Our PTFA

Stronger Connections – More Moments to Cherish – Open Door for Everyone – Fundraising with Heart

YOUR NEW PTFA – A SHARED VISION FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

We are excited to introduce our new PTFA team – Left to right: Reezwan Popat  (Co-Chair), Amanda Roumian  (Secretary), Jen Jones (Chair),  Irina Cretu (Co-Secretary), Jun Li  (Co-Treasurer) and Madan Gupta  (Treasurer). –   a group of parents and  teachers who are passionate about making our school an even warmer,  more connected place for our children to grow and thrive. 

Our Vision for the Future  of our Parent Community 

At the heart of our PTFA is a simple belief: when we come together  as a community, we create something truly special for our children.  We want every family to feel welcomed, every voice to be heard and  every contribution, big or small, to make a difference. 

Who are we?

Jen Jones Chair

We moved to Harrow almost five  years ago after having Reggie who is now in Reception. One of the reasons we came to Harrow is for the huge climbing wall although I haven’t been as much as I hoped I would! I really enjoy gardening and I started a course in Horticulture in September 2024. I especially like sustainable garden practices and gardening for wildlife and have dreams of creating more community green spaces in Harrow.”

Reezwan Popat Co-Chair

Jambo! Papa to Eiyra and Raanya  in Year 4. From Kenya originally, with a background in graphic design, I now specialize in personalised books for children, with an office in Kenya and London. Having always been a highly active volunteer, I am currently a cub leader and head of operations for a community  school, and I hope to bring some of that experience to PTFA and help make a difference to our School.

Amanda Roumian Secretary

“Hello! I am Amanda, mum to Danny in Year 4 and Leonard in Reception. We have lived in Harrow for the last 6 years. We’ve chosen Saint Jérôme because I am French and wanted to give the children the opportunity to develop their French language. After more than 10 years in the event industry, I am a happy (not everyday!) stay at home mum with projects to change my work plans. I am an active and outdoorsy person who is passionate about natural health, medicinal plants, and all natural ways to live in respect for Mother Earth! I love the community we have created inside the school and I am very excited to give more!”

Irina Cretu Co-Secretary

“I’m Irina, mum to Albert in Year 3! I’m originally from Romania, but have called Harrow home for the past 10 years. I’m currently doing a PhD in Cyber Security and AI (which sounds fancier than it is!), and before that, I worked in market research. I love being part of the school community and look forward to meeting more parents—so if you see me at pick-up, feel free to say hi!”

Madan Gupta Treasurer

“Myself Madan Gupta, father of Kaushiki Gupta in Year 2, Willow. We moved to Harrow 2 years ago because my wife wanted to live in a community where she feels like being at home. We are from Nepal bordering India and so we have grown in Indian culture and Harrow makes us feel not far from home. By profession I am ACCA and my wife is a medical doctor. However she needs take licence before she is allowed to practice in the UK.”

Jun Li Co-Treasurer

“Hi, I’m Jun, mother to George in Year 2 and Lewis, who will be joining Reception this September. I work as an accountant and financial manager in an investment company, and I also teach GCSE Chinese at a weekend community school. I am passionate about supporting children’s growth and development and feel privileged to be part of the St. Jerome School community.

As Treasurer, I would love to hear your ideas and proposals for school improvements and future projects, helping to build a stronger connection between parents and the school. I look forward to working together to raise funds for initiatives that will enrich our children’s school life and educational experience.”

OUR ACTIONS IN REACTION

Our aim is to improve the general communication between parents,  the school and the PTFA by setting up monthly meetings with the  school and by setting up a school community Whatsapp group to  help improve our visibility to all parents of what they can be part of.

• With resources from the school, we intend to create new roles  in the PTFA – Language Parent Representatives. The Language  Representatives will assist the PTFA and the school to translate relevant  information and communications into other languages to help parents  communicate better with the school and the PTFA in their native  languages.

• We are restructuring the PTFA organisation and its committee members’  roles and will circulate the newly defined roles before the next meeting. We are also in communication with the school regarding improvements  and changes to the PTFA webpage.

• We are creating a framework that will support parents who take on  the lead role in organising any event, to ensure proper organisational  support. A number of new parents have already joined, while some have  continued doing what they had initiated previously – please see in the Thank You section at the end of the most recent edition of PTFA Insight – link towards the end of this page.

• We have identified the following projects that require funding:
– Playground equipment (funding approved)
– Tablets (not yet approved)
– School trips (not yet approved)
– Playground improvements (not yet approved)

For projects awaiting approval, the PTFA will organise a parent survey to help decide which projects should receive the PTFA funding.

• We will be using the notice board in the playground for all PTFA announcements and communications.

• A suggestion box will be placed in the playground so you can share your ideas.

If you have any suggestions, ideas, and would like involvement in supporting any activity planned, please get in touch via ptfa@stjeromebilingual.org