FRIENDS of the PETCHEY ACADEMY

Dear parent/carer

 The Friends of The Petchey Academy [FOTPA] continues to grow and there is now an almost fully formed steering group of parents. We're looking for just FIVE more representatives who want to help improve the links between school and home life.

We're especially keen to hear from parents with children in Jacoub and Jenner.

As a parent or carer of a Petchey student, you're part of the whole school community, represented by FOTPA. To celebrate our community we'd like to invite you to a Summer BBQ. MONDAY 21 JUNE 2010 from 6:30 until 8:30 pm. Join us at The Petchey Academy to meet other parents and some staff for a relaxed evening and an informal opportunity to find out how you can do more to support your children.

When pupils start at the Academy, parents are asked to complete a number of forms, one of which asks if you have any skills, experiences or knowledge that you could share with the school to enhance the curriculum. We're hoping to review this information over the coming months so don't be surprised if you get a letter or a phone call.

Parents and carers can help the school in lots of ways. Inspiring stories of personal experience, work lives or professional skills can all add to the academic life. FOTPA is interested in a two-way dialogue and would like to hear from parents who could benefit from activities arranged at the school, whether that's language lessons or just an informal get together to chat about The Petchey Way or life in Hackney.

Another area where we can all do more to help, is reinforcing the Petchey 'rules'. Pupils are told NOT to bring mobile phones or MP3 players in to the Academy. Please ensure your child is NOT one of the few breaking the school rules; which include not carrying cash to spend in shops on the way to or from the Academy.

FOTPA would like to work with parents, carers and staff to find ways of changing popular perceptions of young people and encouraging our children to understand how their behaviour appears to others. We can explore this at the Summer BBQ on Monday 21 June.

Our next FOTPA meeting is on 26 April, if you'd like to join the steering committee, please do come along or contact us via via our webpage on the Petchey website or through the Academy's main office.

 Tim Webb.

Chair of FOTPA

FRIENDS of the PETCHEY ACADEMY