45 SCHOOL COUNCIL At the start of the spring term we ran a Year 7 Mastermind Competition. Forms would select their individual Masterminds during registration, who would then go forward to compete against winners from all the other forms. Pupils would have 1-minute of questions on their chosen specialist subject and 1 minute of general knowledge. The winner, with the highest combined total would be declared Year 7 Mastermind 2016-17. Therefore, Sami was declared Year 7 Mastermind and won himself a £20 Amazon Voucher. Look out for Year 8 Countdown next year! Therefore, Sami was declared Year 7 Mastermind The Mastermind winners! YEAR 7 MASTERMIND COMPETITION Contestant Form Specialist Subject Score Arjun Toor 7 Alfred The Indian Cricket Team 11 Faisal Jajeh (last minute replacement) 7 Galahad Manchester Utd 10 Saladin Ahmed 7 Henry Dinosaurs 14 Salman Ahmad 7 Nelson The English Premier League 12 Sami Chowdhury 7 William The Harry Potter Films 19 PTA What is a Parent Teacher Association (PTA)? The PTA is a friendly and informal voluntary body of parents who have children at the school. Most schools have a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), which is an organisation of parents and staff. Its role is to encourage closer links between home and school. PTAs act in a positive way and are a force for good. PTAs are best known for their fundraising work, but they have a useful social function too. Fundraising events provide an opportunity for parents, staff and pupils to get together as part of a wider school community. How is money raised? Most PTAs raise money through events. They often hold one main event each school term – for example, a Christmas fair in the winter, a quiz in the spring, and a summer fair. Other PTA events include discos, firework displays, international evenings and much more. They are always looking for new fundraising ideas. How is money spent? Funds raised by the PTA are intended to provide ‘extras’ not already provided by the school’s main income – often ‘fun things’ that make learning more interesting and exciting. The PTA and the Headmaster decide how to spend PTA funds. Common items include computers and other technological items such as digital cameras and Ipads, a school minibus and smaller purchases such as lights for a Divali celebration. Vision: Our vision is to enhance and embellish the education and futures of all our children by encouraging engagement and communication between students, parents and school. Mission: The core aim of the PTA is to support our students and the school through fundraising events which will provide additional resources to strengthen our student’s education and achievements. The PTA want to support a learning environment where students and staff have space to interact, to engage and are at the core of our community. Values: • To act with integrity. • To support the school, students and parents. • To enhance the educational experience and future opportunities for each and every HGS student. STOP PRESS – Upcoming Events: • New Intake Day: 5th July 2017 • Summer Concert: 13th July 2017 • Non-Uniform Day and Bake Sale: 14th July 2017 • New Year 7 Introduction Evening: 28th September 2017 6.00pm • Fashion Show: 22nd September 2017 • Non-Uniform Day and Bake Sale: 20th October 2017 • Autumn Arts Festival: 17th November 2017 6.00pm • Winter Concert: 14th December 2017 6.00pm Please do contact the Chairman Mrs Neha Jolly at HGS via the Contact Us page for more information. Please do get involved and join in! A NEW PTA HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT HANDSWORTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (HGS)