It feels like yesterday that I sat here in November last year and agreed to stand as chairman for AHSA. What a year, and what hard work, but so much fun. I have enjoyed it all.

It has been another fabulous year for AHSA, our many events have yet again raised much needed and valued monies for Aylesbury High School, enhancing the, as always tight school budget, ensuring that those ‘extras’ are available to our daughters at school.

Our fundraising calendar started in October with the first family portrait session – an excellent response to what will now be a regular slot. The photographs made treasured family Christmas gifts. The girls did not need too much encouragement to don their finest attire and pose for photographs!

November saw our regular Autumn Draw, a large contributor to our annual ‘pot’. This particular fundraiser is supported well, but as a point of interest, if every family in the school supported their daughter by buying just one book of raffle tickets at £5, we could raise in excess of £7500.00!  Now that’s what you call fundraising support. Please consider that thought, when the tickets are on offer next time, it’s such an easy way to support your daughter at the school. The ever popular Girls Night Out closed the November activities, with everyone having so much fun, especially at the Chocolate Fountain.

Our Quiz Evening in February went down a storm as usual with everyone enjoying the Ploughman’s supper. The AHS team really must try to laugh less and move up the league table from our bottom place next time!

In May we organised the Year 11 Ball, themed as a Masquerade Ball. The members of the committe worked so hard to turn the school, that evening, into a glittering venue, which was matched by the girl’s stunning prom dresses. The young men from AGS, looked equally handsome in their ‘black tie’ suits for the evening.

Throughout the year many more ideas continued to add to the coffers, such as the ‘Fone Club’ – recycling mobile phones, supporting the school ‘green’ status and at £2.50 for every phone donated, it was an idea that will be repeated again, despite the low response in its first year.  

The 50/50 club had its best year yet, with the most members to date. Lucky winners each month had a very healthy cheque in the post. I do urge you all to think about this as another easy way to support the school, and at only £15 per year!

I was proud to represent AHSA at the New Year 7 parents evening in July and again at their social evening in October. It was a valuable way of raising our profile, to encourage our new parents to support the school.

Another opportunity arose when this year for the first time I attended the New Sixth Form open evening, speaking to the ‘new parents’ and also reminding ‘old parents’, that we still need their continued support.

All in all it has been a busy year, with the committee reviewing and updating the constitution, looking at improving the website, giving time to discuss plans for AHS’s 50^th celebrations in 2010 and providing a notice board in the school to help keep the girls informed of ‘what’s on’ with AHSA. We have lots of ideas for the coming year and look forward to encouraging as many parents as possible to share them with us.

As a result of our fundraising, we were proud to present in July, Mr Rosen , a cheque for £10,000 to purchase a new sound system for the school’s main hall. Of course raising such a sum is no easy task and many people helped make this possible. On behalf of the committee our thanks go to Mr Rosen for his support, the school care takers, the ladies in the front office and reprographics, to Liz Chubb our fabulous teacher representative who has agreed to stay with us for a second year. Thank you so much.

To the girls and their parents for all the support at every event we have held, thank you.

But most importantly, my special thanks go to the AHSA committee and helpers, without their hard work and dedication to fundraising, none of this would be possible. Everyone has contributed in their own way, but I would like to mention my special thanks to Jan Marote, as secretary and general organiser of us all.

To Karen Patton our treasurer – keeping counting the money Karen, Elisabeth Ryder for a magnificent effort with the 50/50 club, and to Jill Rogan and her team who really did a sterling job in organising the fabulous Year 11 ball.

As a new chairman thank you all for the support you have shown me in my first year of office – you really gave fundraising FUN.

Deborah Roberts, AHSA Chairman