CLESA Newsletter March 2010

Dear Parents,

A great start

We have raised a tremendous £10,000 so far this academic year thanks to your support of our Christmas events, revenue from shopping voucher sales and the Sausage Sizzles. CLESA would especially like to thank all those families who donated the money they had already spent for the Sizzle that was cancelled because of the bad weather: your generosity is much appreciated.

How the money is being spent

Chestnut Lane pupils have enjoyed using the new recordable microphones which were purchased with CLESA funds. Children at Elangeni will soon be receiving £2,500 worth of new library books including Mr Men and Little Miss books, stories by Enid Blyton, Anthony Horowitz and a large collection of non-fiction books from Archaeology to Origami.

What’s next on the schools’ shopping lists?

The Headteachers at both schools are still consulting with pupils and teachers to identify the ‘extras’ that your continued support could help to fund in the coming months, projects that will make a real difference to the children.

At our last meeting, Mrs Plimsaul at Chestnut Lane outlined exciting plans for a new outdoor classroom on the site of the old changing rooms near the adventure playground. A new log cabin style building would be used as a base for science and environmental study activities. Specialist equipment and clothing will also need to be purchased.

At Elangeni, Miss Burns wants to develop the facilities including a new multimedia system in the hall that will include microphones, new speakers and a self-contained unit for all our audio visual resources. Pupils have also asked for further opportunities to develop an outside learning environment which will include a greenhouse made of recycled bottles and nature boxes linked to webcams so they can view the behaviour of animals such as birds, hedgehogs and badgers. 

We want to fund these fantastic new initiatives but are in desperate need of more help with our key events. This is because we will lose members this year as their children move to secondary school, including Sarah Hill who has worked tirelessly for CLESA. The rest of our small committee is already working flat out and committed to other events this year. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s not fair to pile the work on the 10 people who already give significant amounts of their time and, in some cases, have done so for many years.

Thank you to Cinzia Chiodaroli (Rorrison) who has volunteered to take over the voucher scheme from Sarah Hill. However, CLESA needs your help if the following events are to continue:

 1.Overseeing the Sizzles at Elangeni – processing booking forms and ordering necessary 

    food (for both schools) plus ensuring there are sufficient cooks and helpers at Elangeni on

    the day.

 2.Summer Fair (June 27th) – allocating stalls to Class Reps, organising a raffle etc.

 3.Christmas Fair – as with the Summer Fair.

We’re not asking one person to take responsibility for each of these events. Last year four people worked on the Summer Fair so why not buddy up with some friends? CLESA members are on hand to give a full handover and provide any ongoing support you need – you will not be left to manage alone!

Last year these events accounted for 50% of our revenue and we need in excess of £25,000 to fund the schools’ new requests. These events are very popular with the children who will be disappointed if they are cancelled because no one volunteered to help run them.

Shopping voucher scheme – why not join in?

You should all have received the flyer about the voucher scheme through which just 30 families contribute around a quarter of our fundraising total each year. A good proportion of these families have children in Year 6 and we need new families to sign up to replace the funds we are set to lose from August. This is an easy way to support CLESA without spending an extra penny. Copies of the flyer and standing order form can be found in the CLESA sections of the schools’ websites if you have mislaid the original.

* STOP PRESS! *

Marks & Spencer has offered CLESA 5% commission on all voucher sales. Please complete the attached form if you would be interested in purchasing M&S vouchers so we can gauge parents’ interest.

Click onto CLESA

Both schools have updated their websites and kindly given space to CLESA so please check there first for key dates and forms for events as the school offices are very busy. You should be able to find everything you need on the websites. If not, please contact me: gilesharvey@rocketmail.com. We always welcome your feedback, positive or negative, and please do let us know if you have any new fundraising ideas.

What’s coming up?

The Race Night is back by popular demand on Saturday 8th May at the Amersham Community Centre: book early as the inaugural event was a great night and tickets are likely to go fast. 

There’s also a new event in the Summer term: a Fashion Show on 25th May at Chestnut Lane where you can watch Mums as models and pick up high street stores’ clothes at bargain prices.

Finally, the CLESA camp-out is back (17th - 18th July) at a new venue - Woodrow House - which offers better facilities, more space and is only two miles from Amersham. More details on all events to follow after Easter.

Want to find out more about CLESA?

All parents are automatically members of CLESA and are very welcome to attend the informal committee meetings which take place twice a term. The meeting dates will be publicised on the CLESA pages of the schools’ websites.

We know it can be difficult for some people to attend meetings in the evenings. The committee members are thinking of organising a get-together at one of the Amersham cafes after drop-off one morning. If you would be interested in coming along to find out more, please read about volunteering to help CLESA.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Any help you can give will be gratefully received, even an hour or two can make a big difference as to whether an event goes ahead.

With best wishes,

Giles

Chair, CLESA        

gilesharvey@rocketmail.com

Tel: 01494 726889