Welcome to a new school year, with an

especially warm “hello” to the new parents join-

ing us for the first time. It has been a busy year

for the PSA and over the last twelve months a

lot of fund raising activity has meant we have a

healthy bank balance with which to help the

school. Earlier this year we put in place a new

system to streamline how those precious funds

are allocated. This allows each department to

make funding requests which are then reviewed

by the school Leadership Group. They fall into

two categories:

Minor bids – under £300. An annual fund has

been set aside by the PSA to allow the school to

authorise small items that departments may

need during the year to benefit all of the chil-

dren. Major bids – over £300. Submitted to the school

Leadership Group for approval. These are then

presented to the PSA for consideration.

We are pleased to say that the new system is

working well with a whole range of items being

funded by the PSA. In the last few months minor

bids have covered, cameras, picture frames,

brushes for the gardening club, a colour printer

for the art department, SEN seating for Learning

Support, RE display materials and therapeutic

materials for Student Services.

In the major bid category we have already

funded new storage in the Music department

and have completed or agreed to fund the

following items over the coming year:

Resurface of MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) -

used year round by all the children. The PSA

contributed £3,000 towards resurfacing costs.

PSA funds new minibus & much more

St George’s PSA S e p t e m b e r

2 0 1 6

P a r e n t S t a f f A s s o c i a t i o n N e w s l e t t e r

Coming u p

PSA Golf

Day

18 Sept

2016

PSA new

parents

informal

quiz

22nd

Sept

2016

Painting

weekend

30th

Sept &

1st Oct

2016

Next PSA

meeting &

AGM

12th Oct

2016

Christmas

Dinner

Dance

26 Nov

2016

Christmas

Fayre

3rd Dec

2016

School Minibus - a replacement for the

aging Ford which has done sterling

service over the years. The new minibus

can be driven by staff on an ordinary li-

cence. This was a donation of £21,000

and enables the school to cut transport

costs for trips, PE events, etc.

PE – Drainage of Rugby and Lacrosse

Pitches - A constant issue through the

wetter months of the year has meant

matches are cancelled due to the condi-

tion of the pitches. The PSA will contribute

£6308.50 to cover the cost of drainage

work to be done.

Dining Hall dividing screen - this will

improve the use of the dining hall

enabling it be used for smaller functions

and making a cosier space for boarders.

The PSA has been asked to contribute

around £4,500 towards the cost of this.

Currently our bank balance doesn’t cover all

the items on the school’s shopping list but we

have funded some items straight away which

is good news. The remaining requests should

be covered by the time we reach the end of

the year subject to our Christmas fund raising.

We hope you’ll agree that it is great to see

the money raised through the events and

activities you’ve kindly supported being spent

on a wide range of projects that will benefit

so many of our children.

Thank you all for your continued support of

the PSA’s fundraising efforts.

The new school mini bus funded by the PSA. The bus will be

branded with the school livery.

The newly resurfaced Multi Use Games Area

P a g e 2

Our 2nd PSA Golf Day will shortly take place at the lovely Luton Hoo on the 18th September.

We are delighted to say that this is another sell out event with all 50 places booked, double the

number from 2015. This year’s event promises to be even more exciting than the inaugural day

last year as there are more prizes up for grabs including a brand new car for a hole in one!!

Players will enjoy bacon rolls before heading out onto the championship course which is

spread out across the beautiful 1,000 acre estate. We are keeping our fingers crossed for fine

Autumn weather as the golfers enjoy a morning of competition and no doubt some fun. Our

thanks go to St George’s parent, Thomas Garlich from Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa for or-

ganising this event. We look forward to reporting back on the winners in our next newsletter.

Summer Fete Success

Golf Day Sell Out!!!

HELPER S

WANTED

We have two big

Christmas events

coming up at the

end of November /

December, the

Dinner Dance and

Christmas Fayre. If

you could lend a

hand with any of

these events we’d

love to hear from

you. Please get in

touch with our

Secretary via email:

tracyjmc@yahoo.co

m about this or

helping out at any

PSA event.

Although it seems a long time

ago now, we wanted to report

back on the success of this

year’s Summer Fete held in

June. Although not the sunniest

of days, the rain held off and we

saw a good turnout across the

afternoon.

There was plenty to see and do

with live music on stage

throughout the day. The dog

show was again popular and

the introduction of some agility

also added to the fun. We saw

our biggest ever bottle tombola,

(pictured) which we are

pleased to announce sold out

by the end of the day!

From the Zorbs to the crockery

smash, it was good to see so

many children enjoying the

activities. Of course there was also the usual spread of tasty

refreshments at the tea tent, BBQ and Mediterranean café

to keep hunger at bay.

In total we raised a staggering amount across the activities

and the raffle bringing the total to just shy of £8,500. A huge

thank you to all who helped and all who supported by

donating, sponsoring and attending. We look forward to

seeing you all again for more fun and games next year!

From l to r: Mr Hollingworth being a good sport, cooking up a storm on the BBQ, the lonely gnome on the crockery smash.

P a g e 3

St George’s PSA Email us at psa@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk

Editor: Sandra Collins Charity registration number 1150723

Dinner Dance - Save the Date

PSA DINNER DANCE 26th NOVEMBER 2016

Now I know no one wants to be thinking about Christmas while

we are having the hottest September on record but it will

come around all too soon.

The PSA Dinner Dance is one of the highlights of the school’s

social calendar and this year we are planning some changes

to make it an even more fabulous evening of music, dancing

and fun.

We particularly hope that new Year 7 parents will come along

and we are planning to have tables to bring together those

who haven’t attended before and introduce them to other

new parents.

Tickets will go on sale early October so keep a look out for the

order form. Tickets will be £40 / head but there will be a limited

number of early bird discounted ones up for grabs.

Painting Weekend

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

One way we help the school is to organise painting teams to

refresh classrooms and corridors twice a year.

It is good fun and you get to meet other parents.

The next weekend is planned for Friday the 30th September from

6-8pm and again on Saturday the 1st October from 8.30 for

another 2-3 hours.

All materials are provided plus refreshments.

You can come for an hour or longer on either day or both.

All help welcome.

If you can help out then please contact Mark Grant via email

granby48@virginmedia.com

Well done to the 2nd Hand Uniform team who ran a very successful sale in July before

the end of term.

We are delighted to announce that they raised £3,233 for the PSA which will go towards

the planned funding of school projects mentioned on page one.

Don’t forget you can donate uniform, PE kit and other items at anytime during the year.

Please drop them off at the Goddard reception.

2nd Hand Uniform Sales Soar