FOTM news - Autumn Term 2017

Dear Friends

Welcome back to a new academic year at Tockington Manor School and a huge welcome to the new families who are joining us. 

The Friends of Tockington Manor (FOTM) is a group of parents and teachers who come together to organise social and fund raising activities for the benefit of the children and the school.  We are always delighted to welcome new members to the committee - with no obligation to take on any activities at all – it’s just nice to have support.  We also enjoy meeting and socialising with all the school’s parents at FOTM events, after all, we are all friends of Tockington Manor just by being part of the school and we hope you will all support us.

So just a few dates for your diary to get the ball rolling:

·         Our first meeting is on Weds 18^th September at 7.30pm in the school Common Room.  Please come along if you area at all interested in helping out – I promise you will get a warm welcome and there is nothing to be scared of!

·         Our first event is on Weds 27^th September at 7.30pm – 9pm and is a cheese and wine evening.  This is a non-fundraising event, a purely social evening during which parents can ‘catch up’ after the long summer and new parents can meet other parents.  It’s very casual and relaxed so come along and say hi!  More information can be found in the Tracker.

·         Next is our ever popular Bonfire night (no fireworks for those who are new) but it is a lovely cosy event with a bonfire, stalls and a disco for the kids – it’s on Friday 10^th November from 4pm until 8pm – exact timings will be confirmed in the Tracker.

·         Lastly,  our beautiful Christmas Fayre will be held on 2^nd December 12pm – 3pm, where you can start your Christmas shopping, meet your friends for a festive snack and the kids can make some Christmassy crafts.

Hopefully as many of you as possible will come and support these events - It would be lovely to see you there.  If you have any questions or suggestions then please grab me at drop off or pick up or email me at fotm@tockingtonmanorschool.com, or you can text or ring my mobile – 07505 011626.

Hope to see you all soon and here’s to a great term!

Leanne Edwards

FOTM chair. 

Autumn Term 2016

Welcome back to everyone after the long summer break and also a big welcome to all our new parents and children. 

Here at Tockington Manor, we are all friends of the school, but FOTM is an organisation is made up of a group of parents and teachers who organise social events throughout the year to help raise money for extra items to enhance the school life of the children who are lucky enough to be educated here. This term we have some wonderful events planned so come along and support us, catch up with friends and have fun all at the same time!

We start with our start of term social on Thursday 15th where all parents are invited to come and have a glass or two of wine and some cheese and have a catch up with friends or meet new ones! Then on November 11th we have our annual FOTM bonfire night between 4pm (for lower school disco) and 8pm – all current and past parents and children most welcome. Lastly, to round up events this term , on Saturday 26th November between 12 and 4 we have our popular Christmas Fayre with craft stalls, activities, food and Father Christmas!

All parents are very welcome to come along to any of our committee meetings too – the dates are published in the tracker and there are usually two main meetings a term.

If you would like to join us, help occasionally or have any queries about our events please email us at fotm@tockingtonmanorschool.com or you can phone me on 07505 011626.

Have a great term and I hope to meet as many of you as possible at various events.

Leanne Edwards
FOTM chair

Spring term 2015 

Welcome back everyone to a new term, hopefully some drier weather and a host of FOTM events to kick start 2015 in the right way. 

Last term was a wonderful start to our academic year and we would like to thank everyone who came to support our quiz and curry night, bonfire night celebrations and Christmas Fayre. We raised a very decent amount of money which will enable us to fulfil some smaller ‘wish list’ bids and also continue to save for our big project of the new music suite. The friends could not operate or continue without your help and support so thank you so much – every one of you. We do hope you enjoyed the fun too.

So what do we have in store for you in the coming months? Well, we start off on 14th March with our wine tasting event. Come and see if you can tell your sauvignon blanc from your chardonnay or your rioja from your merlot! You might even find some new wines you have never tried before. We really look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a relaxed and fun evening. Ticket details will follow in the very near future so watch the tracker for details or email one of us for info. 

We welcome you to the wonderful school production ‘Bugsy Malone’ on 23rd and 24th March. As always the children are already practising hard for what is always a very enjoyable evening, and we are pleased to be able to offer you interval drinks and some substantial snacks to purchase. Pre ordering forms will be out soon so watch this space. 

We have decided as a committee to put on a few events during the year for the children which are not fund raising events – just for fun and as a way of saying thank you for the support we get. The first of these will be an Easter egg hunt on the last day of the spring term – 27th March. Will your child spot the Easter bunny? Parents are very welcome to come and join in the fun! 

Looking forward now to the summer term – please save the date for two very special events. The return of our very popular family fun day on 20th June, and then to finish off the year in style at our champagne and diamonds ball after speech day on the evening of 11th July. Further details will follow nearer the time. 

We feel we have taken over the reins of FOTM at a very exciting time of change and we have a fantastic committee behind us and a whole host of great events to bring you in the future. 

For now, enjoy the term and we look forward to seeing you all at one or all the event’s. If you need to contact FOTM, please see your class rep (a list is up on the FOTM board outside the front lobby) or contact either of us direct through the details given on this page. 

Thanks and very warm wishes 

Leanne and Sarah – Joint chairs FOTM. 


Leanne – 07505 011626 edwardsandco@hotmail.com 
Sarah – 07814 962744 sarahandrob@hotmail.co.uk

Chairman's Address for 2014 AGM

As I conclude my fourth and final year at the helm of the Friends, and my first year working with Stephen and Amanda Symonds, I am delighted to report the past twelve month’s have proved to be another resounding success story for the Friends of Tockington Manor School.

We have (to name but a few items) secured sufficient funds to reshape a dedicated infant outside learning area, designed and purchased a new adventure playground and bought blinds for the newly decorated school hall. In addition, we have seen a record number of parents joining our ranks and because of this we have been rewarded with yet another successful twelve months of fundraising during what has proved to be the busiest year yet of my FOTM chairmanship.

This is how we did it.

In the Summer term of 2013 we rolled up our sleeves to sell ice creams and lollies at the end of the school day and raised further funds by hosting the Tovey’s farewell disco for the whole school by selling yet more ice-creams, along with sweets, teas, and cakes. We also co-hosted (with the help of the Old Tockingtonians) a farewell summer event to celebrate Richard and Jane Tovey’s thirty eight years of dedication to Tockington Manor School. Our Night with the Stars Ball attracted in excess of three hundred sixty guest from all corners of the globe and was not only a very fitting manner in which to say goodbye to Richard and Jane but it was a very enjoyable way in which to spend, what proved to be, a fabulous summers evening.

The Autumn term of 2013 saw us welcome the new TMS headmaster, Stephen Symonds and his wife Amanda and I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Friends, to say how pleased we are to have you both on board.

We kicked off our Friends duties in September by hosting Harvest Festival teas which were held in the now newly decorated front hall and mezzanine area outside the school dining room. Although this was not a fund raising event, it provided a great opportunity for the Friends to promote our work and meet other parents.

A little later in the same term we held our curry and quiz night. It was a complete sell out and not only did it tease our brains and expand our waistbands with delicious homemade Indian cuisine, but it raised a very respectable sum for our coffers too.

Quiz Night was closely followed by our Bonfire Night celebration at which we served everything from hot chocolate to hot dogs while a disco, the bar and the most enormous bonfire provided entertainment for all who attended.

We rounded the Autumn term off by making cakes and selling them at our bake sale with tea and coffee while the children were occupied with face painting, biscuit decoration etc. This also proved to be both a very lucrative and sociable event.

The Spring term of 2014 was equally busy.

Just like Quiz Night our Burn’s Night was once again a complete sell out. The dining room was transformed into the perfect dining experience and a fantastic evening of entertainment was laid on and enjoyed by all who attended.

A little later in the term we encouraged parents and children alike to clear out their cupboards and by doing so raised further funds with Cash for Clothes. Then, in the final week of the Spring term, we sold drinks in the intervals at the school's production of The Wizard of Oz.

The Friends of Tockington Manor are clearly going from strength to strength and, although I will not be hanging up my chairman’s hat for a little while yet, I would like to take this opportunity to say how pleased and proud I am to have had the chance to be part of the Friends success.

All that remains for me to say is,

“ I thank you all”.

With the festive season once again a fond but distant memory and a very successful Burns Night Event already under our belts, the Friends recently met to plan our fund raising events for both the Spring and the Summer terms.

See below for a sneak preview of what we have in mind;

Monday 24 and 25 March 

Play drinks during the interval of the school play, The Wizard of Oz 

Saturday 21 June 
Triathlon and Family Fun day in Tockington Manor Grounds

Cash for clothes
Date to be confirmed

I am also delighted to be able to report that last terms events alone raised in excess of £2,300 and this money together with the substantial funds raised from the previous academic years events has already been put to good use. Since September 2013 the Friends of Tockington Manor School have paid for the current construction of the free flow area in front on the colonnade, the new blinds for the school hall as well as the electric retractable screen, a gazebo for shelter at cross country events and also the soon to be constructed and much anticipated adventure playground.

The Friends fund raising abilities have clearly continued to go from strength to strength over the years and as a result the funds raised have helped to enrich the Tockington Manor School experience for our children with some very desirable purchases. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have given so freely of their time and their expertise along with all those who have supported us with both their donations and their attendance.

I thank you all.

Having paid a very fond but sad farewell to Richard and Jane Tovey with summer events which culminated in the fabulous, never been better Summer Ball, we are now, with the help of the new Head and his wife Stephen and Amanda Symond’s, already busy organizing the events for the new academic year.

This is what we have in mind;

·                     Harvest Festival refreshments in the newly decorated front hall- Friday 11 October at 9.30 am

·                     Quiz Night with Curry supper in the main hall- Saturday 12 October at 7.30 pm

·                     Bonfire Night in the Colonnade and Top Field- Friday 8 November at 6.30 pm

·                     Christmas Bake Sale and afternoon tea in the dinning hall-Friday 29 November from 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm

Over the coming weeks we will advertise full details of all we plan on the Friends notice board, in the Tracker and by email.  Here’s hoping you will be able to join us on these very sociable fund raising occasions at Tockington Manor School.

Anita Williamson

FOTM Chairman

If you would like to become involved with the Friends as a regular committee member or perhaps just on an occasional basis, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01454 228562 or 07570803345.  A warm welcome awaits you.

With the Easter holidays behind us and the promise of warmer weather just around the corner the focus for the Friends of Tockington Manor has turned to formulating our plans for the remainder of the year.

Following discussions at our recent committee meeting the following events have been scheduled;

•     End of term Disco-Wednesday 10 July 3.30-6.00 pm

This is a free event for the whole school and our invitation includes parents as well as staff. We aim to provide an informal opportunity for those who chose to attend to say good bye to Richard and Jane Tovey while we fund raising by way of a bake sale and selling afternoon tea. There will also be face painting and a tuck shop.

•     Week commencing Monday 3 June – Cash for Clothes 

Following the resounding success of last terms unwanted clothes collection we plan to repeat this exercise to boost the funds in our coffers. Please bring your bags of clothes to the signing in hall throughout this week. They will collected, weighed and exchanged for cash on Friday 7 June.

•     Night with the Stars Summer Ball-Saturday 13 July

A joint venture with the Old Tockingtonian Society, this formal dinner followed by a live band promises to be a very special occasion for all who attend. Our retiring Headmaster of 38 years, Richard Tovey and his wife Jane, will be our guests of honor and we have every intention of giving them a celebratory send off. In accordance with tradition we will be inviting the year eight leavers to this otherwise adult event.

In addition to giving you the low down on the Friends summer term activities we would like to give you an opportunity to put the dates for our Autumn Term events in your diaries.

This is what we have in mind;

• Harvest Festival refreshments in the Pavillion- Friday 11 October at 9.30 am

• Quiz Night with Fish and Chip supper in the Hall- Saturday 12 October at 7.30 pm

• Bonfire Night in the Colonnade and Top Field- Friday 8 November at 6.30 pm

• Christmas Market in the Hall-Friday 22 November from 2.00pm to 6.30 pm

Over the coming weeks we will advertise full details of all we plan on the Friends notice board, in the Tracker and by email.  Here’s hoping you will be able to join us at these very sociable fund raising opportunities, run by the Friends, for the benefit of the children of Tockington Manor School.

Anita Williamson

FOTM Chairman

If you would like to become involved with the Friends as a regular committee member or even just occasionally, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01454 228562 or 0757080941. A warm welcome awaits you.

With the festive season a fond but distant memory and the New Year already well underway, the Friends recently met to plan our fund raising events for both the Spring and the Summer terms.

See below for a sneak preview of what we have in mind;

•      Friday 25 January

         Afternoon tea and bake sale in the dinning room

•          Saturday 2 March

         Race night over supper in the school hall

•         Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March 

         Play Drinks in the interval of the much anticipated form plays.

•        Saturday 13 July                                                                                                                                                                Summer Ball in a beautiful marquee in the school grounds

This year our "Night with the stars" Ball is to be a joint production in conjunction with the Old Tockingtonians. This is because our guests of honour will be Richard and Jane Tovey, after 38 years of dedicated service at the helm of Tockington Manor school, are retiring and we plan to give them an extra special celebratory send off. The evening promises to be a wonderful formal occasion which will provide the perfect opportunity for parents, friends and staff to relax over a three course meal, listen to a live band and a disco while dancing the night away on the final evening of what always proves to be a very busy term. As is tradition, we invite the year eight leavers to this otherwise all adult event.

Over  the coming weeks we will advertise full details of all we plan both in the Tracker and by email.  Here’s hoping you will be able to join us at these very sociable fund raising opportunities run by the Friends for the benefit of the children at Tockington Manor School.

Anita Williamson
FOTM Chairman

If you would like to become involved with the Friends please do not hesitate to contact me on 01454 228562 or 0757080941. A warm welcome awaits you.

With a year and a half at the helm of the Friends under my belt, I am delighted to report that not only are the Friends of Tockington Manor’s fund raising skills going from strength to strength, but the sense of camaraderie amongst both our occasional helpers and those who roll up their sleeves on every occasion is motivating more and more and parents, ex-parents and staff to join in with our fund raising activities. I find it very rewarding to be told by committee members how much they enjoy being a member of the “FOTM” clan, not least because, I know the more we enjoy our roles the more successful our events are likely to be.

This Autumn term the Friends of Tockington Manor will be holding the following events,

• Saturday 20 October Quiz Night in the school hall 

• Friday 9 November Bonfire Night in the Colonnade and Top field

• Friday 23 November Christmas Fair  in the school hall

Last year our fixtures included,

October-Quiz Night

This was an informal gathering in the school hall over a fish and chip supper. Parents, their friends and staff competed in teams for the much converted prize of bottle of champagne. An evening of brain taxing in good company was enjoyed by all.

November- Bonfire Night

This popular entry free event always attracts a wonderful turn out.  There is an enormous bonfire in Top Field and a disco in the hall. The Friends fund raise by providing a barbecue, a bar and a plethora of child friendly stalls in the colonnade to ensure a great time is had by all those who attend.

November- Christmas Fair 

The free to enter Christmas Fair, where stall holders paid for the privilege of selling their Christmas crafts and produce in our festively decorated school hall, was a new venture for the Friends of Tockington Manor. We sold teas, coffee and mince pies to the stall holders and their customers and received nothing but compliments for the superb variety and quality of the successful applicant’s wares. Our event provided a convenient Christmas shopping opportunity for local people and parents alike and was so successful that some stall holders re booked their stall for this year immediately.

March- Wine tasting evening

Organised in conjunction with Majestic Wine, our intimate Pavilion based gathering was a sell out. While two wine experts took us through the wine tasting, knowledgeable attendees competed for a very special bottle of wine while the Friends provided a superb cheese and salad supper.  In so doing another very convivial evening was created.

July- Summer Ball

Our annual summer ball is always the highlight of the Tockington Manor School social calendar and this year was no exception. Our year 8’s arrival in two fire engines, with sirens at full volume, kicked off an exemplary evening. The marquee was decorated to reflect the sapphire theme which commemorated the Schools 65^th birthday and, after a four course meal, our guests danced the night away to the highly acclaimed Rolling Stones tribute band, The Rolling Clones.

Each and every one of our Friends events have not only provided enjoyable, well attended social opportunities to get to know fellow parents and staff but they have also produced handsome returns for the benefit our children. The £15,331 raised from our endeavours this year will once again purchase items to enhance our pupil’s education.  We have already made gifts of £8349.60 for a variety of purchases which include whiteboards, a projector and a PA system for the swimming pool.

Every minute of the committee’s hard work reaps rewards for our children and by working in tandem with Richard and Jane Tovey to create an enjoyable and productive fund raising team, I am proud to say we have excelled ourselves once again.

For this unfaltering dedication and tireless commitment, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks.

It is hard to believe we are fast approaching the end of the school year and because of this are now nearing the completion of the full schedule of events I spoke of in the autumn term. All that remains is to pull together the final details of  our Sapphire Ball on Saturday 14 July before we break up for the summer holidays.

Each year our summer ball provides a wonderful formal occasion on which to socialise. It is the perfect opportunity for parents, friends, staff and of course, our special guests, the year 8’s, to relax over a three course meal, listen to a live band and a disco while dancing the night away on the final evening of what usually proves to the busiest day of the school year.

I would to take this opportunity to thank all those who are helping to make this evening of entertainment at an event which promises to be the perfect end to a very busy term and say I look forward to seeing you there. 

Anita Williamson
Chairman FOTM

Please don't hestitate to contact me on 07968 508941 if you would like more details about up and coming events or would just like to know more about getting involved with the Friends of Tockington Manor. I warm welcome awaits you.

With the festive season a fond but distant memory and the New Year already well underway, the Friends recently met to plan our fund raising events for both the Spring and the Summer terms. This year is most definitely a celebratory one as, not only is it the Queens Diamond Jubilee, it is also Tockington Manor Schools' sixty fifth birthday and for this reason we hope to make each and every occasion an extra special one.

See below for a sneak preview of what we have in mind;

·        Saturday 3 March

     Wine tasting with a light supper in the school hall

·       Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 March

          Play Drinks in the interval of the much anticipated form plays.

·        Monday 7 May

     TMS 65^th birthday party offering fun and participatory things for the children to do, a cricket match to watch and a variety of light refreshments as well.

·        Saturday 14 July

TMS Sapphire Ball (so named because it is the gem stone representing 65th anniversaries) is a wonderful formal occasion and the perfect opportunity for parents, friends and staff to relax over a three course meal, listen to a live band and a disco while dancing the night away on the final evening of what always proves to be a very busy term. As is tradition, we invite the year eight leavers to this otherwise all adult event.

Over the coming weeks we will advertise full details of all we plan both in the Tracker and by email.  Here’s hoping you will be able to join us at these very sociable fund raising opportunities run by the Friends for the benefit of the children at Tockington Manor School.

Anita Williamson
FOTM Chairman

If you would like to become involved with the Friends please do not hesitate to contact me on 01454 228562 or 07968 508941. A warm welcome awaits you.

Dear Committee Members,

Now that the Friends events for this term are complete I would to thank each and every one of you for the much valued the support you have given, both to me personally in my first year as Chairman and, to the many  FOTM funding raising events we have held during this period.

Looking back over the past twelve months I cannot help but marvel at the variety of ways in which we have raised money to enhance our children’s enjoyment of Tockington Manor School. This term three events have already raised more than £1200. This stands testament to just how effective a group of parents and staff, having fun and pulling together, can be.

Our most recent event was the Christmas Market which not only served as a fund raising opportunity but also a practical shopping and social occasion too. It was well attended by parents, children and local people too. Our stall holders were so thrilled with both the setting and their returns that we have already received provisional bookings for next year! I would like to thank everyone who helped make this event a resounding success. I would especially like to thank all the committee members who gave so freely of their time and extend my gratitude to OT Mum Sharon Lapworth for booking and co-ordinating the stall holders.

I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday 18 January at 7.30pm in the Pavilion for the first Friends meeting of the New Year when our fun packed agenda includes the planning of our Spring event and our much anticipated event of the year, the Summer Ball.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Kind regards,

Anita Williamson

FOTM Chairman

A welcome look ahead

Dear Parents and New parents,

I would like to welcome you back from the summer holidays and remind you that as parents of the children attending Tockington Manor School you automatically become Friends of Tockington Manor (FOTM).

We are very fortunate to have an especially active Friends committee made up of volunteer parents and staff who regularly arrange a variety of fund raising events for our enjoyment. These functions range from a family focused bonfire night complete with fast food and children’s disco, to adult only dinners with wine tasting (and wine purchasing guidance from the experts) right through to our Summer Ball.

While each and every gathering makes use of Tockington Manor School's wonderful ambience, we also pride ourselves in the knowledge that not only do we create an opportunity for old friendships to blossom and new friendships to start but, while achieving this, we raise money to provide extra items of great value to our children’s education.

For example,

·        The Adventure Playground,
·         Staging for the hall 
·         Interactive whiteboards
·         Gazebos,
·         Cycles for the Nursery,
·         Multimedia equipment,

to name but a few.

I am happy to announce we have organised the forthcoming events which we hope you will be able to attend;

Friday 7th October 9.00 a.m.

Lower School Harvest Festival in the school hall followed by coffee in the Pavilion

Saturday 15th October Quiz Night 7.00 for 7.30 p.m.

Fish and chips and fun guaranteed (full details to follow shortly)

Friday 4th November Bonfire Night 6.30 for 6.45 pm

An early evening event which includes a huge bonfire on Top Field (above the tennis court area) followed by hot dogs and drinks with a disco in the school hall for the children.

Friday 25 November Christmas Craft Fair 2.00-8.00 p.m.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to make a start on Christmas shopping while supporting the local craft industry which will be trading from a variety of stalls in the school hall. (Free entry)

I do hope you will be able to join us for this very sociable run up to Christmas and  please don’t hesitate to contact me or your class representative if you require further information.

If you think you might like to help us in any way or would like to explore joining the committee I would be delighted to hear from you on 01454 228562 or 07968 508941.

I looking forward to seeing you over the coming weeks,

Yours sincerely,
  
Anita Williamson

Chairman FOTM

From the Chairman of the FOTM

Having jumped in at the deep end, when, as a new parent who knew no-one, I took up the role of Chairman of the Friends of Tockington Manor in November 2010, I am delighted to report our fund raising activities throughout 2010/2011 have been a great success. From the very start it has not ceased to amaze me how effectively the time and effort volunteered by the Friends committee, the staff and the parents regularly produce well thought out and well attended events which, in turn, provide valuable funding for items on the school's wish list. A by product of this team spirit is a developing sense of camaraderie amongst us all from which many a new friendship has blossomed. I am happy to report I have benefited from both. This year the Friends have organised the following:

• October-Quiz night
• November-Bonfire night party
• December-Flower arranging demonstration
• March- Fashion Show
• July- Summer Ball

Each of these events has produced a welcome profit so we will be discussing the allocation of these funds, to provide maximum benefit to the children of Tockington Manor School, at our first committee
meeting of the new academic year. During the year ending 31 May 2011 we spent £13,354 on a variety of items ranging from white boards to netball posts and it is our plan to continue to support the education of our children in this way and make sure we have some fun while we do it.

All that remains for me to say is an enormous thank you to all who have made this past year's fundraising such a success a story. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to every committee member, along with each and every parent, ex parent and member of staff who helped by attending our events and/or giving their time and their donations to aid our fundraising endeavours. In addition, our service providers deserve our gratitude for keeping their prices keen and making their gifts of auction and raffle prizes so generous. It is also only fitting that I acknowledge those individuals who, having no school connections, have nevertheless been equally generous in the provision of their expertise at no charge to us. I thank you all.

As ever, it always comes down to one or two people to provide the back bone to any ongoing concern and in the case of the Friends of Tockington Manor it has been Richard and Jane Tovey. They have
provided their support at each and every event and attended every committee meeting year in year out since the founding of the Friends of Tockington Manor in 1985. For this invaluable constant I, on
behalf of the Friends of Tockington Manor, sincerely thank you.