OPS Fots - Friends of the school

Fots (Friends of the school)  is a group of school whānau and staff who want to support their children’s school. It's a little bit like a PTA - Parent Teacher Association which you may be familiar with. 

Different people bring different skills, availability and different ideas. There are a lot of people in our community who want to give their time or expertise etc…the role of Fots is partially to find those people and inspire them to get involved with a current project or initiative.

Being involved in Fots not only helps OPS, it's a great way to show your child/ren that you value school and that being involved is important. 

It’s also a chance to meet other OPS whānau - previous members have made lifelong friends from their involvement.

Minutes of our meetings

Friends of the School 2024 - Agenda & Minutes  

2023 Meeting agendas and Minutes - Tentative meeting dates for 2023 included.

How Does Fots Help OPS?

Fots is a voluntary group of OPS whānau who have traditionally supported our school in one of a few different  ways…

• Supporting with school events and school operation

  • Processing resources

  • Readers and resources in Resource Room

  • Ice Block Fridays

  • Sausage Sizzles / Special lunches

  • Lunchtime sports leading

  • Library volunteers

• ‘Fun’or ‘community’-raising - supporting with events with a focus on bringing OPS whānau and children together and promoting ‘fun’, connecting and celebrating

  • Special events aimed at bringing our school community together as the first priority. There may still be a low level fundraising component to these - Eg 2023 Arts and Cultural Festival - Term 4 2023

  • For example - food stalls for dinner for our start of the year ‘Meet The Teacher’ for the whānau picnic afterwards, the OPS float in the Onehunga Santa Parade or Discos

  • Grandparents and grandfriends day

  • Supporting language weeks

  • Preparing for special events - eg Hall decoration for end of year awards

  • Official opening of new building event - there will be a Fots role in the manaakitanga - the hospitality, catering etc

• Fundraising - focused event raising money for the school and for school projects and events.

  • Sausage Sizzles for events eg Santa Parade, Bunnings Sausage Sizzles, Calendar Art, Book Fairs, Beats by Bingo, Fun Runs, 

• Grant Applications 

  • Completing Grant applications for items or projects identified by our BOT for the year which align to the charter and strategic planning. 

  • This could also be approaching community groups for support for the above focuses.

• Gardening and Working Bees

  • Supporting and organizing weekly gardening or working bees focused on specific outdoor areas of the school.

How Does Fots Help OPS?

Fots is a voluntary group of OPS whānau who have traditionally supported our school in one of a few different  ways…

• Supporting with school events and school operation

  • Processing resources

  • Readers and resources in Resource Room

  • Ice Block Fridays

  • Sausage Sizzles / Special lunches

  • Lunchtime sports leading

  • Library volunteers

• ‘Fun’or ‘community’-raising - supporting with events with a focus on bringing OPS whānau and children together and promoting ‘fun’, connecting and celebrating

  • Special events aimed at bringing our school community together as the first priority. There may still be a low level fundraising component to these - Eg 2023 Arts and Cultural Festival - Term 4 2023

  • For example - food stalls for dinner for our start of the year ‘Meet The Teacher’ for the whānau picnic afterwards, the OPS float in the Onehunga Santa Parade or Discos

  • Grandparents and grandfriends day

  • Supporting language weeks

  • Preparing for special events - eg Hall decoration for end of year awards

  • Official opening of new building event - there will be a Fots role in the manaakitanga - the hospitality, catering etc

• Fundraising - focused event raising money for the school and for school projects and events.

  • Sausage Sizzles for events eg Santa Parade, Bunnings Sausage Sizzles, Calendar Art, Book Fairs, Beats by Bingo, Fun Runs, 

• Grant Applications 

  • Completing Grant applications for items or projects identified by our BOT for the year which align to the charter and strategic planning. 

  • This could also be approaching community groups for support for the above focuses.

• Gardening and Working Bees

  • Supporting and organizing weekly gardening or working bees focused on specific outdoor areas of the school.

Fots Events & Involvement

• Fots operates as part of OPS and not an independent group and is therefore governed by our OPS BOT

• Does the proposed event align with our schools values and principles? - eg sustainability? Healthy eating?

• Does the event align with OPS current strategic focuses and current charter? Fundraising each year must be aligned with BOT/School priorities.  Traditionally staff contribute to a ‘wish list’, which the BOT and Snr leaders prioritize based on charter. 

• Timing - any events need to be considered in the context of the school term calendar. Ideally we would plan the year’s events and focuses at the end of the previous year.

• Timing needs to be considered in relation to what we are asking whānau for -  eg have we already asked for money or time recently?

• We need to be aware any potential impact on classes and learning programmes and try to minimise this wherever possible

• A focus on minimising effort for maximised fund raising outcomes - eg Fun Run vs Choc Bar Sales

• The best way to support our staff is to minimise what we ask them to do outside of their teaching role. If an event can not be run with minimal staff involvement (eg without staff members running a stall) then it is probably not possible.

• A cohesive planned approach - any approaches to businesses and community groups for sponsorship or support must be part of an agreed approach and approved by school. 

• Any Fots events or Fund raising must be approved by the Principal in advance.