Lasting Friendships Through FTS

On a warm Spring morning, volunteers from the FTS arrived at Healey’s Cyder Farm for an exciting morning preparing books for Truro School Prep World Book Week activities.

The group were there to wrap mystery books for each child at the Prep to receive, with each parcel containing a handwritten tag with clues about the surprise book inside. During World Book Week, every child will receive a mystery title to take home and read as part of this week-long celebration of literature.

The FTS is chaired by Lynette, who has two children at Truro School and became involved with the FTS as a way to connect and make friendships in the school community after a move to Cornwall from London.

Lynette says, “The FTS is a community in itself; I have made some of my dearest friends bonding over cupcakes or blowing up balloons for a school event. Many Truro School parents are driving up to an hour to drop their children off, rather than attending a local school where they have a village of support. I like to think of Truro School as that village, for both the parents and the children, here to support each other.”

The FTS offers support for the school through events that accentuate the learning experience for all children. From arranging events such as Squashbox Theatre to perform at World Book Week and the Santa Run on the last day of term, which is loved by all and raises money for Children’s Hospice South West.

Other activities include gifting cakes and coffees for staff on Teacher Appreciation Day and providing a community online and in person for parents. The group have monthly coffee mornings at the Senior and Prep sites, where everyone is welcome to attend, WhatsApp Groups for support and general chatter, Facebook selling pages and social support events, like the book wrap, where any parent can come along to help out and make friends at the same time.

Emma, an FTS volunteer, reflects, “I joined the FTS to meet parents with younger children within the Prep, as my son had moved to the Senior site and my daughter was starting at Nursery. I have been heavily involved with lots of FTS activities. It is a great social circle, and I relish the chance to meet up for a coffee after school drop-off with other parents, which eases the mum-guilt when I have 100 other things to do but also need to take some time for myself and connect with other adults”.

Jo is making a mirage of under the sea creatures, using pom-poms and other crafting techniques. These will be displayed around the school to add some colour and excitement to the classrooms as part of the Book Week celebrations. She has a child in Year 3 at Prep and has been part of the FTS family since her child joined in Nursery. She enjoys helping with anything artistic, and a highlight was assisting Santa with brushing up his beard at the Christmas Fayre in December – a task which took 2 hours!

She remarks, “The FTS are all here to support each other, it is great to have other parents in my support network”. Jo is also dressing up and will be reading to children as part of Book Week.

The FTS has not only assisted parents to make lasting friendships, but also their children to meet each other and socialise across different year groups. As parents meet to discuss upcoming projects or work behind the scenes, many take their children along, and this, in turn, has made the transition from Prep to Senior School an even easier transition.

Raye, a mother of three children at Truro School, has enjoyed fostering friendship groups through the FTS, especially at the beginning of her Truro School journey. “It is great to meet other parents so that when you arrive at sporting events, music recitals and at school drop off, you see a familiar friendly face in the crowd. I always have someone I know to sit with, as we have met and formed friendships through the FTS.”

On Friday, The FTS hosted their Easter Quiz and Film Night. The team worked tirelessly to collect Easter eggs for their charity raffle and make floral table decorations.

For the dads, the FTS has also been a source of friendship.  Pete and Clive, both Year 3 Reps, are heavily involved with events. At the quiz, Pete managed the raffle and helped with ticketing ahead of the event. He has also hosted summer barbeques at his house to welcome new families before the September start.

Clive, also helping at the quiz explained, “My wife talked me into joining, as she does a lot for the FTS, and before I knew it, I was a Year 3 Rep! It has been great though – anything to make the experience even better for our kids. Involvement really is a team effort, and I have made friends through the group. We host socials just for Dads. I arrange a Breakfast Club through WhatsApp for the Year 3 fathers, but we would be more than happy for all year groups to join in! My favourite event was the Summer Fayre last year, and I am looking forward to it again this summer.”

The FTS are involved with so many events within the school community. In the next few weeks, they are hosting a Garden Tour of the Senior School, Minecraft Cinema Evening, Beach Clean, Senior School Quiz night and will be assisting with the 1^st and 2^nd Year discos at the Senior School.

For anyone considering joining the FTS, Lynette would encourage you to reach out, by popping along to an event or by emailing fts@truroschool.com.

Truro School would like to thank all FTS members for their hard work and support within our community. Mr Morse, Head of Prep has passed on his gratitude. “I talk a lot about community and how proud we are of our Truro School Family – the FTS are an integral part of that. I am incredibly grateful for their energy and enthusiasm to make our school a special place. Thank you to all, both those currently involved and those looking to join in future.”