What is charity?

As I sit here in POWSA Towers I ask myself this question. I know it's a big question and I suspect it's even bigger answer, so I turn to Google. According to Google, who's very clever and knows lots of things, the second most common answer is;

"the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money"

which is pretty close to the nub of it in my opinion, but it doesn't quite tell the whole story.

The reason I am thinking of this at this time is that the POWSA AGM is rapidly approaching, the annual meeting to satisfy the constitution of POWSA as a charity and elect the leaders, movers and shakers for the schools PTA for the next 12 months. Excitingly this will be the first year the whole school and pre-school have been represented by a single body so we have more opportunity to make a difference.

As a group we regularly ask you for your money, we try to make these appeals as entertaining and enlivening as possible (as anyone who's seen us cook a BBQ will be able to understand) but what do we give?

The honest answer is time, which can feel far more precious than money, but is equally available from everyone to give to the benefit of everyone. At POWSA no one is made to give their time, we all volunteer it. Helping us with 30 minutes once in a while would make a massive contribution and just as welcome would be helping at any events that we hold

What do we gain for this gift of time? I'd like to say we get access to Mr Farrington's secret cave under the school where he has super computers that can understand 8 year olds, but I would be lying. There's no computer capable of such a feat. I don't want to speak for any of the other people who regularly help out at POWSA but personally it helped me to meet people when the children started at the school. It's allowed me to make friends (not just on Facebook although you can like POWSA there), show my children that there's more to school than their own classroom / roundhouse / farm / Fairthorne experiences and be part of a group who give their time for no tangible personal benefit, which is charitable, isn't it?

So what about you? Can you spare half an hour a week (that's less time than an episode of Dr Who, the same as an episode of Corrie and it's the last series of Downton so you'll need something to fill the void). If so come along to the AGM, or just say hello and see what we do. I can't promise you the keys to POWSA towers but we do tend to have mighty fine scones which you will be welcome to try.

The AGM will be held this Thursday in the staffroom at the school, it starts at 7:45pm and all are welcome. Come along and see who we are and what we do, there's no pressure and we won't bite.

Maggie's Den + Two Little Ducks+ Doctors Orders+ Here Comes Herbie+ Kelly's Eye + Man Alive = Top Of The Shop?

So you thought that the summer was over and you could safely put the Big Bingo Blotter away until next years visit to the happy holiday camp. Well think again.....

This Friday POWSA presents Family Prize Bingo at the school, 5:30 for a 6pm start. As it's the first event of the school year we would love to welcome new & old families and give everyone a chance to meet . The kids are more than welcome as long as they promise not to win all of the games as this will only upset Grandma and she'll choke on her dentures, which is never a pretty sight.

It's £2 a book, may the odds be ever in your favour and if anyone is interested there's a full list of Bingo Lingo here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_bingo_nicknames

Let's see how many we can drop into conversation this week

No School Uniform - Bring a Prize Instead

Don't forget that it's non uniform day tomorrow, bring in some choccies or a prize for the raffle instead.....

Summer Fair Sizzler?

Only a few days to go until the annual Summer Fair and the schools netball & football tournaments and, according to the seaweed hung up and the bones that we have cast here at POWSA towers the weather is going to be great, not too hot but perfect for an early summers BBQ.

As a reminder to anyone who has missed our previous posts, the Fair starts at 11am this Saturday and we are delighted to let you know that this year all of the meat for the BBQ will be provided by local producers with close links to the school. Maiden Castle Farm & Brace of Butchers (Poundbury) have kindly offered to support the event this year and our thanks go out to them. For the children this will help their understanding of the whole Farm to Fork ethos as they regularly visit the farm as part of their studies.

Whilst we can promise, therefore, that the burgers and sausages supplied will be of exceptionally high quality the same cannot be said of the skills of our resident BBQ master so if you can spare any time to help him learn how to cook without setting fire to everything (no that's not Flambe, it's burning) or man any of the other great stalls and games your support will be greatly appreciated. The sign up sheet will be outside of school for the next 2 days, make your mark and join in the fun.

We'd also like to thank all of you and the local businesses whose kind donations provide the prizes for the many raffles and auctions that we hold throughout the year, your support really does have a major impact on what we can achieve.

We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday, the fun starts at 11am and continues until 2pm.

Here Today, Scone Tomorrow

Now we can't favour any one scone recipe ahead of any other but this is a savoury scone that has been well received and should give you a good start if you're struggling for ideas........

 

Savoury Cheese & Mustard Scones

 

(Makes 12)

• 225g Plain white flour
• 1tsp  Baking powder
• 50g Butter (unsalted)
• 1tbsp Thyme
• ½tsp Mustard powder
• pinch Salt
• pinch  Pepper
• 50g Cheddar cheese extra mature, grated
• 25g Parmesan grated
• 3tbsp  Buttermilk plus a little extra to glaze
• 2  Egg(s) (free range) medium

The Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180°c (fan 160°c, gas mark 4).

Step 2

Place the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the butter and using your fingertips rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. You could also do this in a food processor.

Step 3

Add the thyme, mustard powder, salt, pepper, the grated cheddar and three quarters of the parmesan and mix lightly.

Step 4

Add the eggs and buttermilk and using a round blade knife mix gently until all the mixture is combined into a dough, but do not overwork the mix.

Step 5

Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and lightly roll or pat the dough to a thickness of 2-3cm. Cut the scones using a 5cm round cutter and place onto a baking sheet.

Step 6

Lightly brush the scones with a little additional buttermilk and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan.

Bake for 20 minutes. Let the scones cool

 

EAT THEM ALL.....

Minecraft Craft

So Minecraft Craft, for the uninitiated here are 8 things you might like to know about Minecraft;

1) This is Steve, he's the hero of Minecraft. He's like a normal guy but he's made out of blocks

2) Creepers....... these are Green, have 3 legs and are the basic baddies. Think thing from the Swamp but made out of blocks

3) Pigs. You know pigs, they're pink, they go oink and they are made out of blocks.

In fact why stop at pigs, you can have the whole farming experience, there are cows and chickens to look after, fruit & veg to grow and wheat to harvest.

4) Endermen. These are the super baddies, tall, black, purple eyes. Not only can these guys move blocks around they are made from them

5) You're imagination is the only limit....honestly look at YouTube, the creations that have been made (virtually) are amazing if a little, well....blocky

6) Wolves may sound scary but give them a bone in minecraft and you've got a virtual Lassie on your hands, well in block form that is.

7) Gold, Diamonds & Obsidian. No not the gifts from the three wise men but precious metals you can mine and use to make weapons, armour and implements to help you in your block shaped world.

8) Ever wanted to live in the arctic tundra, how about a place in the sun? No, you want a swamp home? Once again in minecraft you can start your world in one of many Biomes each of which has it's own climate and landscape. Oh and they are all blocky too.

So as you can see, the world is your Oyster. Go crazy and craft to your blocky hearts content.

Summer Fair 2015 - Come Join the Fun

At POWSA Towers we've been working hard to prepare for the Summer Fair. On Saturday 6th June we have the annual inter - school football & netball tournaments and running alongside these the chance for you to all enjoy yourselves, have fun and support the school. There will be games to play, candyfloss, burgers and juices to keep you going as well as the chance to cheer on the teams from years 3 & 4

We have already received some initial donations of crockery and will welcome any more donations that you can spare. Please don't donate anything that might make an appearance on Antiques Roadshow but if you have any plates or bowls that are old, chipped or just unloved we will put them to a smashing new use.

There is a sign up sheet at the schools reception, if you can spare some time to help us on the day, be it flipping burgers on the BBQ (we'll supply the apron) or running a game for an hour please let us know, your help and support is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you there, the football  & netball kick off at 11am