Questions about Friends
We've put together this questions-and-answers page, primarily aimed at new parents or parents that haven't been along to our events yet. If you have any other questions which aren't answered here, please contact us. We'll do our best to help!
Q: Can anyone join Friends?
A: Yes! All offers of help are welcome and there is no limit to the number of parents that can get involved. So why not come along to a meeting and get a 'feel' for what we do? You'll find meeting dates listed on this website.
Q: What if I can't attend every meeting?
A: No problem - just let us know and we'll email you the minutes so you're up to speed with the latest decisions.
Q: What happens at Friends meetings?
A: Our meetings are friendly and informal. We meet two or three times a term in the Long Gallery in the evening to plan and organise events and it's really a social event in itself. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served, sometimes boxes of chocs too - great fun!
Q: I'm quite busy but I'd like to join Friends - how much will I be expected to do?
A: As much or as little as you feel able to do! No-one is pressurised into doing anything. And please don't feel you have to volunteer to help at your first meeting - just take it as an opportunity to get to know us and see how things are done.
Q: Can I join the committee at any point during the year?
A: Yes. You will find the date of our next meeting on this website, so if you're too busy to get involved at the start of the year, you can come along to one of our later meetings.
Q: I want to come to Friends events, but I don't have time to join the committee. Will I be badgered into joining the committee at events?
A: No. Friends events are purely social occasions so parents can get to know each other and have a great time. We are always happy to welcome new committee members, of course, but there's never any pressure to join.
Q: Does the school term diary include details of Friends events?
A: Yes. At the start of every term you will receive a diary of events from the school. Friends events are detailed under the heading 'FOWG' (Friends of Woodhouse Grove). As you will see from the calendar, there's something happening at the Grove most nights, so Friends have to book their slots well in advance!!
Q: How do I obtain tickets for Friends events?
A: You can order tickets via this website where we often have downloadable order forms (see Forthcoming Events page). Advance tickets can also be ordered by sending us an email - it's never too early to reserve a place! Also, watch out for our leaflets which are sent home throughout the term.
Ticket order forms have details of who to make cheques to and these can be handed into the school office (in the old school building) or posted to us. Tickets can sometimes be obtained in the school shop and at the sports centre reception desk.
If you could order tickets for ticketed events in advance rather than just turning up on the night, we would appreciate it so we can cater for food, etc.
Q: I notice the 2007 Parents Information Form sent out by the school asks if my email address can be shared with Friends. What does this mean?
A: The school has always asked for parents' email addresses however this is the first year that email addresses will be shared with Friends.
Last year we set up our own database of parents' email addresses, gathered at new parents evenings and via this website, and it's proved hugely successful - a much more direct way of getting in touch with parents than the notoriously unreliable "pupil post".
Parents on our database are emailed with advance news of ticket sales and events - plus other news like our new online shopping channel. Rest assured your email address will not be shared with any third party and will be sent out as a "bcc" so your address remains confidential.
However if you would prefer NOT to receive emails from us you will be given the option to "opt out". So if this is the case (and we hope it isn't!) please follow the instrucitons at the bottom of the first email you get from us.
Q: My child is joining the school in September, but in a higher year group. Can I come along to the Friends New Parents Evening?
A: Yes! The New Parents Evening isn't just for parents of children joining September's first form - it's open to ALL new parents.
Q: I'd love to come along to Friends events, but we find it hard to get a babysitter.
A: Many parents that come along to our events come alone, either because they can't get a babysitter, because partners are unable to come for whatever reason or because they are single parents.
Friends events are very friendly occasions and not at all 'cliquey', so please don't worry about coming to them alone - we'll soon introduce you to everyone!! Children are welcome at some of our events, too, like the Ice Skating Evening in January, solving the babysitting problem!
Q: My child is joining as a boarder. Obviously I can't get to Friends activities, but I'd like to keep in touch with other parents - can Friends help?
A: If you send us your email address we can keep you up to date with Friends news. We'll also be delighted to answer any questions you have - just send us an email or use our contact form. Also, this website is always being expanded with new information so please visit us regularly!
Q: What's the Friends online shopping channel all about?
A: We've joined an affiliate scheme whereby Friends get commission when you shop at a huge range of well known online stores from Amazon to John Lewis. You can go direct to the affiliate website by clicking here>>
On that website you'll find an A-Z list of participating stores - so simply find the store you want and click on the link to take you direct to that store's Home page. Then shop as normal. When you pay for your order, we automatically receive commission - sometimes as much as 10%.
And you don't pay any more than you would usually pay. So don't even THINK about shopping online until you've clicked on the link to see if it's a participating store!!!
Q: How do I know when to contact Friends and when to contact the school direct about an issue or enquiry?
A: Friends is primarily a parents association that handles fund-raising and social events. However we are also Grove parents, and some of our members are parent teachers, so we're more than happy to answer any questions about being parents at the Grove.
Some enquiries, however, may need to be handled by the school direct (eg school bus enquiries, uniform orders, term dates, boarding issues, etc) and we'll be delighted to point you in the right direction if you're unsure who to contact.