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St Joseph's Academy

St. Joseph's
Catholic Academy

Friends of St Josephs

We are a group of passionate parents, relatives and carers with children who currently or previously attended St Joseph’s school.

We have one aim – to raise the funds to provide equipment and events the school budget sadly cannot stretch - which will support the development and learning of all pupils. To do this we hold social events and fun family activities which also help promote a good sense of community at the school.

You can donate at any time on the School Gateway

Over the years many people have helped out with Friends. Here are just a few members who have attended recent meetings and being involved in a number of events who would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the group. We would be delighted if more people would like to join us and we welcome new thoughts and ideas – after all it is the children who will benefit.

What do we do?

Well we all have day jobs so everything we do we fit in around work, school and other commitments. We hold meetings every couple months (usually in The Sword Dancer) to discuss fund raising ideas and plan events. It is nice and informal over a glass of wine.

Dates and times of meetings are featured in the school newsletter. We share out the tasks that need completing to ensure that our events are a success, from printing posters to shopping for tuck shop items. This means no one person has the entire burden. Our main fund raising is the Summer Fayre –which is always held on the first Sunday of July – which raises thousands of pounds – and every penny is ploughed back into to helping your child’s education. This year I-Pads were purchased for an entire class. These are being used throughout all year groups and we are sure you can appreciate the value they add to teaching children in such a hi-tech world.

We have also organised a number of school discos, a cinema night, Christmas Craft Fair, Queens Jubilee party and St Patrick’s Day night. We plan to hold more events like this – and a Family Quiz Night and Barbecue is the next planned event.

What have we achieved?

Over the 25 years since the Friends of St Joseph’s was launched we have contributed to a number of significant school purchases.

A few recent ones include :- £3000 for the new school stage £3000 towards the new school windows Play equipment for foundation stage Digital cameras IT equipment – including I-pads Funding for a maths day event Subsidising school educational trips But it is not all about making money.

It is also about providing fun activities for both the children and their families to promote a greater sense of community in the school.

What do we need?

Your help and support! We are always looking for new members to join the group – ‘Many hands make light work’ is certainly true and more helpers would mean we could look to arrange even more events.

We would like to know what else you would like to see? Perhaps a Race night or tea towels designed by the children at Christmas-time? We’d also like to know if there is anything you think the school should purchase to benefit the children. Every pupil at St Joseph’s directly benefits from the Friend’s fund-raising efforts – so it’s in all our interests to support them in any way possible.

If you would like more information about us or better still if you would like to join the group – even if you can’t make the meeting but are willing to lend a hand - please either see one of the group members or leave your contact details with the Office and we’ll be in touch – thank you. The Friends of St Joseph.