Friends of SSMJ

Friends of SSMJ

Friends of SSMJ is a voluntary run organisation consisting of working parents of the school. Our main aim is to raise funds to allow the school to provide essential resources and opportunities for our children which cannot be provided from school’s own budget.

The current Friends of SSMJ committee was set up over Summer 2022 and consists of:

Chair: Sammy-Jo O’Connor
Treasurer: Laura Ashley
Secretary: Louise Kilbride
Committee Members: Keeley Ireland, Emily Stell, Rachel Slack & Charlotte Keighley

We are an extremely committed group who will strive to achieve the best for the school and our children. We want to bring back the community and whole school family feel back to SSMJ that we feel has been missing for some time – mainly due to COVID. Friends of SSMJ will be organising both pupil and family events and will be assisting the school council & school groups with their current projects and fundraising. We are also currently looking in to becoming a registered charity in order to start applying for grant funding.

Current Fundraising Aims

Friends of SSMJ are currently fundraising to provide the school with much needed iPads to enhance pupil learning. Alongside this we have also:

Assisted and supported the SSMJ Laudato Si group with creating a school garden

Attending Laudato Si meetings

Regularly meeting with the School Council

Contributed to school trips

Provided litter pickers as requested by the SSMJ Eco-Warrior group

Successfully applied for external funding – Clitheroe Bonfire

Provided welcome gifts for EYFS 22/23 Parents

Provided books for pupils

Gifted a bookmark for pupils to celebrate King Charles’ III Coronation

Provided breakfast for the Year 6 SATS week

Assisted with the EYFS 23/24 new starter evening

How have we done this?

Our fundraising events so far include:

World Cup Non-Uniform Day

Providing refreshments at School Events

Raffles

Festive Wreath Making (Adult Only Event)

Christmas Stalls

Christmas Film Night

School Disco

Crazy Hair Day

Chocolate Bingo

Colour Run

Easy Fundraising    

Mother’s Day (Someone Special) Stall

Father’s Day

Rainbow Raffle

Non-Uniform Day

Summer BBQ & Fun Night

We always welcome new ideas so please do let us know if you have any!

Joining Friends of SSMJ

Everyone is welcome to join Friends of SSMJ. Any help that you can give us will always be hugely appreciated – no matter how big or small. We would love to be able to put on more events, but we simply require more helpers. Our main committee members assist in organising, setting up and running each event whereas some parents/teachers assist in other ways e.g. providing equipment, making signage/invites, volunteering their time to assist with a specific event.

Our committee meets regularly (at least once every half term) and we invite everyone to join should they wish. We provide regular updates on when these meetings will be held.

If you do wish to join Friends of SSMJ then please email: friendsofssmj@gmail.com or we can be found at the school gates most mornings and afternoons. Please do come and say hello!

EasyFundraising

By choosing to sign up to easyfundraising you can help raise funds for the school without having to do anything extra. EasyFundraising is the UK’s biggest charity shopping site and it partners with over 7000 well known brands who will donate a % of what you spend on your online shopping to a specific cause of your choice for free.

Friends of SSMJ is currently one of the charities you can choose to donate to so please do consider us if you sign up. Use the simple app or donation reminder to receive the free donations.

Archived

Parents, Teachers And Friends Association

‘The aim of the PTA (‘Friends of SSMJ’) is to organise fundraising activities in order to raise money for essential items, as well as special treats for the children, within school. We will let you know what is happening and when, and update you afterwards with how it went and where applicable, how much money was raised (and what we are hoping to spend it on) - please do support us in this as much as you are able to.

You can also help to fund raise for School by clicking here to go to the Easy Fundraising web page for our school. If you follow our link when you purchase online you can help to raise valuable funds, and without having to do anything extra/at no additional cost.

Joining the PTA

For further information/if you want to take part, please contact (your 2019/20 Committee) Caroline Carr, or Diane Smyth.

Thank you for continuing to support the ‘Friends of SSMJ’, it is very much appreciated.’