Supporting the St James Building Appeal
Over the next three to five years the Friends will be focusing their efforts on supporting the St James Buiding Developement projects being planned for both the Olympia and Ashford sites.
With the building plans well underway, our wonderfully supportive and enthusiastic parent committees (the PCCs) across all three schools, have been coming up with all sorts of exciting initiatives and events to encourage the St James community to get involved with fundraising in a fun and social way.
We still intend to run our regular & highly popular events such as the weekly Junior cake sale, 2nd hand uniform sales, the Olympia Christmas Fair, the Barn Dance for Senior Girls & Boys at Kitson Hall (Jan), Quiz Nights at both Ashford (Oct) and Olympia (March), and of course, our Gala Auction & Dinner Dance (now being held every other year) in June.
Alongside these firm favourites are some exciting new initiatives being launched:
The St James Supper Club
Currently being launched by the SG PCC committee for the Senior Girls School parents, we already have 4 offers to host Supper Clubs this term! More information on how to join the St James Supper Club below, and news of Supper Clubs possibly being launched by the Junior and Senior Boys PCC committees to follow shortly.
Click here for more information catch up on the Supper Club launch!
Incognito -The St James Art Card Sale
Taking place in November at Olympia, this event is modelled on the RCA Secret Postcard Sale. For only £25 you could own a piece of original artwork by a well known artist or perhaps even a budding Damien Hirst!
Proceeds to go towards the Building Developements at St James and to supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Click here for more info on how you can help
Other new initiatives in the pipeline:
Tecknotrek - a family sponsored walk organised by the Jnr PCC committee
Buy-a-Brick scheme - SB PCC committee
Christmas event at Ashford - SB PCC committee
Cook Book - SB PCC committee
More to follow soon......
For more information on all these events and more, please go to our Diary of Events for the latest details as they become known.
Getting involved
Contact your PCC (Parent Class Coordinator), or Portia Gillies at the Friends Office friends@stjamesschools.co.uk .
The PCC committees do amazing work on behalf of the schools and the parent body, and always welcome new volunteers at any of their regular meetings or to help with one-off events.
Recent fundraising history
Over the last few years the Friends have raised funds for a variety of projects within the
schools that have enhanced both the learning and recreational facilities at both sites as well as contributing towards new building development at Earsby Street and the Bursary Fund.
Fundraising projects in 2008/09:
•Junior School Bursary Fund
•New ceramics kiln at Earsby Street
•Library books and computerised library systems in both Senior Schools
•New It equipment in both Senior Schools
•Portable cricket net for the astroturf at Popes Villa
Fundraising projects in 2007/08:
•a new classroom at Earsby Street
•new all-weather astroturf surface at Pope's Villa
•‘state of the art' drama lighting equipment for all four schools
•electronic slide projector & screen for the Junior Schools
•a new 1st xv rugby strip for the Senior Boys
Global Fundraising
We have also helped to raise funds for global charities such as the Microloan Foundation in Malawi; the Mathieson Music Trust in India: the Zarnesti Orphanage in Romania;
REACT - a charity set up by a former St James' pupil, helping orphans in Darfur;
TAG Soweto in South Africa; the new St James School, Durban; the Wilderness Foundation in South Africa; Comic Relief; Great Ormond Street Hospital; Cricket 4 Change; the Haiti earthquake appeal.
IEAL Ltd Charity number 270156