Dear Parents
Although you have not had a PTA newsletter for sometime, it doesn’t mean that parents haven’t been busy working on our children’s behalf.
Calendar of Events
Firstly, we are instating a Calendar of Events. This will be at the start of every newsletter, and, in addition, all events will be listed on be published on: http://www.brighton-montessori.org.uk/open-events-and-calendar.
So, if you are planning any activities that will raise money on behalf of the PTA or the Foundation, please email bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com and we will be sure to include it on the calendar. We welcome all activities!
Upcoming events thus far is as follows:
March:
Saturday, 13h – Monte Morning at 10.30 Juliet and Lee’s House in Rottingdean. CANCELLED
Monday, 15th – Trash and Treasure time! Bring anything to swap. £5 to attend. A great, fun social event. Anytime from 12.30 – 16.30 at 67 Westbourne Gardens, Hove, BN3 5PN. Some food will be provided but do bring a packed lunch for the kids and – well – use the swap as an excuse to walk to Wish Park or Hove Lagoon or Marrocco’s for ice cream after you’ve collected all your treasure! Contact bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com if you want advice on buses or if you are worried about parking restrictions. This is a good mixer as neighbours as well as Montessori parents attend. Also, let me know if you require transportation as I am happy to coordinate rideshare.
Monday, 15th – PTA. Start at 8PM in Particle’s classroom, finish 21.30 prompt.
Friday, 26th – Wine tasting! Contact Ruth on Ruth at gardenasylum dot com for more details and to register to attend. Friends as well as Montessori parents are welcome! Location TBC.
April:
Monday, 19th – PTA Meeting. Details as above.
Saturday, 24th – Monte Morning. CANCELLED
Friday, 30th- Dad and DJ Pete Wiggs (of St Etienne) is Dj-ing as a fundraiser for the PTA. Thanks Pete! Contact bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com if interested in attending. Tickets prices tba. Tickets will first be on sale to Montessori parents and friends and, if we do not sell out, then on sale to public. 90 capacity so be sure to register asap!
May:
Saturday, 1st – Childrens’ Parade. Contact Sandy on sandyglooba at talktalk dot net for more details.
Wednesday, 6th – Football skills day with Ben! More details to be announced later.
Saturday, 15th – Soup and walk, starting from school at 11 AM. Email Mum Mara on msolercan at uoc dot edu for further details.
Monday, 17th – PTA. Details as above.
June:
Monday, 21st – Trash and Treasure / Swap. Venue to be announced.
Monday, 21st – PTA. Details as above.
Saturday, 26 – Monte Morning. CANCELLED.
July:
Monday, 19 July – PTA. Details as above.
December:
Saturday, 18 – A Christmas Carol panto
Tickets: £25 (£21 for ticket - £4.00 to PTA). Must be booked and paid for by 1 June. We can organise ice cream at Scoop and Crumble before the panto. Please contact bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com if you wish to attend.
Communications
In addition to this newsletter, you can also keep up to date on school news by subscribing to:
If you wish, you can follow the school news on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lookatthechild
And Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/brightonmontessorischool
Please do join! This will help you keep in touch with any developments as well as help our Google ranking which in turn will help in recruiting students.
The PTA’s Information Publicity Officer is Lisa Brown. If you have any events you are organising that you want to communicate, or if you have recommendation on how to improve the school website or if you want to assist with press releases and photos at the school, please contact her on lisa at helloluxx dot com
Volunteers needed!
Some of the parents have been working on:
- researching busing for the school
- having a farm day for the kids in the spring
- gardens at the church
- recruitment for the particles class
- “A Day in the Life” video of the school to update website as well as a “Meet the Teachers” profile for website
- Summer fete in June
Although we are chugging along on these items, we still need assistance on:
- organising 25th Anniversary picnic for school in June / July
- volunteering as a Lollipop mum or Dad
- Lead project of getting safe crossing at school?
- Upkeeping the garden at the school (once or twice a month)
- Run a cake sale or picnic at the football skills day on 6th May.
If you can assist with any of these points, or have fundraising items of your own, please email bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com to volunteer.
The PTA needs a secretary
If you are able to attend most PTA meetings and take notes (and write them up afterwards) we need you! Shorthand and a tape recorder not necessary. If you are able to volunteer, I will help you ensure you do it properly the first few times. It is easy – promise! And will only take up to three hours a month.
If you are able to volunteer, please email bhmontessoriparents at googlemail dot com.
Say nice things about the teachers
Whether or not your children are going to be attending the Montessori next year, I am sure that all parents will agree as to how fabulous the teachers are and how generally happy the children are on a day to day basis.
Thus, if you appreciate the teachers as much as I do, please thank them by reviewing them on the following websites:
http://www.cylex-review.co.uk/history/116372-the-brighton-hove-montessori-school/
http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/schools/1307916/the-brighton-hove-montessori-school.htm
By taking the time to do this, you will not only make the teachers blush with pride, but again will help the school by increasing their Google rating and thus help with student recruitment.
Foundation news
As some of you may know, separate to the PTA some parents are working on revitalising the Montessori Foundation in working towards a state school campaign as well as to raise funds to provide scholarships for children, based on need.
You can keep up to date on all trustee news by subscribing to:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=183638859639
And Twitter - http://twitter.com/theMSF
Trustees
We are beginning to recruit for Trustees. If you, or if you know of anyone, who is a:
- Lawyer
- Education specialist – ex-Head Teacher, etc
- Fundraiser
- Ex-Council Member
- Children’s Charity worker
- Marketing and / or PR specialist
- Business strategist
Please contact magnuson.kristin at googlemail dot com to receive further information on job description. The job is not renumerated and will require your time for up to 15 evenings per year.
Raising funds by shopping
Yes, you read right.
If you are planning on some shopping at M&S or Amazon, please click on:
http://www.brighton-montessori.org.uk/montessori-materials/
All funds raised will go towards eventual scholarships.
Mum Pippa needs your help!
Super fit Mum Pippa is raising funds for Shaftesbury Young People by running the London Marathon. This wonderful charity supports young people in care and in need to find their voice, to be healthy, to learn, develop and achieve and to gain an independent and positive place in society. Shaftesbury Young People provides residential homes for children aged 11 to 17, services for young people leaving care, supported housing for young people and venture activities for personal development.
Pippa wanted to run for a charity “that struck a chord and being a mum I understand how important it is to provide and build a future for our children, but what about those that don't have a family. This is why this charity is so pivotal for many young peoples lives.” To give, please click on http://www.justgiving.com/Suzieandpippa
Finally….
Thanks for reading. Please do volunteer – even if you are only able to give one hour of your time. And please do attend PTA meetings and / or fundraising events. The fundraising events are a good opportunity for us to get to know one another and for the kids to play outside of school.
Kindest regards
Kristin Magnuson
Chair / PTA
Cc Paul Brown – treasurer
Lisa Brown – Information and Publicity Officer
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