FOMS

FOMS

FOMS (Friends of Meonstoke School)
FOMS is the parent-teacher association for Meonstoke C of E School.

What do we do?

Our mission is to:

• maintain an open relationship between the staff, parents, and the wider community;
• engage in activities that support the school and advance the education of the pupils attending it; and
• assist in the provision of facilities, experiences, or items for education at the school (not provided from statutory funds) that are agreed between the committee and the school’s governing body.

What have FOMS funded recently?

• iPads
• theatre Visits
• african Drumming
• outdoor classroom
• wooden planters
• children's trips
• milk

How do we achieve this?

Fundraising

FOMS organises a number of annual fundraising events at school and in the local community. Whilst the majority of these raise funds for the school, we also arrange and support fundraising events for other charities and organisations including the Exton/Meonstoke Church Fete; Brook Cottage Plant and Cake Sale and a Pop-Up Coffee Shop for the benefit of Macmillan.

Annual FOMS events include:

• Pop Up Coffee Shops (Meon Hall)
• Christmas Fair (1^st Saturday in December, at Meon Hall);
• Droxford Country Fair (1^st Saturday in June);
• Quiz night (early in Summer term);
• Balls, barn dances, concerts;
• Film nights and Disco at school;
• Christmas cards and T-towels;
• Auctions and raffles.

In addition to helping to set up, run, promote, attend and support these fundraising events, parents, family and friends can raise funds for FOMS at no expense to themselves.

Social Events

It’s not just about fundraising, FOMS also aim to build and maintain relationships between the school, parents and the wider community by organising social events. For example the Quiz is particularly well attended by members of the wider community. In the past we’ve had informal Friday Family gatherings at the Bucks Head beer garden in the summer term and Class Reps may arrange a night out for parents to get to know one another, particularly in the Reception Year.

Throughout the year, the committee also provide refreshments at school events: AGM; Christmas Show; Sports Day and welcome for in-coming reception parents during a school familiarisation event known as ‘The Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ (end of Summer Term).

In addition to the annual ‘Disco’ in recent years FOMS have also arranged an end of year picnic and play at the Meon Hall.

Communications is a two-way process!

Why not follow FOMS and the Pop Up Coffee Shop on Facebook!

Each term FOMS produce a newsletter which is circulated to parents by school through ParentMail. Additional emails are also circulated through ParentMail when timely communications are required, but we try not to bombard you. You’ll find one way we often source donations for events, such as the bottle stall and raffle hampers at the Christmas Fair or the Chocolate Tombola we’ve run for some years at the Droxford Fair, children are invited to ‘wear home clothes’ for the day in exchange for a donated item.

Regular pieces are placed in The Bridge to communicate school activities to the wider community but we really appreciate it if parents can spread the word about fundraising events to increase awareness and encourage attendance amongst the wider community.

FOMS are very happy to ease new parents into the school community. Between us we have many years of experience of the school and are happy to act as a source of advice, experience, skills and practical help for the governing body, staff and parents and an additional forum for discussions of issues affecting the school.

We are here to help parents too though and are keen to receive any suggestions or questions, so if you can’t find your Class Rep, do catch any of us at drop off or collection, and you can always leave a message for us via the school office

(adminoffice@meonstoke.hants.sch.uk).

The Committee

A new committee is elected each year at an AGM which takes place in school, straight after drop off, fairly early in the Autumn Term.

The current committee:

Chair: Sharon Sherfield

Secretary: Patti Carter

We need your help:

The committee can’t do it all alone, we need your support and we’re always very grateful to have offers of help particularly at the Christmas Fair which is our busiest event. We hope you’ll consider joining the committee at some point during your child’s journey through Meonstoke School, not only are the funds raised vital to the school (as the budgets are increasingly under pressure) but it’s a great way to get to know other parents outside your class group.