Friends

The ‘Friends’ association has been formed to extend the partnership between home, school and members of the community, for the benefit of all the children at the school. All parents are members of ‘Friends’ whilst their child is at Oakley Infant School, and are welcome to join any of the events they run. A small committee of parents organise and run the social and fundraising events throughout the year, which include children’s discos, a children’s Christmas Fayre, an Easter Egg Hunt, parents social evenings, and the Summer Fayre which they organise with Oakley Junior School Association. They also serve refreshments to the visitors at Harvest Festival and cream teas at sports day. An ‘Activity Afternoon’ is held twice a year, once during the Autumn term and once during the Spring term, when Parents are welcome to drop in for a cup of tea and a chat during the afternoon. In addition to stalls selling crafts, second hand uniform and seasonal items there are activities (some seasonal) for the children.

Over the years the school has benefited tremendously from the funds raised by ‘Friends’. Their contributions have refurbished the library, purchased the gym centre in the hall, picnic tables and parasols in the grounds, stage lighting in the hall and new curtaining. Friends also provide financial support for additional activities within the school, such as visitors in focus weeks and subsidy of school trips.

In addition to this, funds last year were spent on a quiet area for the playground, new blinds in Year R, a whiteboard and the children’s Christmas puppet show. During the following year funds will be spent on replacement of the fence around the year R playground, more outside storage, and a mini outdoor adventure playground. 

The AGM is held early in the autumn term. Please consider coming along and supporting ‘Friends’ by joining the committee, offering to help at events or showing an interest in their work.

Second Hand Uniform

Nearly new second hand uniform is available from Friends. Stock details and order forms are available through the office. Donations of nearly-new uniform will be gratefully received through the office, particularly cardigans, sweatshirts and small sizes.

Book bags

Book bags are available through the school office. They are ‘premier’ quality bags with a detachable shoulder strap. A proportion of the profits from the sale of the bags goes to the school.

Name Labels

Name label forms are available from the office. They are delivered to your home address, and again a proportion of the profit goes to the school.

How you can help

Without the hard work and commitment of the committee and its regular volunteers many of the activities will not go ahead. We will be losing most committee members this year, and without new faces our activities will be restricted or cancelled. We are looking for a new chair, vice—chair and secretary, and we hope that new committee member(s) will take at least one of these positions.

In addition to a committee that meets regularly to arrange these activities we also have an “Active List” of regular helpers, and we are always looking for people to help at different events. If you would like to join the Active List then please leave your details at the office and a committee member will contact you. Otherwise please look out for our requests for help at specific events in the school newsletters.

Donations - raffle prizes and other items

• Raffle prizes – We are always grateful if anyone can donate raffle prizes or knows of a company who could donate prizes.
• Unwanted Christmas gifts - Friends will gratefully receive them (these can be used for tombola, added to raffle prizes, etc).

Please bring items into the office.

A thank you! 

A huge thank you for the support given to Friends events; the money raised benefits your children!

On behalf of Friends