Dear Parents and Caregivers

As I shared with you recently at the Meet The Teacher evening, I am participating in the Bayleys Plate up for a Purpose event to support struggling families within our city provide the tools their children need for school.

I would dearly appreciate the support of the wider Cathedral Grammar community in helping me achieve my individual goal of at least $10,000 for these children. I have 11 days to raise $4,000!

We have all experienced a wonderful start to the school year, with new students welcomed across all year levels and our existing students coming through the gates refreshed and looking forward to the year ahead. We are fortunate at Cathedral Grammar to have a community committed to excellence in education and the ability to ensure their children have everything they require to access and maximise the educational opportunities and experiences on offer.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for all children in our city and the Christchurch City Mission require $300 000 to fund their programme which supports families surviving on very little to get their children to school with the stationery, uniform and other basics they need throughout the school year.

I firmly believe all parents, whatever their circumstances, want the best for their children, but for some families, back to school expenses can be overwhelming – which is why I have agreed to put my culinary skills on the line and take part in this wonderful fundraiser.

We all know and understand that education changes lives and, with this in mind, I am asking the wider Cathedral Grammar community to sponsor me and support this very worthy cause by making a contribution through this link:

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/bayleys-plate-up-for-a-purpose-scott-thelning

All donations over $500, personal or business (with your permission), will be acknowledged through our social media channels, Grammar Notes and school website, and you can claim back the tax through the New Zealand charitable giving tax credit provisions.

If your business allocates funds to charities each year - I would appreciate your support with this one!

I also have a table for ten allocated to me and some of you have expressed an interest in buying/donating money for seats to attend the event. Based on previous years, it is a great night out and a chance to have some fun while supporting the City Mission. The MCs for the evening are Oscar Kightley and Stacey Morrison and includes a three course dinner and drinks for the evening. The dinner is of course a part of the competition aspect of the event, with each team planning and cooking one of the three courses. I am in the dessert team and the competition is hot between the teams - so I would hope you vote for the dessert! Unfortunately, you will be able to see all of the happenings, good and bad, within the kitchen as it is live streamed to all the guests!

A key part of the evening is an auction to support the aspirations of the City Mission.

If you are interested in seats for this event on February 27 at the Christ's College Dining Hall, please make contact with me. First in, first served.

In anticipation, I thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Scott Thelning