January 2021

12 Buckden Roundabout January 2021 Buckden PTA A Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is not only for the parents of pupils but for anyone associated with a school, like grand- parents and people living nearby, who want to help it provide the best resources and enhance the education of its pupils. 2020 has been a challenging time for Buckden School and for the PTA, too, as Caroline Schmidt, Chair of the Buckden PTA, explains: “ Ideas are something we ’ ve really needed this year in the face of Covid - 19. We haven ’ t been able to access school as easily to run events that require interaction with pupils, or even host activities with pupil - to - pupil interaction considering the cur- rent bubble system. The additional challenges of being unable to handle cash this year to minimise the risk of passing on the virus and taking into account families in hardship have had a huge impact on fundraising. The PTA has needed to think up new and exciting forms of fundraising. During the first lockdown, we supported the community as well as the school by providing professional doorstep family portraits. We sent birthday cards to pupils to keep their spirits up and we also ran an online quiz night which was really suc- cessful. Despite the challenges, we made good progress in 2020. The PTA has been registered as a charity (Charity Number 1188470) so it ’ s now able to accept charitable donations from companies and be a part of charity schemes, which are especially helpful at the moment with so many other means of fundraising on hold. We are currently trying to fundraise to suitably equip a new room in the school called ‘ The Peace Pod ’ – a much - needed quiet space for students, which will be decked out with resources that help provide emotional and sensory support. Since the autumn term began, we have launched a CLUB 100 lottery that ’ s open to the whole community and will continue to run until September 2021. We ’ ve also sold Christmas tea towels featuring pupils ’ self - portraits to mark an unprecedent- ed year. We would really like people to support Buckden PTA by using our Amazon Smile and Easyfundraising accounts as we get a donation for every purchase made via these channels when Buckden School PTA is selected as the charity. You can also join the CLUB 100 lottery for £10 and potentially win £50 a month by emailing us for details (below). The current team that forms the core of the PTA took over last November. The six - strong committee has tried to make posi- tive changes for everyone ’ s benefit and create a welcoming environment for people to be involved, as much or as little as they want. We ’ re all working parents and are acutely aware of everyone ’ s busy lives and plethora of responsibilities. We currently meet on Zoom once every couple of months to refine fundraising plans – these 'committee meetings ’ are open to everyone. You can contact us on buckdenpta@gmail.com and find out about upcoming events or join the CLUB 100 lottery. There ’ s always room for anyone who wants to share ideas, make sug- gestions or join the team ad hoc or on a regular basis. “ Chair - Caroline Schmidt Co - chair - Sally Shields Vice chair - Tizzy Pape Vice co - chair - Liz Player Secretary - Emma Lander Treasurer - Lindsey Page The Almshouse Charities of James South and William Burberry. Buckden Almshouses (Charity No 810227) Notice is hereby given that it is the intention of the Trustees of Buckden Almshouses to let the former warden ’ s 2/3 bedroom house, No 38 Church Street, on an assured shorthold tenancy. Any person interested in taking a tenancy of the property should contact the Chairman of Trustees, Dr Alec MacAndrew by letter to 32 Mill Road Buckden PE19 5SS, not later than 31st December 2020.