Circle of Friends

On the evening of Tuesday 4 October we hosted this term’s Circle of Friends meeting. The Circle of Friends incorporates what was the PTA, but now also invites alumnae, staff and other supporters of the school to play an active part in community activities. The turnout was extremely healthy, so thank you to those who attended. In previous years the PTA organised monthly coffee mornings, which have recently been supplemented with the addition of the Circle of Friends evening drinks; the first evening drinks took place at the Panton Arms on 23 September and we were delighted to welcome some of our girls’ fathers. The next event will be a coffee morning at Waitrose Café in Trumpington, at 9.30am on 24 November, or evening drinks at the Panton Arms, at 7.30pm on 12 January – I warmly invite all members of our community to attend.

The fantastic work of the Circle of Friends was highlighted at the meeting, at which the treasurer invited suggestions as to how best a sum of £18,000 left over from last year’s fundraising should be spent, and I am grateful and delighted to announce that the money has been allocated as follows: £3,000 to Mary Ward House gym equipment; £3,850 to the Sister Christopher Bursary Fund; £5,000 to the school’s sports development project, Mr Duncan Askew, Bursar, has decided to purchase our second rowing boat; and £2,150 to purchase four new sets of skulling blades. It is clear to see that the Circle is doing a sterling job of both friend-raising and fundraising for the school! Thank you!