Friends of The Topsham School (formerly the PTA) Welcome to the FoTTS section of the Topsham School Website. We hope you find the information you are about to read interesting and  informative. What is our purpose? The FoTTS is a charitable body dedicated to raising money for the children of the Topsham School. Formerly known as ‘The Topsham School PTA’ (a body which was made up of parents and School staff alone), our recent name change now enables us to involve wider members of the community in our fundraising efforts, too.

Our aim, quite simply, is to help support the staff in providing our children with the best possible education.  It is through the dedication and commitment of everyone involved in FoTTS – who generously give their precious time for free – that substantial funds needed to provide valuable extra resources for our children at School are raised. Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk to see one of the ways in which we are supporting the school.

 

Currently the FoTTS Committee comprises the following people:

Position	E-Mail (click on the envelope!)	Committee Members Name
Chair		Anna Stimson (mum to Helena)
Vice Chair		Rachel Robinson (mum to Jonathan and Emily)
Treasurer		Angela Banfield (mum to David and Brock)
Secretary		Kate Truman (mum to Oliver and Jessica)
Governor’s Rep		Sharon Wannell
100 Club Secretary		Bridget Deasy

 

In addition, each class has an FoTTS representative who play an important role within FoTTS and help with ideas for fundraising, as well as organising and running events. Volunteering to be a Class Rep can be very rewarding and it is also a good way of making new friends as well as keeping in touch with the extra curricular activities the children have access to. 

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Class Rep please contact the FoTTS chair person, or the current Class Rep/s via your child’s class teacher. Alternatively if you feel you do not have much time to spare you may like to offer support to your Class Rep from time to time when called upon!

 

 What events does the FoTTS organise?

During the school year the FoTTS endeavours to hold as many events as possible.  Regular events are traditionally the Parent and Teacher Quiz Night, the Summer Fair and the Christmas Bazaar.  They offer a great opportunity for families and friends old and new to come together socially.Other fundraising events and projects include cake stalls, Penny for the Guy, and money we receive from parents and local traders advertising in our quarterly newsletter ‘Connect’.

 

What happens with the funds the FoTTS raise?

We contribute to as many items as possible on the School’s ‘wish list’, such as new play and outdoor equipment, sound equipment and cookery and arts materials. We are also one of the principal contributors towards the extra curricular activities like theatre productions and visiting artists put on for the children and often parents and the local community.  These extras not only improve our children’s knowledge and perception of the wider world in which we live but help to make their time at school happy and memorable one.

And should there be money leftover, there’s currently an ambitious project in the pipeline to build a new arts and music block within the School grounds!

 

How can you help the FoTTS in supporting the Children and the School?

The FoTTS relies upon the support given by parents in raising funds for the School.  As parents, we only want the best for our children to help them succeed in their lives and reach for their own personal goals.  By aiding the school in the way that it does, the FoTTS believe that many of those achievements can be met.  So please join us in whatever way you can to help the FoTTS remain successful in it fundraising efforts:

Come along to meetings and share your ideas and help plan school events Become FoTTS friendly and help us organize and run events Support events, bake some cakes or buy raffle tickets Make a donation Advertise your business in our quarterly newsletter ‘Conenct’ – for just £20 a year, your advert will be seen by the parents of every child at the School: that’s a circulation of roughly 180. Please contact the FoTTS Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer (email addresses above) or a Class Rep for more details…

 

The Topsham School PTA 100 Club

Would you like to support the PTA and have a chance of winning a cash prize every month?

The 100 Club is a lottery and membership costs just £1 per month of which 50p goes into the prize fund and 50p goes into the general funds of the PTA to support our school by providing many of the extras enjoyed by our children.

Draws are made monthly and the results placed on the school notice boards. Membership can be paid either termly or annually and you can join at any time.

Remember, more members means bigger prizes, so please encourage friends and family to join too.

Application forms can be found in the School Reception area.

 

Bridget Deasy – 100 Club Secretary