Minutes of meeting held on 14th November 2007

Apologies: Dani Boder-Cohn (Chair), Sharon Goldstien (Hon. Sec), Ray Lipton (Tresurer), Lawrence
Blaston (Brochure), Limur Nouriel, Ireen Avidan, Shelley Lubert, Garry Harris and Mr Harris (JFS)
Present: Nick Sonenfield, Anne Braverman, Sandy Richer, Rachel & Gary Lipman, Brian Solomons,
Michael Lee, Debra Eisner, Cordia Ezekiel, Chris Setz, Claudia Moss & Simone Abecassis.
Meeting Chaired by Nick Sonenfield
Minute Taker: Anne Braverman
ACCESS TO SCHOOL
First person in had trouble for access as usual. Jarvis as usual denied knowledge of the meeting.
Dani had sent e-mail to Nick explaining how she has now been denied access to the school without an
appointment. Nick spoke to Mr. Harris tonight at Yr11 parents meeting and he has told Nick a letter is
on its way to Dani explaining. Everyone is disgusted with Jarvis and Michael says JFS should give
Chair Official ID allowing her to get into the school without an appointment in order to liaise with Jarvis,
hand in Special Events Forms to book for meetings etc.
SIDDURIM
Ray cannot get Artscroll cheaper than the £8.40 the school has quoted. Nick has been quoted £7.80
for Singer why cannot we supply cheaper Siddurim. Michael said why we cannot ask JFS to contribute
the extra £780 it would cost. Dani should ask Jamie Peston if we could keep the Singer. Should we
could ask Aish or JLE for a contribution. It was decided not to ask them.
Dani has since emailed Jamie Peston with this info who now wants to know what quotes we have for
the new Singers. She is awaiting reply but time is running short for ordering!
ACCOUNTS
Ian has told Nick he will have the accounts ready by end of November (loud groan from everyone). It
has been decided that on 1st December we will ask for books immediately whether they have been
audited or not.
AGM
Forms must go out this week to comply with rules. This means school must have access to data base
etc and be able to print out letters. Chris said why we can’t just e-mail everyone. Cordia asked why
we need to tell everyone, Michael says everyone needs to know. Nick says Governors AGM used to be
same day and some would stay on for our AGM also that our letter used to be sent out with thiers.
Anne mentioned last year when a parent caused trouble by stating she was not informed in time to
propose new chair etc. Nick says we must to it by the book but we do not have enough time. He
suggested changing the date of the AGM. Chris has become struck a rapport with Vicky Lismore in
office and he is sure she will help us with printing, collating, posting etc. Chris says can we change
notice of meeting from 28 days to 14 days next year. Dani is to send up to date copies of letters to
Chris who will speak to Vicky to arrange distribution.
Debra has said she is available to stuff envelopes. Michael asked why school doesn’t tell us when
there is a mail-out at school so we could put something in it. He was told communication is very
difficult. It was pointed out it would save money. Michael wanted to know who is the office manager at
JFS who arranges all mail outs – he wants a name but we were unable to give him one. Chris says we
need a name chart of who does what and when as far as the school and Jarvis are concerned – it was
pointed out that Dani had stated that the Jarvis staff have a large turn around which makes it very
difficult for a list.
Chris asked what the PTA is for. Nick replied social and fundraising for school, helping to promote
school to parents. Chris then said so we are JFS’s personal PA – but what success do we have? Nick
said copies all minutes are sent to Head for her information. Chris then asked if parents appreciate us,
how can we improve communication with parents – can we e-mail them? Are parents allowed to
approach us with problems? Nick said no, problems must go via the school. Data protection apparently
prevents the school from giving us details.

This was brought up in meeting between chair and incoming Headteacher and we must give him time
to come back to us.
Debra met Chair of Governors (Mr Kett) at a meeting. Only 17 parents turned up. He was very
informal and chatty. Michael said maybe we could also give Governors list of our meetings and ask
them who will be attending? Simone asked why Mr Kett doesn’t come to our meetings.
This was already discussed as a good idea at the last meeting and was minuted!
Chris said if we e-mail all parents we might get responses from them. Gary has said we must give Mr
Miller time to come back with answers from his meeting with PTA. Brian said paper is still better.
Maybe letters could be sent out via pupils and teachers tell students to put note in their progress report
they have letter regarding PTA AGM. Nick stated he is worried about timing for the letters. Brian asked
why we can’t postpone AGM until January thus giving us more time. Nick proposes that the AGM is
changed to the 19th December giving us 2 more days to arrange for the letters to be distributed. Brian
said give the pupils the letters, Vicky must be able to arrange this. Nick says the school has to agree.
Brian says why they wouldn’t – we’ve discharged our obligation by sending out the letters, it’s not our
fault if the pupils don’t give the letters to their parents. Rachel read out from 2006 notes the aims of the
PTA. Nick proposes AGM is changed to 19th Michael seconds it. Dani is to be told tomorrow of
change. Dani is to ask school if the letters can be given to pupils to save time and money (no stamps
or envelopes needed).
Dani will liaise with Chris regarding the nomination forms. Email database the PTA hold is only
compiled from the class lists at the Incoming Yr7 Evening each year as school cannot give us details.
Brian says next year’s new committee need to bullet points What they need to do over the year. If
Vicky helps us out, we need to give her chocs.
Dani has a year planner with known events. We are reliant on the school to give us other dates such as
concert etc.
CONCERT
6th form concert is being arranged for 10th December can we do refreshments. Debra is the only one
who is available. E-mail to be sent out asking for volunteers for that night. Brian can help on the 12th.
Nick said year 11 meeting was tonight and not on 28th – is the 28th still on for us to provide
refreshments. Rachel and helpers need to know ASAP.
THE MEETING NICK REFERED TO WAS OPEN EVENING. WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR
THE 28TH AS THIS IS AN EVENING ABOUT YR11 TRANSERING TO YR12(6TH FORM)
EXCEL PROMOTIONS
We have been asked to sell Kashrut Guides at the supper quiz – it has been decided NO – we have
enough to do on the night Dani to let them know.
SUPPER QUIZ
Anne has had a lot of trouble with phoning people for brochure advertising and has now given up.
Some of the reasons for negativity were: Wrong numbers, people not in, had no response last year so
no, and didn’t get copy of brochure last year were they actually in it? Etc.
This is concerning as last year Sharon confirmed that she sent everyone who advertised, a copy of the
brochure!
We have sold 215 tickets and have £2,000’s worth of brochure adverts – not enough. Chris said he
wrote to Alan Sugar but has had no response. Michael said we should have contacted people 9
months ago for re-sponsoring. Now is too late. Nick said we need a person just to specialise on the
brochure advertising on the committee and to start much earlier.
We have had trouble getting more than 5-8 people at a meeting, finding someone to take the brochure
on board was hard and even harder, earlier. Maybe new parents would like to volunteer their services.
Simone asked how many table sponsors have we. If we only have 2 then it can be announced they are
sponsoring the tables. Anne has a small laminator at home and can do sponsorship signs but needs to
know how many and who. Simone will liaise with her. Nick asks what else needs to be bought. Rachel
has asked for help with buying the drinks – Anne & Sandy said they will do that – also it was asked if
juices could also be bought. Anne will get these from Lidl. Michael said he has a large urn he can lend
us. Debra says can Dani ask if we can get in earlier than 5pm. Or can we at least drop off drinks etc.
earlier? Dani to ask Jarvis. Sandy & Anne to buy more banqueting rolls.
Once Mr Harris’s letter arrives, it will hopefully explain how we gain access to deal with the above
matters.

Quizmaster to get present for helping. Simone says tickets should have been sent out already where
are they. Who is doing table plan. Simone says she will sit at table in entrance telling people what
table they are sitting at but she will need a list of either table head or people. Scorers to be organised
by Sandy & Anne (year 10 children). Simone has asked who is doing raffle prize list? No-one knew.

Tickets were printed on Monday 5th and delivered to Sharon on the same day for distribution. Table plan
did not work last year; Sharon can give Simone the lists of names and tables for entry. Raffle prize list
will be printed in the brochure with thanks.

AOB
Chris asked if agenda can be supplied in advance to everyone for meetings.

Nick said DATE OF AGM TO BE CHANGED TO 19TH DECEMBER is everyone in agreement – all said
yes. Jarvis to be contacted and told. Anne said it might prove difficult!

NEXT MEETING AGM 19TH DECEMBER 2007 AT THE SCHOOL

NOMINATION FORMS TO FOLLOW