PTA

The Orchard and Shepherdswell PTA

The joint PTA for Orchard and Shepherdswell was set up in September 2023 with the aim of raising money to develop learning opportunities and curriculum enrichment for the children at both Orchard Academy and Shepherdswell Academy.

Last year, your support and generous donations were spent on providing resources for outdoor learning, including developing the forest school area, sand pits, play equipment for the explorative learning zone at Shepherdswell, and outdoor learning and team-building resources at Orchard.

This year, money raised by the PTA will be focused on supporting learning and development of the curriculum at both schools. Shepherdswell would like a new piece of play equipment on the playground to develop imaginative skills and inquisitive play, and Orchard is looking at resources to enhance the curriculum offer, including a new piano for the school hall.

We would like to engage with local businesses to support us. Events this year include Firework Night, the Winter Fayre, Easter Hop Discos, and the new and improved Spring Fest with a colour run.

Our committee is made up of a group of our wonderful parents and staff:

2024-2025 Committee

• Chair: Jodie Gorasia, Parent

• Secretary: Ria House, Parent

• Treasurer: Elaine Barnbrook-Smith, Parent

• Co-chair: Ellen Williams, Head of School at Shepherdswell Academy

• Co-secretary: Sian Marett, Senior Administrator at Shepherdswell Academy

We would love to expand the PTA to offer more opportunities for both schools. If you wish to donate your time, or could spare a monetary donation, raffle prize, or discount to support our school events, please email orchardandshepherdswellpta@gmail.com or talk to Mrs Williams at Shepherdswell.

Mind BLMK

Last year at Shepherdswell we decided to have a school charity of the year, to enable the children to develop a greater awareness of why we are raising money and the importance of giving back to our local community. The school's chosen charity was Mind BLMK.

Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, they offer a number of activities from their wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and their aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.

We are pleased to share that we raised £477.39 during 2023-2024.