Parent Staff Association (PSA)

Welcome to the PSA

Bringing our community together. Making a difference for every child.

The St Mary’s Parent Staff Association brings parents, carers, school staff and the wider community together to create enjoyable experiences, strengthen friendships and raise funds to enrich school life for our children.

From seasonal celebrations and school discos to family gatherings and social evenings, our activities are about more than fundraising. They are about creating happy memories, building connections and helping make our school community an even better place to belong.

Every contribution matters. Whether you volunteer at an event, share an idea, help with preparations or simply join in, you can play a part. You do not need lots of spare time or previous experience. Just a willingness to get involved.

Meet your PSA team

Our mission

To bring our school community together through inclusive events, creative fundraising and shared experiences that support our children’s learning, wellbeing and enjoyment of school life.

We aim to build strong relationships between families and school, encourage everyone to participate in ways that suit them, and work in partnership with the school to support additional opportunities for our pupils.

Our vision

A welcoming, connected and thriving school community where every family feels included, every contribution is valued and every child benefits from the opportunities we create together. We want the PSA to help make school life memorable, strengthen the bonds between families and support a community in which children can learn, grow and flourish.

What we do

We organise fundraising activities and social events throughout the school year, bringing children, parents, carers and staff together. Our programme combines events for pupils, occasions for the whole family and opportunities for adults to socialise. We also welcome new ideas that could raise funds, encourage participation and make a positive contribution to school life.

The events below form our proposed programme. Dates and arrangements will be confirmed with the school and shared with families throughout the year.

Our events throughout the year

AUTUMN TERM

Wear Your Own Clothes Days: Occasional non-uniform days that bring extra excitement while supporting PSA fundraising.

Termly Cake Sale: We aim to hold a cake sale each term, inviting families to enjoy a treat while supporting the PSA.

Coin Collections: Each class to raise highest value of coin collection though out the week.

WINTER AND CHRISTMAS

School Disco: One of our two discos during the year, with music, dancing and plenty of fun for children.

Christmas Mini Fair: A festive gathering with seasonal activities, stalls and opportunities to enjoy time together while supporting fundraising.

Santa Fun Run: A festive fundraising challenge bringing pupils together for a cheerful, active event in the run-up to Christmas.

SPRING AND EASTER

Easter Egg Hunt: A springtime activity filled with discovery and Easter fun.

School Disco: Our second disco of the year, giving children another chance to enjoy music, dancing and time with friends.

Termly Cake Sale: A cake sale planned for each term.

LATE SPRING

Picnic in the Playground: A relaxed get-together where families can bring a picnic, meet other parents and enjoy time together outdoors.

Quiz Night: Gather a team, test your knowledge and enjoy a sociable evening of friendly competition. Date to be confirmed.

Wine Tasting Evening: An adults-only social event offering the chance to discover different wines, meet other parents and raise funds. Date to be confirmed.

SUMMER TERM

Summer Mini Fair: A celebration of the school community, bringing families together for seasonal fun, activities and fundraising.

Termly Cake Sale: A cake sale planned for each term.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR / DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

Movie Night: A relaxed film experience for children to enjoy together, with suitable arrangements for supervision and safeguarding.

Additional Parent Socials: We welcome ideas for informal get-togethers and themed evenings that help parents and carers connect and build friendships.

Additional Fundraising Activities: Further activities may be introduced depending on volunteer availability, school priorities and community interest.

More ideas for our school community

Alongside our core events, there are other ideas we could explore in the future. These are suggestions for consideration rather than confirmed activities:

• Pre-loved school uniform sales: good-quality second-hand uniform at affordable prices, helping families save money, supporting fundraising and reducing waste.
• Sponsored challenges: walks, runs, reading challenges or other activities that encourage participation and raise funds.
• Local business partnerships: inviting local businesses to donate prizes, sponsor an event or provide goods and services.
• Online fundraising: using an approved fundraising platform, where appropriate, to support a specific project.
• Book sales: a possible additional fundraising activity, subject to interest and arrangements.

How your support makes a difference

Every ticket purchased, cake sold, raffle entry, donation and hour volunteered helps us work towards our fundraising goals. Funds raised by the PSA can support additional resources, activities and experiences that complement the school’s educational provision. Priorities and purchases will be agreed with the school, and we will share updates as projects are confirmed and completed.

Your fundraising in action

This section of our website will celebrate the difference our community makes. As projects are approved and purchases are completed, we will add photographs and short updates showing what has been funded and how it benefits pupils.

• What we raised: fundraising totals or event milestones, where appropriate.
• What we funded: photographs and descriptions of confirmed purchases.
• Why it matters: how the resources or activities benefit our children.
• What’s next: future fundraising goals agreed with the school.

We will publish confirmed information and follow the school’s arrangements for photographs and children’s privacy.

Get involved

A successful PSA depends on people sharing their time, ideas and enthusiasm. You do not have to join the committee or attend every event to make a difference. We know family life is busy, so volunteering should be flexible and manageable. Even an hour of your time can be valuable.

• Volunteering at a fair, disco or cake sale.
• Helping set up or tidy away after an event.
• Baking or donating suitable items for fundraising.
• Sharing ideas for new activities.
• Approaching local businesses about potential donations.
• Helping with posters, communications or event organisation.
• Supporting individual events when your schedule allows.
• Joining the committee and helping shape plans for the year.

If you would like to help, suggest an idea or find out more, please contact the school office and ask to be put in touch with the PSA. New volunteers are always welcome.

Keeping our community connected

We want families to know what is happening, how they can get involved and what their support is helping to achieve. Website updates may include:

• An events calendar showing confirmed dates, details and volunteer opportunities.
• Fundraising updates celebrating activities and sharing confirmed totals where appropriate.
• A community photo gallery featuring events, activities and confirmed purchases.
• Our next fundraising goal, where the school has agreed a specific project.
• A way for parents and carers to share suggestions, skills and ideas.

Thank you

Our PSA is built on the generosity, enthusiasm and teamwork of our school community. To every parent, carer, member of staff and supporter who volunteers, participates, donates or encourages others, thank you. Your involvement helps bring people together and supports our shared ambition to enrich school life for our children.

Together, we can create opportunities, build friendships and make a difference.

Recent updates

Coin Wars Success!

A huge well done to all our classes who took part in our week-long Coin Wars challenge! Every class worked hard collecting coins, and we are delighted to announce our three top fundraising classes.

As a little reward, the PTA team delivered a special hot chocolate treat straight to their classrooms, complete with giant cookies, marshmallows and whipped cream!

Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make our Coin Wars such a success. Your support makes a real difference!