WHAT HAVE THE FUNDS BEEN USED FOR SO FAR?

The money raised by the PTSA so far has been used for the following projects:

£2,602 was spent on much needed refurbishment of the Library and Lecture Theatre.  The latter was painted and had its old, ripped curtains replaced.  The seats were re-furbished and re-upholstered.

The Honours Boards in the Assembly Hall, which display the names of former Head Boys and Head Girls, plus the names of sporting captains, have not been updated since 2000.  Therefore, the PTSA is paying for new Honours Boards and for the inscription of the latest names.  In addition to this they will be assessing the current cups and trophies to see if any of these need to be replaced in order to record and celebrate students' successes and achievements.

One of the most popular innovations from the PTSA has been the refurbishment of three outside spaces on the school premises.  It was the original idea of the PTSA to have picnic tables, chairs and benches for the students to use these hitherto unused areas.  However, in order to do this the areas had to be cleared and resurfaced, a venture which led to the surreal image of a digger being brought through the corridors in the summer holidays!  By September the areas were completed and the students now have their own space to relax and eat lunch on dry days.  These have been a great success and the tables have been used throughout September and October.  The images below show how the students are making the most of a lovely October day and availing of this new facility.

Thanks to the PTSA, the students are able to take pride in their school environment and relax over lunch al fresco.

FUNDRAISING 2007/2008

The first PTSA event was held on Friday 12th October 2007 at Portadown Rugby Club.  It was a quiz and the quiz master was Mr Annesley Renshaw, a past pupil.  The event was attended by pupils, staff and parents and was a great success raising a total of £1,812.

On Friday 29th October a PTSA social event was held at Portadown Golf Club and the guest speaker was former pupil and journalist Mr Niall Crozier.  Pupils Andrew Chambers and Robyn Mc Donald acted as disc jockey and assistant and the musical accompaniment to the evening was provided by Peter Harris and Lisa McLoughlin.  This enjoyable social event raised £1,600.

The PTSA was kept busy later in the autumn of 2007 when they served refreshments and ran a raffle at the annual Autumn Concert.  The £363.38 raised was gratefully received by the Music Department and was used to benefit the College Music students.

At the annual school play, which in November 2007 was an adaptation of Animal Farm, the PTSA again served refreshments and ran a raffle.  The money raised was put to good use in the Drama Department and was a very welcome contribution to student funds.  The £535.67 raised was put towards resources for the annual productions which included new equipment for sound and lighting which made the health and safety of students a priority.

Some of the guests who enjoyed "An Evening with Patience Bradley" in September

FUNDRAISING 2008/2009

The annual quiz took place once again at Portadown rugby Club and Mr Annesley Renshaw was back by popular demand!  This event raised £1,500.

A new venture for the PTSA in its second year was a Ladies' Evening held on 18th September 2008 in the school.  The guest was former Vogue model and ex- Legs and Co. dancer Patience Bradley and her pampered pooch!  The event raised £1,205.

Patience Bradley (plus four-legged friend) with some of the parents, staff and pupils who took part in her Ladies' Evening

Once again in the autumn of 2008 the PTSA were very welcome helpers at the annual Autumn Concert and the School Play which was Our Town by Thornton Wilder.  The donations from refreshments and the raffle at the concert raised £440 for the Music Department and was put to very good use for student resources.  The refreshments and raffle at the school play raised a very impressive £844, no doubt helped by the charm and persuasive techniques demonstrated by the boys who were playing the baseball players in the play.  They made quite an impression on some of the girls in the audience who had come from other schools and added enormously to the fun of the evening!

The draw for the PTSA Christmas Raffle in 2008 took place in the school on the 16th December and raised £1,219.

TESCO VOUCHERS

The school started collecting Tesco vouchers for schools in the spring/summer of 2009.  The vouchers collected have been 'banked' so that they can be combined with those collected next year and can be used to acquire computer equipment or other resources such as cameras for the C amera Club.

DONATION

The PTSA were delighted to be presented with a very kind donation of £1,000 from Mr Rea Finlay of Finlay Photographs.