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As a school community, we have come together to support and raise funds for two important local charities this term. Mrs Bolton, Head of Community Outreach and Partnerships, gives us her Autumn Term charity update.
Firstly, in early October, both St Margaret’s Prep and St Mary’s held a joint Mufti Day to raise funds for the Calne Food Bank. In addition to collecting produce at the Harvest Festival at both schools, the students and staff at St Mary’s raised £431 from the Mufti Day event. We were pleased that Mr Kevin Wells, a representative from the Food Bank, was able to join us that day and we learnt more about how they had risen to the challenges through the winter months of the pandemic.
Secondly, in early November, we held our first St Mary’s Make a Difference Day (MAD Day). In Chapel that morning we received an update from Doorway Charity and thanks were passed on to the school community for the impressive fundraising efforts of Charity Week in February 2020, which provided a cushion in the early days of the pandemic, when much of their fundraising dried up. As well as raising awareness through the Mufti Day, a group of students and staff braved the first wintery frost of the season and slept out that night. We would like to thank everyone who sponsored us, and also pass on our most sincere thanks to the PGSM who recently donated a very generous £2,500 from their Christmas Fair profits to our collective fundraising effort.
On 6th December, we were delighted to welcome Jo Kitching to school who came to collect the final donations, and Senior Prefect Marguerite (UVI) presented the PGSM donation to her. After a last-minute, very generous donation of £1000 this week, I am delighted to share that the combined efforts of the community of staff, pupils and parents raised a handsome amount of £5,813 this term for Doorway.
On Saturday 5th February 2022, Doorway is holding its own biennial sleepout. Participants will be able to join the group in Chippenham (subject to numbers) or organise a satellite event in their back garden with family and friends. If any parents who have followed this term’s efforts feel inspired to take part, please do contact them directly by email
Our final charity event of this term will take place on Tuesday 14th December. All members of the school community are invited to take part in the annual Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day for a donation of £2.
Marguerite and I would like to thank everyone for their support this term. We are now in the very early stages of planning Charity Week 2022 which will take place directly after February Half Term and will culminate in our first PGSM Charity Week family event on Sunday 6th March. Please do keep an eye out for further details and keep the date free.
Mrs Claire Bolton, Head of Community Outreach and Partnerships