Making a difference to the children of St Aidan's

St Aidan's PSA is a parent-led, voluntary association which exists to support the school and to raise funds to provide resources not available through our LA. Our objectives are to bring to St Aidan's:

· a stronger sense of community;

· a more effective level of parent involvement;

· additional resources.

You automatically become a member of the PSA when your child joins the school. We hope you will choose to get involved and we look forward to seeing you at our events and meetings!

What does the PSA do?

We organise fundraising events such as the Summer and Christmas Fairs and community events like our popular International Evening. We have launched initiatives such as Easyfundraising (an on-line fundraising site) and helped to create things like the incredibly popular School Tea Towels!

We are always looking at new ways to support and raise funds for the school and this year we are pulling together teams to take part in local events such as the Crouch End 10k & Fun Run. These events not only raise valuable funds for the school but are great fun and offer a chance to get to know other parents and carers.

We meet every half-term to discuss community/fundraising events and opportunities and the best bit – decide how to spend the money raised. Dates and times of meetings appear in book-bag handouts, on notices around the school and in our school newsletter, 'Headlines'.

How is the PSA organised?

The PSA committee includes a Chair, Secretary and Treasurers/s as well as representatives from the school and Governing Body. They are supported by Class Reps from each year who keep the flow of communication going and help organise class level support for events

How are PSA funds spent?

Here are some recent examples:

· an extra oven to allow the cooking of more healthy food choices (£1,700.00);

· new curtains for the stage (£2,000.00);

· new books for each class (£1,200.00);

· school trips (£400.00);

· new BBQ for use at school events (£170.00);

· new tape recorders (£800.00);

· christmas CD production (£270.00);

· dress-up clothes for the Infants (£100) .

How else does the PSA support the school?

A key aim of the PSA is to encourage a stronger sense of community and we do this through specific events such as International Evening as well as PSA meetings and coffee mornings. We also reach out to the local community and involve them in our work. By helping with PSA events and activities parents can get more involved with the school and offer effective support.

How can I help?

Without your support the PSA cannot function effectively. Why not speak to your Class Rep to find out how you can support our next event? Or come along to a PSA meeting where you can help to improve our work and put forward your own ideas. There are many different ways to get involved from helping to distributing leaflets for an event through to making mulled wine for the Christmas Fair!

If you shop on-line please consider using easyfundraising.co.uk and nominate St Aidan's PSA N4 as your chosen cause. Easyfundraising is a web site which enables on-line retailers to donate back a percentage (around 2%) of the value of your purchases to good causes. It's very simple to use and costs you no more than shopping direct on your favourite sites. To register: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/staidans/

You can also generate funds for the PSA by using easysearch as your search engine: http://staidans.easysearch.org.uk/

Other ways to help include signing up to buy a bag of organic vegetables (delivered to the school on Wednesdays) for which the PSA receives a percentage of the price. In addition, you could buy craft and gift items through the Yellow Moon catalogue (comes home in book bags once a term) as the PSA receives cash back from your purchases.

Donating to the PSA

Donations are very important for our work and any amount is greatly appreciated! We are currently developing the capability to allow people to donate on-line. In the meantime cheques made payable to St Aidan's School P.S.A. can be left in the school office in an envelope marked Treasurer PSA with "DONATION" written on the back. Thank you!

Keeping up-to-date

To stay informed about PSA events check out the up and coming Events.

You can also join the St. Aidan's online Yahoo Group by emailing your details to eugenejordan@yahoo.co.uk (please say which class your child/children is/are in so we can avoid spam entries). As a member of this group you will receive information about PSA meetings, events and activities as well as finding a new home for any unwanted bikes/wardrobes/travel cots!

Your PSA – your say

If you have any questions/ideas for fundraising or feedback on PSA events please speak to your Class Rep or email the committee directly at psa@staidansprimaryschool.org.uk. Alternatively come along to one of our meetings!