Home School Link, Welcome from the Chairperson
My name is Cheryl De La Mare and as Chairperson of the Home-School Link may I extend a warm welcome to St. Sampson’s Secondary School.
The St. Sampson’s Parent-Teacher Association is better known as the Home-School Link. Our aim is to try to provide a closer link between parents, teachers and students of the school. It also raises funds that may be needed for any useful projects concerned with the School. The biggest thing we have raised funds for was the CCTV system that has been installed at the School. This year we were in the fortunate position of being able to ask the school if there was anything we could help with – we received a shopping list. With the amount of funds raised we were fortunate enough to be able to purchase most if not all of it – this included a new plasma screen with laptop which is housed in the Russell Building, microphones for the tech crew who help out with all the sound and lighting for assemblies and any shows we put on, and also pin boards for the display of students art work. All these items will be able to be taken and used at the new school when we move.
To tell you a little about how a Committee is elected - the A.G.M is usually held just after the Autumn term begins. The Committee consists of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary plus at least two parents along with Miss. Tetlaw, (the Headteacher), the two Deputy headteachers Mr King and Mrs Clarke and up to three members of staff. Of course added to this is our team of parents. Our meetings are quite informal and are open to ALL parents. We have two or three meetings per term depending on what kind of fundraising we are up to. We have staged three Fashion Shows – this started out as a one off event but was so popular we were asked by students and staff alike to stage another. For an event such as this, extra meetings are held to arrange rehearsal times, when we are able to take the models into Town to choose their outfits etc. This year’s Fashion show was a little different however as some of the shops we contacted were unable to provide any outfits due to the time of year and new stock arriving, so we asked the students to design an outfit themselves for one of the categories we had decided on at a previous meeting. We called it the ‘Do it Yourself Fashion Show’. This went down quite well.Sometimes it is not always possible to fit everything into one school year – although this is not always popular with the students. In the past we have even received a letter from students wanting to know the reasons why.
Another event we organise is the very popular talent show Search for a Star, another that started out as a one off event, that was previously held in December but due to other commitments at such a busy time of the year it was once again held in February of this year. This is always well supported by students and families and we do end up having to turn people away if they haven’t already bought tickets for the night.
We are always open to new ideas, even if like our Fashion show this year, it is a variation of something we have done before. The Home School Link always share the workload, whether it is if anyone has the time, any knowledge or contacts. No-one will ever be volunteered for anything they do not want to do and we do understand that there are times when it is only possible to come along to some of the meetings. Lets face it we are here because we all have children and in some cases they have a better social life than us!
We also provide the refreshments for some school activities like Parents Consultation Evenings and any other evening we might be asked to help with.
On a last note the good news is there is also a social side! We go out for the occasional meal together and believe me we do have fun and enjoy making new friends at our meetings. I may be the Chairperson of the Committee but there is a really good team of parents and teachers behind the scenes who support me.
All of us on the Home School Link are working together to help and provide support for the students and anyone who is involved with life of St. Sampson’s School. If you are interested you are welcome to come along to one of our meetings to see if you like us or if you have any questions you can speak to me or one of the Home-School Link. I can be reached on mobile telephone number 07781 108902.