We are running a competition with all the children at Crick School to name our brand new mascot.

Children of the school are invited to come up with a fun and quirky new name for our little friend throughout the Easter Holidays.
Mrs Neill will then choose her favourite name after the break who will be announced the first week back.
The winner will receive a selection of goodies including a t-shirt featuring our little fox and their new name.

Our little fox character was created and illustrated by the talented designer, Sam Hardacre (a good friend of FoCS volunteer, Si).
Sam has designed for a number of big names including Microsoft so we are hugely grateful for his contribution to our community.
He has created a fun little character to represent the Friends of Crick School who you will see a lot more at future fundraising events.

We hope you like the new mascot. Let us know what you think and, more importantly, give them a good name.

1. Christmas Fayre

Went very well, space was limited this year with no access to the classrooms for the bar.  Ensure we have access to the classrooms next year.  We also need to look at advertising for next year e.g. Kilsby Village School posted a flier through every door in the village, other schools had large posters advertising.

Scouts may be able to assist us with the delivery of fliers around the village, talk to PC.

2. Informal Drinks Evening – Cancelled

This event was cancelled due to a class of events with the Sports Field thank you evening.

3. Valentines Rolo

Draft flier sent into school.  Request to be sent to school by Wednesday 6th February.  Packing night on the 7th.  Completed rolo’s to go to school on Friday 8th.  Charlotte ordering the bags and ribbon.  AJT typing up the messages.

4. AGM – 7th March

VT to supply AJT with details of the profit made at each event during the year for the annual report.  We need as many as possible to attend the AGM.  If you are interested in taking on a role within the committee please let Amanda know.

5. KS2 Cinema Night – 1 March

Volunteer needed to organise this event (chose DVD / Create flier /volunteers / shopping)

6. Easter Egg Treasure Hunt – 22nd March

AJT to talk to Rebecca to see if she will write the clues.

7. May Day – 18th May

Heather to talk to he contact re the brass band to see if they would be willing to play for us.

Talk to Sally V to see if she has some local stall holders who might be interested.

Cheese / Porkpies – possible stalls

More activities needed for the children (Hook a Duck / Sweats in a Jar / Crack the Safe / Chocolate Fruit Sticks.

8. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Thursday 7th February at Carol’s house.  We will be packaging the Rolo’s and discussing the next few events.

Attendees: Heather Power, Amanda Templeman, Helen Flanagan, Kirsty Jones, Catherine Morrish, Rachael Williams

1. Apologies

Julie Neill

2. KS2 Cinema Night – Friday 9th November

Film choice – Hotel Transylvania

It was agreed that the film purchased last year “Scooby Doo and the Curse of the Lake Monster” would be placed in the Christmas raffle as a prize.

Volunteers needed for the night to help organise. Suggested that the tinned sausages were easier to cook and went down well at the end of year disco. AT to check numbers for KS2 and purchase rolls and sausages. Popcorn and drinks also needed with sweets for the children to take home with them.

Volunteers to arrive at 5.45 to start cooking and setting out the seats. Doors open at 6.15 and the film starts at 6.30pm. Food to be served on arrival.

3. Safari Supper – Saturday 10th November

AT to talk to VT for an update on numbers.

4. Ladies Indulgence Evening – Friday 23rd November

Doors open 7.30pm, treatments until 9.30/10pm
Confirmed stalls:

• Cherry Red
• Phoenix Cards
• Homemade Fudge
• Rachel Gregory Jewellery

Confirmed treatments:

Narinder – threading

KJ agreed to approach beauty therapist from Long Buckby and also look for someone to do henna treatments.
ALL to contact mobile beauty therapists to see if they are free to attend.
Food – canapés – it was agreed that we would order our own e.g. M&S/ Iceland and warm/cook them at school on the night.
HP to speak to sister re gift boxes of cupcakes
HP agreed to redesign the poster for this year and print the tickets. Posters need to go up around the village during half term and tickets to go on sale week of 5th November (7/8 Posters/ 70 tickets)

Volunteers to be confirmed for the night.

5. Christmas Fayre – Friday 7th December

Father Christmas confirmed
Raffle – suggested we run a large raffle similar to the one at May Day. AT agreed to talk to Lynn to see if she could talk to her contacts.
VT to organise tickets to go on sale in November.

Confirmed stalls: Cherry Red and Phoenix Cards.
School to confirm what stalls they would like to run this year.
Mulled wine – CM to email the recipe before she leaves.

We discussed the decorations used for the grotto over the last few years and felt it was time we purchased some of our own for FOCS to maintain.

Volunteers needed for the Friday during the day to set up the grotto.
Volunteers needed after school to set up the stalls.
Mufti days – AT to discuss with JN two dates in November for children to dress down and bring a bottle / chocolate in. Not the Friday of the event, we need all bottles/chocolate in before this date to allow time to label for stalls.

6. AOB

Christmas cards – CM confirmed the cards had been designed by the children and she has posted them. The order forms and sample cards will be returned to school in the next week or two and the school will distribute them.
HF agreed to take over and place the order once received by school. Query raised over who parents make their payments to – CM suggested
we check with Lynn. Suggested we may like to look at cheaper options for next year but noted that we need to do this in July ready for the cards to go into school in September.

New Ideas – for events in the coming year
Pub quiz at Red Lion
Tribute act at Holiday Inn
Barn dance in February
Treasure hunt – foot or car
Beetle drive
Personalised calendars/ family wall planners (best to start next summer)
Recipe book
Bag Packing at a supermarket
Justgiving – donation option
Branded FoCS goods – e.g. bags for life to sell at Christmas Fayre

HF confirmed that she can arrange matched funding from work. HF to confirm how many events per year she can support.
VT to confirm the event that makes the most profit for HF to support.

Social Media – HP has produced a social media plan to include details of events and interesting facts, recipes etc to be loaded onto our Facebook and Twitter page. This will ensure our pages stage near to the top of our visitors view. ALL to make sure they are friends of the FoCS pages and also invite friends to like.

7. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Thursday 15th November. Arrangements for Indulgence Evening and Christmas Fayre will be confirmed. We also need to agree events for the new year.

Attendees: Rachael Williams, Carol Courage, Heather Power, Amanda Templeman, Helen Flanagan, Viv Tew, Catherine Morrish

1. Apologies

Simon Jobling, Jo Lorimar, Julie Neill

2. Finance

We currently have £10,850 in the FoCS bank account.  Agreed spend for the computers (two for each classroom and one for the staff room) £5126 and £720 towards school trips (£5 per children).

The school have also requested that FoCS fund the purchase of the Olympic Medals and Badges received by all children £342 – this was agreed.

VT to arrange individual cheques for the school for these amounts.

AT to discuss with the School the spec for the computers.  Dave Wright has kindly offered to check the spec they are purchasing to make sure they have sufficient life span – he has previous experience of advising schools on the best equipment to purchase.

3. Bingo – Saturday 22nd September – School Hall

VT confirmed the License has been applied for.  CC agreed to talk to the Club about borrowing their equipment and supplying bingo books.  A bingo caller is needed – CM agreed to discuss with Paul Preece and Christine/Ian Benion.  It was agreed that we needed to go back to the purchase of sweets rather than selling Haribo as they do not sell as well.  VT agreed to purchase and bag the sweets (large jellies/choc mice/flying saucers/flumps/jazzies) and CC offered to help should she need any.  RW will discuss with Nigel to see if he can purchase for us.

CC agreed to arrange colouring for the children, hopefully this will reduce the running around.  It was agreed that we would run it as a colouring competitions for two age groups.  RW agreed to source the pencils.  CM to purchase two tubs of Heros.  Suggested Meg and Issy might judge.

Doors open at 6pm and eyes down at 6.30pm.

Helpers needed from 5pm to set up tables and bar – Catherine, Carol, Viv, Amanda, Helen

4. Safari Supper – Saturday 10 November

RW has offered to host this Autumn’s Safari Supper.  RW will organise the glasses from Waitrose and VT will apply for the license.

5. KS2 Cinema Night – Friday 9 November

Date for your diary at this stage.  AT to check with School that the equipment is working.

6. Ladies Indulgence Evening – Saturday 23rd November – School Hall

The date for this event was changed to later in the month to hopefully attract more attendance.  AT to send out all invites to stall and treatment holders this coming week.

7. Christmas Fayre – Friday 7th December

AT to confirm Santa.

8. AOB

Christmas Cards – CM will order this week and AT will discuss with JN to ensure more help from the school.  HF agreed to take over this project from CM when she leaves in October.

Communication – we discussed at length ways of improving our communication with the parents and also villagers to maximise helpers / attendance at our events and support with fundraising.  Agreed we would produce a newsletter each term with highlights from our events.  On the back of the newsletter a calendar of events will be produced to help parents remember when our events will be held.  AT has produced the first draft and the committee agreed to review and return comments by 11am on Friday so the newsletter can go out with children this Friday.  HP agreed to assist AT with writing the copy to go into the newsletter.

HP will also discuss with Paul Coxon the dates for the Crick News to make sure can get the relevant information into each publication of this.

Facebook/Twitter/Website – it was agreed that more content was needed to publicise our events and what’s going on.  HP agreed to work with SJ on this to ensure we reach our targeted audience.

Helpers – more volunteers are needed on the committee and also to help run events.  All to discuss with parents at school to see if they are interested in helping in some way.

9. Next Meeting Thursday 11th October – Wheatsheaf

At the next meeting we will be confirming arrangements for the Safari Supper, Indulgence Evening, and Christmas Fayre.  We also need to agree events for the new year.

Present

Amanda Templeman, Carol Courage, Jackie Higman, Helen Flanagan

Safari Supper

• Excellent night had by all and lovely to see so many new faces.
• Interest has been expressed for one to be arranged in October again this year.

Fancy Dress Disco (Previously known as Teddy Bears Disco)

• Si expressed concerned that the food was not very good quality. It was also agreed it would be easier to have all sandwiches on a large platter and distribute to plates once at the school.
• Good mix of party games and dancing.

Scarecrow Weekend – 14th July – Pimms and Strawberries & Cream Stall

• We need to arrange a rota to cover the staff at this years Scarecrow Weekend.  Suggested hour slots with two people covering each.
  • 11 – 12 Viv and Amanda
  • 12 – 1 Jackie and
  • 1 – 2
  • 2 – 3
  • 3 – 4 Helen and
  • 4 – 5 Viv and
• Shopping Pimms / Lemonade / Strawberries / Cream / Bowls

Leavers Disco – 17th July 6.30 to 8.00 pm

• Steve confirmed for the disco
• Slight change from previous year, suggested we offer food for the children, decorate the room, set up a fruit juice bar and generally make more fuss of our leavers.
• Formal invite to be created to send home to the children.  Helen agreed to create.
• Food – Hot Dogs provided by FoCS and a request to Y6 parents to supply the biscuits/cakes/nibbles
• A question was raised about why Y5 children are invited to Y6 leavers disco.  AJT to discuss with JJ.  Do the Y6 children mix with the Y5 children still or would they prefer to be on their own?
• Sweets for them to take home.
• Helpers – Si, Sam, Amanda, Helen, Carol, Jackie

End of Year BBQ – 20th July from 6pm

• Food – check with Rob Grundy the notice required to order food from Brakes.  RW to contact?
• RW volunteered to purchase food from Asda.
• Rota needed to cover the bar / small kids stall  – Viv, Amanda, Carol, Sam, Helen
• Helpers needed to cover the BBQ – Jackie, Nigel
• It was felt the BBQ is better on the playground as (weather permitting) dancing on the grass will not be quite a good.  As we will be on the playground it was agreed not to proceed with the bouncy castle.
• For the smaller children suggested we bring out a few mats from school with small toys etc for them to play with.
• Sweets – Jackie is not able to get the sweets from the wholesalers suggested we purchase Haribo again and sell these.
• Raffle – we have a number of items left from the bottle stall.  A plea to go in the newsletter for donations.  Bottles to be put together to form larger gifts.
• Sausages need pre-cooking prior to evening – volunteer needed for this.

AOB

Calendar of Events for Year 2012/2013

• September – Treasure Hunt – details to go home first week of term.  Entries to be brought to school on Bingo Evening to be entered for prize.
• September 22nd – Family Bingo Night
• October 20th – Safari Supper
• November 9th – KS2 Cinema Night
• November 16th – Ladies Indulgence Evening
• December 7th– Christmas Fayre
• December 12th  – Christmas Disco

We agreed to plan events up to Christmas at this stage to allow new members of the committee to have input into the dates for the remainder of the year.

• Website – Important that we all log on and update our profile information.  The website address has gone out on a couple of occasions now on fliers and the site needs to be maintained.
• Committee Members Sheet will be amended during the summer to go home with all children in September – members to confirm they are happy to continue their work on the committee for the coming school year.

Present

Amanda Templeman, Catherine Morrish, Carol Courage, Simon Jobling, Viv Tew, Rachael Williams, Jackie Higman, Jo Lorimer, Paul Templeman

May Day

• £1,008 profit made this year.  Slightly down on last year.  Tombola stalls didn’t do as well as they would normally.  Both still had a number of items left over and the chocolate stall had to sell double the tickets towards the end.  The stalls inside didn’t do as well as those outside, review with stall holders next year.
• Really good atmosphere this year and lots of families stayed for the whole afternoon.

Safari Supper – Saturday 16 June

Please join this year’s May Queen Eleanor Harris and her entourage and support them as they pass by, heralded by the ringing of the bell.

1. Leave school by the back gate and turn left through the churchyard …
2. Turn right onto Church Street……
3. Turn left into Kingstyle Close….
4. Turn left into Portlow Lane…
5. Turn right into Bucknills Lane ….
6. Turn left into Rectory Close …
7. Turn right onto Church Street….
8. Cross Main Road and along High Street…
9. Turn left into Lauds Road and follow along The Marsh…
10. Turn right onto Main Road…
11. Turn left into Monks Way…..
12. Turn right into Pyke Way and follow round into Fallowfields…
13. Turn left into Bury Dyke….
14. Turn right onto Main Road and back to school

Download the route as a PDF and store it on your mobile for instant access.

Please find below the rota showing current volunteers, times and locations. If you are able to help, email Amanda and Simon to let us know how.

• Amanda Templeman
• Catherine Morrish
• Carol Courage
• Simon Jobling
• Viv Tew
• Rachael Williams
• Jackie Highman
• Helen Flanagan
• Kirstie Jones

Agenda

1. May Day – Saturday 26 May

• Commercial Stalls confirmed
• Cherry Red Gifts (£10)
• Equality Ethical Trading (Lynn Mold – Fair Trade Bags / Scarves and small Gifts) (£20)
• Designed By My Sister and Me (£20)
• Phoenix Cards – Sally (£10)
• Rachael Gregory – (£10)
• Long Buckby Fire Station (call outs permitting) (free / normally give them some beer as thank you)
• Handbags (£10)
• Face Painting (£20)
• Commercial Stalls to be confirmed
• Indian Food
• Pampered Chef
• FOCS Stalls

• Bar / Pimms (Viv / Kirstie / Jackie)
• Chocolate Tombola (Helen)
• Bottle Tombola (Amanda)
• Wine and Water
• Bran Tub (Rachael and Kids)
• Cake Stalls / Refreshments
• Splat the Rat (possible Yr 6)
• Buzz (possible Yr 6)
• Bouncy Castle (Catherine B)
• BBQ (Nigel E / Rob Grundy / Si / Brendan H) – it was agreed that the sausages need to be pre-cooked CM agreed to cook.  Sausages and Burgers ordered from Joseph Morris VT to find contact details 150 of each) Rolls and sauce needed.   Veggie Sausages come form Tesco.
• Tattoos (AJT to talk to Bev Staniforth)
• Name the Teddy (possible Yr 6)
• Guess the Weight of the Cake (CM to ask Ed to make a cake – confirmed)
• Helium Balloons (large bottle of helium gas for free, need to source foil balloons)
• School Stalls
• JJ has confirmed that the 4 House Groups will be running a stall / fundraising this year for their house e.g.: elephants / tigers …
• Little Rotters – to be confirmed
• Let’s Get Cooking – to be confirmed
• Village Groups – CM agreed to email to establish interest.  Since confirmed as below
• Cubs – Chocolate Fountain
• Scouts – Candy Floss
• Brownies – want a stall but to confirm detail
• Beavers – creative stall
• Pre-School – are planning their open day on May Day. Concern discussed about how Pre-School’s Open Day could affect our profits with the offering of free booze and cake.  Also concern raise about the number of families that would be at the open day and not enjoying our event.  CM to discuss with them to see if they could start earlier in the day or arrange on a different day..

• Village Market – one stall holder confirmed interest in selling Jams and Wildlife Cards
• Mufti Days – confirmed for 18th and 25th May
• Stage – newsletter for parents to bring greenery to school on Friday / Saturday morning.  Query flowers for stall with LC – AJT agreed to discuss.
• Advertising – AJT to discuss with Cheryl to see if she can advertise this year and arrange press for the day.
• Agreed bunting to decorate the school would be lovely.

2. Safari Supper – Saturday 16 June

• Pippa and David have confirmed they would like to keep the date as the 16th June and have been doing their bit to encourage people to attend.

3. Scarecrow Weekend

• Cocktails (Pimms) and Strawberries and Cream to be organised by FOCS on the Saturday afternoon on the School field.(Viv / Amanda and 2 other volunteers needed)

4. End of Year BBQ – Friday 20 July

• The date has been confirmed with the school as Friday 20th July
• Aday booked at £300 (same as last year)
• Agreed we should look into a few stalls / activities for the children / possibly a bouncy castle/slide (VT to talk to her contact about a Bouncy Slide
• Pre-School to join us at the BBQ

5. Leavers Disco

• A discussion took place about alternatives to the leavers disco.  JH explained at her last school they used to hire limos, arrange food, decorate the hall, the event was just for year 6 and lasted approx 3 hours.

6. AOB

• Website – agreed it looks very good and we are all keen to start using.  AJT to email Dan Bunker to introduce Si to him so the can liaise re arranging for a link to go on the school’s website.
• Si has now been set up as administrator for the Facebook page and will assist with the.
• Si still working on a new logo to be used on all communication from FOCS

Next Meeting

Wednesday 23rd May 2012 (location to be agreed – possibly at a house for preparation prior to Saturday)

Friday 25th May 2012 from 3.30pm at School to prepare tombola items for Saturday.

Present

• Amanda Templeman
• Catherine Morrish
• Carol Courage
• Simon Jobling
• Viv Tew
• Rachael Williams

 Agenda

1. Easter Colouring Competition
• A new competition this year and as always the children did us proud with an extremely imaginative and high standard of entry. A winner and two runners up were chosen for KS1 and KS2.
• After purchasing the prizes we made £30 profit.
2. May Day – Saturday 26 May
• Commercial Stalls – AJT has contacted a number of companies and awaits replies.
• AJT to see if those coming from outside of the village will pay £20 for a stall.
• Contacts from the village can still have a stall for £10.
• Handbags – CM to contact
• Phoenix Cards – Sally confirmed
• Query Pink Chocolate – may be interested
• Face Painting – RW to confirm how much her contact will charge
• Chocolates – Jane?
• FOCS Stalls
• Bar / Pimms (other simply cocktails)
• Strawberries & Cream
• Chocolate Tombola
• Bottle Tombola
• Wine and Water
• Crockery Smash (use RW’s bookcase)
• Bran Tub
• Cake Stalls / Refreshments
• Splat the Rat
• Buzz
• Bouncy Castle
• BBQ
• Tattoos
• Name the Teddy
• Guess the Weight of the Cake
• Helium Balloons – possibility of obtaining free gas, Paul Templeman to confirm.
• School Stalls?
• Yr 6 Stalls (only confirmed stalls will be provided with a float this year) CM agreed to organise with Mr Bushall
• Little Rotters
• Let’s Get Cooking
• Village Groups
• Cubs
• Scouts
• Brownies
• Pre-School – they are planning their open day on May Day. Query whether the pre-school children would like to bring the posy on for the May Queen.
  CM to email Helen to see how we can work together to help their open day and what stalls they may like to run.
• Village Market – AJT to contact to see if they are interested
• Mufti Days – two needed to collect chocolates and bottles in May. AJT to contact JJ.
• We discussed the option of having a burger van or pig roast rather than arranging our own BBQ. CM agreed to contact Brendon/Nigel/Rob to see if they would be able to help organise before we booked a van as it was felt this is a good way to earn funds.
• At the next meeting we need to agree the number of volunteers needed and also start requesting help.
• Posters need to go up in the village beginning May.
3. Safari Supper – Saturday 16 June
• Host – Pippa and David Goddard
• VT to apply for licence and start emailing for interest
4. End of Year BBQ – Friday 13 July
• It was agreed this date should be changed to Thursday 19 July on the last day of term. It was felt this creates a better atmosphere despite the fact that it was a Thursday this year.
• Aday – CM to book and see if there is any movement on his price.
5. AOB
• Scarecrow Weekend – agreed FOCS would run a Pimms / Strawberries and Cream tent on the Saturday afternoon.
• Possible events for the new year:
• Race Night instead of Bingo
• Sponsored Fun Run (on a school day)
• Games Night in September

Next Meeting

Wednesday 25 April @ Wheatsheaf