School Support Group

Kirkoswald School Support Group (KOSSG) strives to advance the education of pupils at Kirkoswald School by developing effective relationships between staff, parents/carers and others associated with the school and through the provision of activities, facilities and equipment to enhance the education of the pupils. Parent/Carers of Kirkoswald pupils are automatically members of the support group and each year a committee is chosen at the Annual General Meeting to lead the fundraising efforts of the committee for the next calendar year.

Last year (2014/2015) KOSSG organised: a Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Evening; a very successful Christmas Fair with fantastic craft items made by the pupils/staff; a Christmas Raffle of Christmas Gift/Produce Hampers; The Great KO Bake Off and Scavenger Hunt and Sponsored Swimathon where the school children (from Reception to Year 6) collectively swam the length of Ullswater (and then some!) at Lazonby Pool.

Each year KOSSG funds the coach hire for the whole school trip to see a Christmas Play/Panto and ‘helps’ Santa, we also provide refreshments at various school events including the Easter Concert/Service, Christmas Concert/Carol Service and Sports Day. We also hold Christmas and Easter competitions with prizes for the winning pupils in each year group.

Additionally in 2014/2015 KOSSG bought a Water Cooler with individual water bottles for each pupil, an Outdoor Event Shelter to shade the pupils from the sun, or more likely protect them from the rain, 4 Balance Bikes, a Wooden Play Kitchen and Wooden Bookshelves for Class 1, a Creative Writing day for Class 3 with Tale Trails author Anya Phoenix, Leavers Gifts for Year 6 and a Leavers Pool Party for Years 5 and 6.

This coming year (2015/2016) we plan to fund the renovation of the school playground which will benefit all children from Reception to Year 6, as well as future pupils of Kirkoswald School.

KOSSG raises funds through a variety of means including: donations; raffles; fundraising events; the sale of second-hand uniform; supermarket voucher schemes; catalogues and the internet shopping portal - Easy Fundraising.

We have a Standing Order Mandate Form available for those who wish to make regular monthly donations. One off donations can either be made in cash, by cheques made payable to Kirkoswald School Support Group or by bank transfer to the KOSSG bank account. As a bonus, as KOSSG is a registered charity (Charity No.1091178), it is able to reclaim Gift Aid on qualifying donations. We would therefore be very grateful if all parent/carers who are taxpayers could fill out a Gift Aid Declaration form so that we may make use of this facility.

If you shop regularly using the internet then we would be very grateful if you could shop via the Easy Fundraising website (www.easyfundraising.org.uk). You are still able to shop at your favourite sites, for no additional cost, you just get to them via this website. Every time you shop using Easy Fundraising you can raise money for KOSSG by choosing Kirkoswald School Support Group - Penrith as the good cause to support. If you browse the internet using www.easysearch.org.uk you can raise additional funds for KOSSG - again at no cost to yourself!

Another reward scheme method to raise funds for KOSSG is by shopping at Yellow Moon either through the catalogue which comes home in the children’s book bags at regular intervals or through its website (www.yellowmoon.org.uk) – the online code for KOSSG is Kir12700. Yellow Moon has a fantastic range of craft materials, party bag/stocking fillers and gifts aimed primarily at children. If you would like to find out more about us, buy some second-hand school uniform, give a donation or if you have any questions or fundraising ideas please get in touch.

We have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Kirkowaldssg - please like our page to get all the latest information on our upcoming events and to get in touch with us. Alternatively you can ask for our details at the school office. We look forward to hearing from you!