Friends of John of Rolleston Primary School News 2014
www.fojorps.org.uk


Newsletter - Winter 2014

FOJORPS has seen big changes over the last year with the introduction of our website www.fojorps.org.uk and our twitter account @fojorps.

Unfortunately Community Day was a bit of a washout but it did not dampen our spirits or the children's enthusiasm. Despite the weather Community Day still produced a good profit. All of this along with all other money raised last year is put straight back into the school to enhance the learning environment. Overall we raised in the region of £14,000 for the school last year.

This year has started with a bang. As some of you may be aware the school is hosting the Dove valley sports events over the next 2 years. You will see FOJORPS committee members at all of these events providing refreshments.

On the 11th October we held the first events of the children's social calendar. The discos were a huge success with over 160 children enjoying themselves dancing, eating and playing games.

In the coming months we have a movie night planned for the children and a bingo night for the whole family to enjoy on the 15th November.

December will see a change to our normal program. We have listened to all the parents and will be making significant changes to our usual "bazaar" format.

This year our Christmas event will take the form of a Christmas Market. We are holding this on Saturday 6th December from 1pm until 4pm. We are also moving this over to the Sherborne site (infants -KS1)

The Sherborne site offers us better space all on one level. Accessibility will be better for those with pushchairs or wheelchairs. It also offers us some outside space to be able to create a bigger and better event. There will be all the usual favourites such as adult and child tombolas, stalls, games and of course Santa's Grotto and our secret Santa room where the children can go and purchase and wrap presents for their family. As well as this we hope to have a Christmas craft market where you can purchase some of your Christmas gifts.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all whether you have children at the school or not. Come along and a mince pie with us and support your local village school at the same time.


Newsletter - Summer 2014

It's been an exciting year of old and new for us here at fojorps!

Starting with the new:

We have had an exciting rebranding of our successful PTA, to better reflect our core values and aims. Starting with a logo redesign (see above), it now shows our mission, "Creating Childhood Memories", as the foundation of our work our school children. We are proud to plough every single penny we raise into our wonderful school, John of Rolleston, enabling our children to have the best school experience possible.

We also launched our fabulous new website, www.fojorps.org.uk. This has information about fojorps, and news about our current projects and events. Our fojorps' newsletters can be found here on our blog. You can also now follow us on twitter @fojorps. Please check us out, and send us a message via our new email, info@fojorps.org.uk.

We have also been busy preparing our new Community Day e-booklet and sponsorship pages. If you ever come along to our Rolleston Community Day, please download our online booklet from our website (address above) for free. This has all the information you will need about the day, including timings for displays, the flyover, our opening ceremony with exciting guests and much more! There is also information about an exciting competition, with free entry for all readers. Do make sure you take a look! Many thanks to all the local businesses who have placed sponsorship with us for this. All of the money donated will be used for school funds. Information on all of these companies can be found at our exclusive sponsor page, www.sponsors.fojorps.org.uk.

Wow! Great stuff, we hope you'll agree!

All of this activity has been accompanied by the 'old' - our popular, and traditional annual events that just keep getting better and better each year - really bringing our school and Community together:

The Spring term was, as always, a busy time for FOJORPS, with several fundraising events taking place. The half-termly Movie Nights continue to be popular, and the Children's Spring Disco was a great hit, as always, being well supported. Our Silver Screen afternoons continue to delight the more mature residents of our village community, most recently screening "Saving Mr Banks".

FOJORPS is once again looking forward to participating in the Rolleston Scout Carnival. Last year over 50 children paraded in their costumes as part of the walking float representing the school in the Carnival Procession, and we hope to have a great response again this year. We wish the Scouts every success with the event. Look out for us at the sweet stall!

The start of the summer term sees our focus turn towards Community Day. This year’s event will be held on Saturday 7th June. Gates will be open at 11am for a fun-filled day, with a range of attractions for all the family. We have a World Cup theme this year, so along with our usual talent show, games, local stalls, ice-creams, aeroplane flyover, refreshments, and licensed bar, there will also be special star guests, a 5-a-side football tournament run by SoccarStars, an exclusive WAGs area to pamper all you ladies, new rides and inflatables and much more! Please do join us if you can.

As always, thanks for your support. Wishing you a great summer.

FOJORPS' CALENDAR 2014

June 7th Community Day
June 12th Bag2School
June 28th School Discos
July 8th Year 6 Leaver's Disco
July 11th Movie Night

Soeli Morgan for FOJORPS


Newsletter - Spring 2014

Did you know...
The name 'FOJORPS' stands for 'Friends of John of Rolleston Primary School'? Our PTA was founded 21 years ago last year, and has helped to raise thousands of pounds for our village school. We are made up entirely of volunteers - parents, carers, grandparents and staff - all working together to give whatever time and skills they can spare.

Did you know...
Our mission statement is 'creating childhood memories'. We aim to do this, not only through the money we raise, but also by the enjoyment we provide at our fundraising events. We want to enhance the learning experience and pleasure each child at JOR has.

Did you know...
Last year FOJORPS raised over £25,000 for our school! That makes us one of the top performing PTAs in the whole of the UK! And it is all thanks to you, our supporters and helpers. School budgets today are stretched to capacity. The extra money we raise helps create a more engaging and exciting school experience for all.

Did you know...
Every penny of the money raised is ploughed back into the school. Over the last 3 years we have paid for computers to fill an entire IT Suite. We have bought new toys, books and educational equipment. We have paid for school trips, and school mementoes. We have funded a new patio area for the junior site, new seating, and sheds to store outdoor learning equipment. We spend every penny quickly and considerately, so that the children at your school benefit immediately, and throughout the school.

Did you know...
You are involved too! If you have a child, grandchild, niece or nephew at JOR, you are automatically a member of FOJORPS! Welcome! An elected Committee also meets once a month to organise events, and vote on how the money is spent. If you want to have a say on how we raise and spend the money to benefit your child at the school, then why not join us?

If you have ever attended a school event; the Rolleston Community Day; our Christmas Bazaar; a Silver Screen event; bought something from our stalls at the Rolleston Carnival or Vintage Transport Day; or just looked at our tree at the annual Advent Festival - Thank you! We are a village organisation, supporting village events, and we depend on your support.

Did you know...
You can find out more! We are currently in the process of launching our own website, www.fojorps.org.uk. You can also follow us on twitter @FOJORPS, or get our weekly newsletter through the school. Not enough?

Then talk to one of our friendly committee members or join us at one of our meetings.
Please join us at one of our forthcoming events
Soeli Morgan for FOJORPS

FOJORPS: Silver Screen

Welcome to 2014 and our Silver Screen update.

Silver Screen holds movie screenings on our big screen in the Alderbrook site school hall exclusively for the more mature members of our community. Whilst Fojorps do make a small profit for the school from these afternoons, the intention is primarily to bring the community together to share a movie with like - minded people in our village.

In December we enjoyed an uplifting afternoon watching the inspiring Eat, Pray, Love and our next offering will be " Saving Mr Banks" on Saturday 22 March 2.30pm for a 3pm screening.

Saving Mr Banks was requested by one of our regular guests to Silver Screen and we are happy to oblige. The film tells the story of the difficulties Walt Disney experienced when he tried to convince Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers to allow him to make the film about the magical Nanny. It stars Oscar winning actors Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson and promises to be a thoroughly entertaining film.

Tickets will be available from Starbucks or on the door and will cost £5 to include refreshments and our infamous home made cakes! If you have any questions please call Fiona on 01283 509022 and we hope to see you there.
Best Wishes, Fiona and the team.


Last updated: 2 March 2015