Dear Parents/Carers,
A belated welcome to the new term from the Committee and here’s your first newsletter from us this academic year! We do hope all the children have settled in well, whether they are returning to join their friends or starting at Jack & Jill for the first time.
Throughout the year, our Newsletters keep you informed of upcoming events and let you know the success of past fundraisers. Jack and Jill Pre-school is a charity, therefore relies on fees and a proportion from fundraising to pay for its general day-to-day running costs. Fundraisers are also a good way for us to raise extra money for special pieces of equipment; which is why we are so grateful for your support with such events and initiatives, plus they are usually a lot of fun!.
We’ve yet to have our first committee meeting and so will send out another newsletter once we have elected our new committee at the AGM next week. In the meantime, I have listed below some upcoming fundraising events, please have a read through and mark the dates on your calendar. We’d like to say a big Thank you to all of you who supported the Pre-school by putting a green token in the Jack and Jill box at Waitrose in Ringwood in July. We raised an amazing £238! Also the Online Facebook auction we held in June was a phenomenal success raising around £2000! Thank you everyone!
AGM – Tuesday 9th October, 8pm (please arrive at 7.45pm)
We are required by law to hold an Annual General Meeting, during which we elect our Committee for the next year. As a registered charity, Jack and Jill can only run with a Committee of volunteers. Our Committee is responsible for setting Jack and Jill Pre-school’s policies, managing the finances, employing and managing staff, and fundraising. Due to several people stepping down this year, there are a number of positions that will need to be filled at the AGM – you should have received a letter explaining this more from Pre-school. Being a Committee member is a great way to meet new people, and to have a say about how your child’s Pre-school is run so please do have a think about whether it is something you would like to get involved with. The AGM is also a chance to inform our current/future Committee members and parents of our past and future performance and activities. As stated in our constitution, we need a minimum of 10% of parents with a child attending Jack and Jill at the time of the AGM to attend in order for this meeting to go ahead, so it would be great to see lots of faces! If you haven’t done so already, please do let us know if you plan to attend.
Hallett Photography – Monday 22nd October
Hallett Photography will be at the Village Hall from 10 – 11am offering photo shoots for children, siblings, family members, and even pets! The photo shoots are available not just to Jack & Jill families but to any others wishing to have photographs taken, so please spread the word! No need to book, you can turn up on the day. They take wonderful photographs and any orders taken raise money for Jack & Jill too. Please note this is during half term when Jack & Jill is closed.
Bag2School- Friday 9th November (collection date)
Why not have a clear out over half-term and donate any unwanted clothes to raise money for the preschool! A bag will be given to you in the next few weeks, so you will have plenty of time to fill them before Bag2school collect them from Jack and Jill on Friday 9th November. You are able to drop off bags from Monday 5th November. You can also drop off in regular bags and we will place into official bags for you and we will have extra bags available for friends and family too who want to help. They will take Men’s, Ladies’ and Children’s clothing, Paired shoes (tied together or elastic band around), Handbags, Hats, Bags, Scarves and ties, Jewellery, Lingerie, Socks, Belts, Soft toys, Household linen, Curtains, Towels, Bedding (bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers).
Christmas Fayre – Saturday 24th November 10am – 1pm
The Committee are in the process of organising the Christmas Fayre which is a wonderful chance to get into the festive spirit with other Jack & Jill families and the village. There will be plenty of opportunity for Christmas shopping and Santa will be paying us a visit. There will be craft activities and games to keep the little ones busy and the Jack & Jill children will be singing. If you or anyone you know would like to rent a table to sell products at our Christmas Fayre please let us know. Hire of a table is £10 and the seller keeps all profit from their sales at the event. Previous traders have sold jewellery, toys, cards, beauty products etc. Please email me or talk to Helen O’Reilly (J&J Chairperson) for further details or information.
We are also looking for helpers at the event and for companies to donate raffle prizes for the Christmas Fayre raffle – if you have a prize you would like to donate, or work for/know someone that might be willing to donate, or can lend a hand please let us know!
Chocoholics
Chocoholic catalogues will be in circulation very soon. The commission from the sales helps to pay for our entertainer at the children’s Christmas party so please get as many friends and family to place an order too. Nothing is too small. Look out for a party date in the near future!
Support Jack and Jill every time you shop at Amazon!!
Please copy the link below and choose Jack and Jill Preschool in the search box. You then need to remember to start your shopping at smile.amazon.co.uk but if you set this as your home page, it should be easy to remember. Jack and Jill will then benefit every time you shop!!
Please support this easy fundraising idea.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1028854-0
We look forward to the year ahead, and as always, thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Stacey Harriss
Committee Secretary
Jack and Jill Pre-school 