Bitterley Friends Newsletter First edition, December 2019

Meet the BF team: Thank you for reading our first newsletter. There will be one From left to right: Ilze Korola, Rachel Whiteman, Kay Longmore- at the end of each term, to Lawley and Hanna Lloyd keep everyone updated on BF news and fundraising.

We are a new team and started our work in September 2019, to replace the previous team of Victoria, Imogen and Grace, who had decided to pass the lead on, after years of successful fundraising for Bitterley school and its children.

We would very much like to thank them for the continuous support in the transition.

We are also incredibly grateful to all the wonderful families that support us in our cause and the brilliant staff of Bitterley School! Rachel (mum of Pippa from WW class and Mollie from MM class). Our main mission is to raise as much funding for our school Hanna (mum of Jessica from WW and Elsie from LA class) are sharing the and children as we possibly important post of the chair of Bitterley Friends. can - to provide them with well earned extra equipment, out of school activities and to Kay (mum of Milo from WW and Matilda from MM) is our treasurer, so in charge enhance their experience at of finances and calculations. the school. Because our kids and their teachers deserve it!

Ilze (mum of Lisbeth from WW and Josephine from MM) is the secretary of We are all different, with lots Bitterley Friends. of various ideas, but working together to help to make attending Bitterley School a positive memory for our children.

FROM THE START OF Please come and support Our biggest future project is to us! We would like to hear SEPTEMBER’19 BF HAVE raise funds for ICT programs and from you, and about your ideas either in person or by HELPED TO RAISE equipment (laptops and PCs and messaging us on BF an interactive whiteboard ) Facebook page, or sending £3115.13 an email to BitterleyFriends@bitterley. .sch.uk

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Save the date!

Join us on 7th of May, 2020 for an afternoon street party on the school grounds to celebrate 75th anniversary of VE Day. More information will follow.

Breakdown of year 2019/2020 fundraisers PTA/BF are so far: traditionally ‣ Tash Wathen run 10k and raised £110 sponsoring pantomime trips for ‣ Eben Simpson did a 25km bike ride and raised £511 towards the whole school, school’s ICT project which have come to £1835 this year ‣ Halloween party: £374.13 • £534 for KS1 pantomime tickets and £235 for the bus • £671 for KS2 pantomime tickets and £395 for the bus ‣ Christmas Fayre: £2120

MORE ABOUT THE ICT PROJECT: We’re looking to raise about £8000 for much needed ICT equipment and programs:

1. ~ £5800 for 15 laptops and a laptop trolley

2. ~ £1500 for 3 PCs for Wondrous Willows class

3. ~ £800 for an interactive whiteboard for Little Acorns

Our children will benefit by becoming more tech “savvy” and catch up, as well as make their learning more varied and fun!

If any of you can help us or know someone who can support this important project, please contact us.

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MATCH FUNDING: What is match funding? In a nutshell: Many companies throughout the UK offer employees the chance to boost their fundraising efforts by 'matching' the money they raise. Reach out to your working parents, and our PTA could double the amount of cash it raises.

For more information, please see http://www.pta.co.uk/funding/faqs-match- funding or ask any of us.

as well as paid £30 entry for our school to take part in Richards Castle We have also contributed Soapboxe Derby on Sunday, 28th of £200 towards teachers June, 2020 resources this term,

Next BF meeting will be in The Squirrel, on Tuesday, the 7th of January, 2020, from 7pm. Please join us, to plan our 2020!

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

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