Our Parent Association is active and has an important role in the life of the school. The PA is run as a non-profit making organization (ASBL) under Belgian legislation. A small committee meets regularly to organize social and fund-raising activities in and out of school. Such events include a Christmas bazaar, children's Easter egg hunt, car boot sale, arboretum walks, quiz evenings and wine wasting.

The PA raises funds for local and international charities and the school. In the past the PA has supported Children in Need, Blue Peter appeals, a Romanian Orphanage, small schools in Africa and a Mobile school in Latin America. The PA also co-ordinates a Christmas shopping day in school for the children, where small items are donated and the children choose, buy and wrap them as gifts for their parents. This gives the children a real sense of independence. Children benefit from the many skills of our volunteer parents, such as Saturday morning football, ballet and dance lessons.

The PA produces a file of information for parents which is available from the school office and contains details of a wide variety of local information contributed by parents regarding shops, handymen, playgrounds, doctors, dentists, restaurants etc. - newcomers find this most helpful.

Class Representatives

At British Primary, we have a class representative scheme. Each class has two class representatives who act as a central point of contact for the class teacher; this aids the flow of information between parents and school and supports the school's fund-raising and social activities. The class reps meet informally once or twice a term to discuss issues of interest to British Primary and pass on comments, problems, praise, and suggestions to the school. The class rep system complements the school's own information network and provides an informal way of assessing how parents feel about certain issues.

The class reps organize coffee mornings and social events which provide a valuable opportunity for parents to get to know each other and exchange useful local information.
Each summer during the holidays, the reps organize weekly meetings, usually at a local play park, where existing and new families can meet before the new school year.

Vossem Update is the magazine of the British Primary PA, and is produced twice a term. It contains details of what's going on in school, dates for your diary, calls for help with school and PA events, entertaining features, recommendations of things to do with children and a useful small ad section. The editor is always delighted to receive contributions.

Parents' Comments