We hope your ears, muscles and brains have recovered from the screaming, dancing and intensity that was the Halloween Disco last week! It looked like the children were having the best time, and it was hugely successful financially too, raising a record-breaking £807.33!!! Thank you all for coming, and to the 21 volunteers who came to help, you are the BEST!

Before we mention the C word, there’s one more Halloween thing to tell you… Hooded Owls, the fancy bubble bath company, is
offering all Fishergate families a special 15% discount on their Halloween kits and Fishergate will receive a matching 15%  donation for every kit purchased!

Simply visit www.hoodedowls.co.uk and use our exclusive code at checkout: FISHERGATE. Offer applies to:

• The Boil & Bubble Halloween Potion Making Kit
• OR Boil & Bubble Potion Making Party Pack.

Offer ends 31/10/26.

Click here to get the app!

Christmas is coming of course, so no doubt you will have started your online shopping. Please, please remember to sign up to Easyfundraising. I know we keep going on about this, but it really is a no-brainer. Over 8000 retailers including eBay, Argos and M&S will donate to Fishergate Primary School for FREE once you’re registered with Easyfundraising. These donations really help us and all you have to do is order the things you’ll be buying anyway. If you use the app, that’s much easier than registering on the website, because the app will alert you to which websites do Easyfundraising. Our ’cause’ is called ‘Fishergate Primary School Friends – York’
The Friends of Fishergate Team

Today, we’ve had some spooktacular pumpkin entries for the Pumpkin Competition. Who knew there were so many ways to decorate, present and carve a pumpkin! You’ve all been so imaginative. It took quite a long time for our panel of judges to decide, and the winners are Lennox for the EY/KS1 group and Tasha from the KS2 group (see picture below). You both put in so much work to your pumpkins and they were so eye-catching. Well done! We raised £47 from the entry money. All pumpkins will be on display at the Pumpkin Parade tonight (Fri 16th Oct) at 7pm, between the two Halloween Discos.

Speaking of effort and fund-raising, the Early Years and Key Stage 1 cake stall last week raised £103.75. How fabulous! Thanks to everyone involved.

Just a reminder that we’re still looking for Christmas Shop helpers – present-buying and shop-staff. Please let Tamsin know how you can help – give her a call, or email friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.comThe Friends Team

We still need volunteers for the Halloween Disco next Friday 16th. As parents will need to stay anyway, why not help on one of the stalls? We’re short by quite a lot, so please do text Tamsin if you can help.

Christmas Shop volunteers: now we need buyers and staff because we’ve had loads of volunteers for the wrapping, including pupils from Fulford School Remember, we can’t run the shop without buyers and staff, so please email us at friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.com

Yours friendfully, The Friends Team

Happy Friday!

Probably as this newsletter is being sent out, the chaotic Cake Sale will be in full swing! Remember, it’s the turn of Early Years and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) to do theirs on 9th December. So, please bring your cakes to the office or give to your teacher and we’ll be selling from 3:15 in the Lower Hall. We need volunteers from those years to staff the stall, so please message Tamsin or email friendsoffishergateschool@email.com to volunteer. No nuts though, please, as we’re a nut-free school and please mark any allergens.

We had a productive AGM and planning meeting on 24th September. Minutes are available on request, but one important date for your diary that we’ve now confirmed: Christmas Fair is Friday 4th December after school.

Finally, a big thank you to anyone who’s donated money to the QR codes that we put up on Global Night and around the school. We’re working with the school to get the money spent and benefitting your children. Thank you everyone for your continued energy and support.
The Friends of Fishergate Team

Volunteers needed for Halloween Disco and Pumpkin Parade (Fri 16th Oct). We need 4 people to set up, 18 to staff the EY/KS1 disco and 18 for the KS2 disco/take down. We cannot run the events for your children without volunteers. Please text Tamsin or email friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.com to sign up. Thank you,Tamsin (Chair of the Friends of Fishergate PTA)

Friends’ AGM is on Thursday 24th September at 6.30 – 8pm at The Middle Bottle Shop and Bar, Fulford Road. Everyone is welcome – and I do mean that sincerely! – as we plan for the next year’s events, fundraising and spending.

Finally, please do remember that you can raise £££ for our school without so much as leaving your sofa.

Download the easyfundraising app, choose ‘Fishergate Primary School Friends – York’ and every time you buy something online from a ‘partner’ shop, a % of that transaction value is donated by the shop to us. It doesn’t cost you anything. Note: the App is better than registering with the website as it proactively alerts you better, so you don’t have to do anything different when you shop online. Tamsin and the Friends of Fishergate Team

Even if you only have one hour a month to spare, even if your English isn’t that good, even if you’re not particularly sociable and can’t bear the idea of being on a stall at a loud school disco (!), we have a role for you! Our little community needs you. Please contact me at friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.com and we can have a chat.Tamsin Whitehead, Chair of Friends (PTA)

I wanted to say a huge thank you to the many volunteers – parents and even past pupils – who’ve made all of this possible. Unfortunately, we have two people who are stepping away from the Committee at the end of this school year: Andrea Blakeston our Secretary, Marketing & Comms guru and voice of reason, and Heidi Fox, our Procurement expert (think The Scrounger from The Great Escape) and allround good egg. They’ve been absolutely dedicated to the cause, spending many hours planning, writing and running around and we and I will miss them greatly.

So, I end with an appeal: even if you only have one hour a month to spare, even if your English isn’t that good, even if you’re not particularly sociable and can’t bear the idea of being on a stall at a loud school disco, we have a role for you! Our little community needs you. Please contact me at friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.com and we can chat over the summer and see what’s suitable. Yours gratefully.Tamsin Whitehead, Chair of Friends (PTA)

Summer Fair success!

What a fantastic time we had! We are thrilled with everyone who stepped forward to run the BBQ, bar, and refreshment stalls – tasty food, nice brews and cocktails on the gusty, but otherwise sunny afternoon went down a treat! A big shoutout to those who cheered on the many lucky winners at their games and tombola stalls. A huge thanks to our star helpers who organised the successful raffle, those who ensured the children had a blast in the bouncy castle and to the amazing pupils who ran football games for the children. Whether you helped out during the fair, worked behind the scenes for a smooth set up, or made generous donations during the week, we can’t thank you all enough!

Together, we raised a fabulous £2,717.06. As we take the time to celebrate this massive achievement, we’re excited to start planning how we can use this money in the school. If you would like to get involved and share your thoughts, all parents and carers are warmly invited to join the Friends of Fishergate meetings. Alternatively, we’d love to hear your feedback / questions anytime at friendsoffishergateschool@gmail.com.

Roundup of Recent Spending

• We paid in full for the Year 5/6 coaches to Bridlington for a day of fun in the sun, meaning there was no cost to the families for this trip.
• Purchased story cubes to enhance imaginative play in Library Club
• We hope all the children enjoyed their frozen treats after working so hard on Sports Day – free of cost! Thanks to generous donations from Sunny Days Cafe as well as a family at Fishergate School.

More spending news to come!Friends of Fishergate