St Mary's PTFA Mini bus fund!

My name is Natalie and I am part of St Mary's C of E Junior school PTFA, the PTFA would like to raise funds for a new school mini bus.

St Marys C of E Junior School is a two form entry school serving the community of

Long Stratton. St Benet’s Trust vision is “To live life in all it’s fullness” and St Mary’s

vision is “To enable all children to soar on wings like eagles.” The school believes all

children should be able to have aspirational experiences.

The PTFA are hoping to raise £30,000 to support the school to purchase a school

minibus of their own. We are hoping that we can acquire funds through various different avenues and we are hoping to secure enough money to purchase a used but good condition mini bus in full. The school currently has 2 people trained to drive

the minibus.

Why a minibus would make a difference A mini bus can be a game-changer for the school and its students. Here are a few reasons why the PTFA believe funding for a mini bus is crucial:

 Accessibility: A mini bus would provide a safe and accessible mode of

transportation for students. It would ensure that all students, regardless of

their location or physical abilities, have the opportunity to participate in off-site

activities, field trips, and sports events.

 Educational Opportunities: With a mini bus, the school can organise

educational trips to museums, historical sites, and other places of interest.

These trips can enhance the students’ learning experience by providing

hands-on learning opportunities and real-world context to their studies.

 Sports and Extracurricular Activities: A mini bus would enable the school

to transport students to sports competitions, music events, and other

extracurricular activities. This would not only foster a sense of community and

school spirit but also provide students with valuable opportunities to develop

their skills and talents outside of the classroom.

 Community Engagement: A mini bus can also be used to engage with the

local community. The school can organize trips to nursing homes, community

centres, and other venues, where students can interact with and learn from

different generations and cultures. This would help foster empathy,

understanding, and a sense of social responsibility among the students. It

would also enable the children to visit other schools across St Benet’s Trust

and collaborate.

 Cost Efficiency: Having a mini bus would eliminate the need to hire

expensive external transportation services for school trips and events. This

would not only save money but also provide the school with greater flexibility in planning and organizing activities.

 Safety and Security: With a mini bus, the school can ensure the safety and

security of its students during transportation. It would allow the school to have control over the vehicle and its maintenance, ensuring that it meets all safety

standards and regulations.

 Environmental Impact: A mini bus could also contribute to reducing the

school’s carbon footprint. By providing a shared mode of transportation, it

would help reduce the number of individual cars on the road, leading to less traffic congestion and lower emissions.

How the PTFA want to fundraise, we have raised money with a Motivational May some of our children have moved 31miles in May. One child and her family did a bit of wild camping and hiking to raise money and some children went over the 31 miles. What a great effort thank you.

On Saturday the 6th July 4 pupils will be having a stall at the long stratton community event. There will be opportunities to win some prizes.

On 8th of September, one of the children's father, Brendon King will do run norwich dressed in a little tykes car!

By helping us raise the money we need to purchase a mini bus for the school you

will be helping to shape mind’s and enrich the current and future young people at St Mary’s C of E junior school.

On behalf of St Marys C of E junior school and the PTFA I would like to thank everyone who can help us achieve our goal.