It's been a while since the last GROW newsletter contribution, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce your GROW team to those of you who are new to the school. GROW is our school's unique parent-teacher organisation. We are a registered charity and an incorporated society. EVERY caregiver and teacher at West Rolleston Primary School is a member of GROW (it's in our constitution!).

We have three elected officials: Kylie Drake, Chairperson; Kelly Franks, Secretary; and Lynn Hoffmeister, Treasurer. Lynn is new to the job this year, Kelly and I are into our second term. That's us in the picture ;)

We have three representatives from school who regularly attend meetings: Sylvia Fidow, Amanda Clarkson and Andy Benn. As a team we work closely to make sure that GROW's activities are aligning with what the school and BoT want and need.

GROW's job is to build community within our school environment and to support our teachers and learners, so that they all have the best educational experience they can. As a new school (5 years now!) this has meant that GROW has focused on outdoor spaces and leisure time activities. I see the influence of GROW fundraising and working bees every time I walk through the school gates. In 2016 the school opened with just the playground that sits outside TAW, so we've come a long way in 5 years. GROW also supplies all the cultural and sports uniforms.

Currently, we're working on raising funds for a gaga dodgeball pit (think "Hunger Games") and some in-ground trampolines. Those plans were stymied by the lockdown period, but our planning is back in full swing.

We also have several other projects on the go:

Dena Greene and Linda Currie are currently managing the school disco for Friday. 

Joanna Burnett is in charge of weekly Hot Chocolate, with Carmen Walcott-Wood and a trusty team of sidekicks.

Amanda Clarkson has organised the Pasta Vera fundraiser.

Jacinta Cooney is working on a Rolleston Revival voucher book and can be contacted at jacinta@quartzrolleston.co.nz if you'd like more details.

Laetitia Jones is working on a BBQ for Election Day and will put a call out for volunteers closer to the time.

Vaipou Shadwell and Renee Fa'atui are working on getting 80 Pasifika uniforms designed and made ahead of Cultural Festival in Term 4 (using funds from last Christmas' raffle).

Carmen Walcott-Wood is organising an exciting opportunity to purchase school house t-shirts through GROW (which will be amazing for everyone who wondered where they were going to find their kids a yellow or purple shirt!).

Nicole Richards is implementing a "friendship seat" within the playground for children who are a little lonely and need to indicate they're available to play with anyone who spots them, and work on this is ongoing.

And last but not least, Jo Burnett and her team of Nina Marie, Steph Hautler, and Alan Whitmore are trying to nail down a date for our annual cheese roll fundraiser for Year 5/6 and 7/8 camp in 2021.

There's several other wee projects on the go, which I will tell you more about in future newsletters.

If you have any ideas, or want to be involved, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at growwrps@gmail.com. We meet the 2nd and 8th week of the term and will be trialing Wednesday night meetings for the rest of the year. We'd love to see you at a meeting, there is no pressure to volunteer to manage a project, but as with all communities, we can only continue to offer support to the school if we have the support of you all.

Thanks, Kylie