed to provide shade in the summer and this was agreed to be a future consideration for fundraising.

8. Up-coming events
The quiz night arranged for the last Friday in March (26th) is under control. It will raise funds for the basketball rings and the boat in the Lower School. A pampering evening was pencilled in but unfortunately JA has had to drop out due to other commitments so this will now not take place. IT was talking to staff about a barbecue that was held in previous years but was stopped as it was before the site was secure and things got out of hand! Now the site can be secured it has been requested to run this event again. It would be an early evening event (5pm-9pm) so all the family could attend. It used to be held in the conservation area, would this be a good location still, although we would need to watch out for the pond. We would need live music to be booked for it. Date suggested of Friday 21 May for this event. We need a committee to organise this and DF, LC, EB and TM volunteered. Question was raised about the provision of alcohol - agreed not to sell it but people can bring their own. No entrance fee - this is a social event rather than a fund raising event but we would make some money on the barbecue. There is a cake sale arranged for the same day, agreed to change this to the last day of half term (Friday 28 May). The Summer Fair date also needs changing due to the inset day changing - rearranged for 26 June.

9. Outstanding items from last meeting
Funding for the notice boards was passed at the last meeting so if SW can dig out the information this can be moved forward.

10. Any other business
IT asked if everyone can have a CRB check carried out because at the Christmas fair any volunteers needed to be CRB checked to be able to leave the Blue Room. TD in the LRC has the forms. Cake sale next Friday, 5 February for years 2&5. Also arranged for 26 March for years 3&1 and 28 May for Reception & yr 4. Finally a letter has been received from some children in 2H at school to raise some funds for wet play games. £444 was paid out last December, JC to look into this, it may have been just for some year groups. Agreed to ask the School Council to ask the rest of the children what games they would like to have and then for SA to put out a targeted request for those games in a newsletter. Offer to buy Road Block (the game requested in the letter) for 2H made by VN.

11. Date of next meeting
Wednesday 3 March, 7.30pm in the Blue Room

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

NPSA Committee Meeting 25/1/10 Agenda

Newbridge Primary School Association
COMMITTEE MEETING




Date: 25 January 2010
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Blue Room

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence
2. Nomination of KS as Vice Chair
3. Treasurer’s Report
4. Report on calendar
5. Report on nativity DVD
6. Report on Xmas Fair
7. School requests
8. Up-coming events
9. Outstanding items from last meeting
10. Any other business
11. Date of next meeting

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

NPSA Meeting Rescheduled

The meeting of Newbridge Primary School Association has been postponed until Monday 25 January at 7.30pm due to the severe weather conditions. The meeting will take place in the Blue Room as usual.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

NPSA Committee Meeting 9/11/09 Minutes

Newbridge Primary School
COMMITTEE MEETING
9 November 2009

MINUTES OF MEETING

1. Apologies for absence

2. Matters arising from last meeting
MP has spoken to SH about putting the NPSA agenda and minutes on the school website and is happy to take responsibility for doing this and updating the NPSA pages of the website. (http://www.newbridge.bathnes.sch.uk/npa/). Action - MP

FV will set up a file in the school office with copies of agendas and minutes. Action - FV

3. Treasurer's report
The following money has been raised so far this year:

Barn Dance - £160.00
Coffee Morning - £20.00
Cake sale - £145.00
Total - £325.00

The balance of the accounts now stands at just under £4,700.

Regular committments made for the year:

School trips - £1,400.00 (£200 per year group)
Storybox Theatre - £1,000.00
Book at Bedtime - £50.00
Year 6 leavers' books - £280.00
Year 6 leavers' party - £150.00
SATs breakfast - £115.00
Total - £2,995.00

Remaining available funds are just under £1,700.

4. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
SM nominated IT as Chair, seconded by MP.

The post of nearly-new uniform co-ordinator is now vacant, IT and JA will continue to organise this until the post is filled.



There were no nominations for Vice-Chair, IT will canvass.



5. Christmas Fair - dates and volunteers
A sub-committee has been formed, new members are still welcome, especially someone to be in charge of the kitchen. Next meeting tomorrow evening (Tues 10th) at IT's house.


The Christmas Fair will be held on 3 December from 5-7pm with a similar format to last year.



6. Coffee mornings and cake sales
The next coffee morning will be held on Friday 13 November from 9-10am - also nearly new uniform sale. Please spread the word especially about nearly new uniform as this wasn't mentioned in the newsletter. Action - all


7. Items for newsletter
No discussion required.


8. Fundraising events & ideas for spending funds
Available funds = just under £1,700 after usual commitments taken into account.


Requests from the school:

• Books to support each class to have a set of banded books or for topic books for the library - £1,000

• Foundation stage - 8 lower case keyboards and small mice - £300


• Art equipment including 6 sculpting kits for wire and paper sculpting, 6 wooden mannekins for drawing, set of acrylic paints, colour portfolios - £461


• Science outdoor environment equipment, eg, pond nets, plant/animal identifying guides - supports making better use of conservation area - £300

Other suggestions:

Five way basketball net for adventure trail area, although there is discussion about obtaining a set of basketball nets for the school field. JC researching cost and possibly external sponsorship. JC to report back. Action - JC

LB suggested a web cam in a bird box = £150-£200. Suggested tying this in to raffle prizes at Christmas Fair, more likely to get donations of prizes if aiming to raise money for specific item to benefit pupils. Agreed in prinicple, exact cost to be confirmed.

Fund raising ideas

Pamper evening (other primary schools have done well with this idea). JA has volunteered to organise in May or June. Agreed.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

NPSA Committee Meeting 9/11/09 Agenda

Newbridge Primary School Association
COMMITTEE MEETING
9 November 2009

AGENDA


1. Apologies for absence

2. Matters arising from last meeting

• Displaying agenda & minutes in school office/on website

Wed, 11 Nov 2009

AGM Minutes 8/10/09

Newbridge Primary School Association
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
8 October 2009

MINUTES OF MEETING


The minutes of the last AGM were agreed.

Overview of the year and NPSA
SM welcomed everyone and outlined what the NPSA does and what the constitution requires - for us to raise funds and help support the school for the provision of all children in the school.

In summary, this year the NPSA funded: the outdoor classroom, playground equipment including the adventure playground. We have supported school trips and co-ordinated many smaller events such as cooking with the children in the school.

It's been a really exciting year...starting with the birthday calendar, for which the pictures of the classes have just been shot for the second year today! For the first time we've had regular coffee mornings and second hand uniform sales...important new services. We had a really successful Christmas Fair and the Summer Fair was a great success with an outstanding raffle! There have been events for the children such as the school discos and social events for adults such as the Barn Dance and Quiz Night.

It's a great way to meet others and get to know your way around the school.

JT added that she felt the committee deserved much thanks for an outstanding year...when attendance at committee meetings and events has been higher. A great team effort. JC seconded that! SW felt all the new projects were good to see.

Treasurer's report - LL
£14,000 was on the balance when LL took over this time last year. This was largely the result of the ReNewbridge campaign throughout the previous year. Throughout this year £13,700 has been raised - an amazing achievement. £23,000 has been spent on the events and facilities already named and also picture frames for the wonderful black and white photos of the children around school, digital cameras for classrooms and trips for the children. We now have £4,000 in the current account - enough to cover the regular annual outgoings for projects we support in school, namely the leavers' events, school trips, etc. Any extra monies raised now will be added value.

Election of a new committee
There are a plethora of new roles to fill, which comes from our decision to divide up the five main roles on the committee this year, as the workload was felt to be too much for a small number. We need more people involved...the more central people involved, the more we can do.

A list was sent out with the newsletter and some volunteers have come forward;

Chair. SM is standing down. The role of Chair is now not as big a responsibility. There have been no nominations prior to the meeting. The role involves chairing 6 meetings a year, liaison with the school and to be a general cheerleader! This post remains unfilled.

Vice-Chair. JA is standing down from this role. It requires supporting the Chair and general events organiser with the rest of the committee. This post remains unfilled.

Another plea for volunteers for the two above roles will be made in the NPSA newsletter next week (16 October) with the aim that new people for these roles be found at the next committee meeting - see later note.

Secretary. Takes the minutes, responsibility for admin including the printing of agendas. JS's children have left the school and she has stood down. Print off minutes and make available at school for anyone who wants to see them. FV and MP will undertake this jointly.

Treasurer. LL is happy to continue as Treasurer to which there were no objections.

Grants and Sponsorship. A new role. LB and EB have volunteered. They were duly nominated and seconded for this role. Elected.

Coffee Morning Organiser. IT was nominated by JA to organise coffee mornings and seconded by SA. Elected.

NPSA Newsletter. This has to be written and submitted to the School by Thursday am. The content requires knowing what is going on and watching the calendar. There are archived documents to refer to. SA will undertake the role, although she has some concerns about the regularity of deadlines with her workload and therefore will be supported by IT when needed. Also press releases and external publicity when required.

Publicity. Posters, print tickets and design. JM volunteered for this role and was then nominated by JC and seconded by SW. Elected.

Second hand uniform sales co-ordinator. This will be combined with coffee morning organiser, so IT and JA and SW will help after Christmas.

Cake Sales. CM has volunteered, was nominted and seconded to the role.

Stock Manager. Someone to deal with supplies of tea/coffee/biscuits and any other supplies. JM put forward her name. Seconded by JA and carried.

Ice-cream Co-ordinator. Fridays after school sales, raising £480 overall this year, a valuable service and very popular role! SB has offered to take this on. LW seconded. Carried.

School Disco Organiser. Twice in the school year. JT offered to take on the role. Carried.

Christmas Decorations Co-ordinator. LW said she is happy to carry on being involved but needs someone else to lead. It now involves the whole school building. JM will share the role. Elected.

Class Reps. Co-ordinating with other parents in your child's class, selling tickets. It has a social role, for instance if children join in the middle of the year. Proposal to do this differently perhaps in the Upper School. Promotion through the children is good in the Upper School. Maybe a letter with all the class rep names asking for emails as an option. It was suggested we should reinstate the pictures of class reps. JT will liaise with JC on the format of a letter publicising the class reps and asking for email contact with parents.

The empty roles of Chair and Vice-Chair were discussed and it was felt there should not be pressure on those attending to fill all the roles. JC suggested someone should stand in for the next meeting and the position re-discussed after a letter has been sent out to rally people to take up the role, especially now that all of the supporting roles are filled.

The planned committee meeting for Monday will be postponed accordingly until after half term. The new date is Monday 8 November at 7.30pm. LL and LW will chair this temporarily. Fundraising is to be discussed at the next meeting - how, what and when, plus what the school would like money to be raised for. It was suggested this should be made clear as having influence over spending at the school is a big pull for new parents. Bring your diaries to the next meeting as dates for the whole year will be discussed and set!

Members also asked that it should be made clear that people can just take on one-off events and volunteer to organise them without feeling honour-bound to do more!

PS highlighted that it is important for the children to see their parents involved and taking responsibility at their school. It's an important selling point. SA pointed out that being involved in NPSA projects is a community responsibility, which reflects what the children are being encouraged to take on board in school. GK pointed out that there should be a working mums aspect/consideration to committee workings and communications.

AOB
There is a coffee morning on Monday (12th) at 0900. Can people encourage as many people as possible to come along.

An auditor has been appointed - PB - for the NPSA accounts.

JC would like the NPSA to be credited with thanks for a fantastic year of fundraising over the last 12 months - the outreach to the community, Groundforce days and Summer Fairs epitomise this. JC thanked the four central committee members whole-heartedly to a round of applause. He said he has a long experience of schools and often Summer Fairs, etc, can be less than favourable but all NPSA events at Newbridge are professional and excellent in quality and detail.
Flowers were presented to SM, JA and IT.
Thanks from SM.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009

AGM Agenda 8/10/09

Newbridge Primary School Association
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
8 October 2009

AGENDA


1. Introduction and welcome

2. Apologies

3. Minutes of meeting dated 25 September 2009

4. Chair's report

5. Treasurer's report

6. Election of officers

7. Appointment of auditor

8. Any other business

9. Date of next meeting