SALTUS ASSOCIATION NOT JUST A FUND-RAISING COMMITTEE! What is the role of the Saltus Association (PTA)? Our role is to enhance the educational experience of the students at the School, to ensure the well-being and success of the School by promoting communication between members (parents) and the Headmaster and teachers, to provide a forum for the raising of questions of general importance to the School, to organise educational and social events for the benefit of students, teachers, parents, alumni and special friends, and to raise funds to help provide support for the School. What do parents need to know about the Saltus Association? If they haven’t been on the Saltus PTA section of PEN, we invite them to do so. It has a lot of great information about our events, the Saltus Shop, even names of students in SGY who babysit! We are a small but busy group of volunteers. We realise that life is busy when you have children, even more so if you work, however, all we ask is for parents to assist with one Saltus Association event a year. We meet with the Headmaster on a regular basis, so as an Executive, we are fully up-to-date on what is going on in the School. In the same respect, this gives Ted and his Senior Management Team access to a group of parents and they can use us as a sounding board. Parents can feel free to email us at PTA@saltus.bm with their suggestions, questions or comments. How long have you been active in the Saltus Association? I have been involved in the Association from the day my son Nathan started Parent and Saltus Association president Jennifer Titterton talks about the PTA’s achievements and plans school—that was seven years ago. After the first year of attending almost every meeting, I was asked to be a member of the executive. Under Carolyn Armstrong’s executive, I became vice-president, and now of course president. I now have two children at Saltus: Nathan, in Year 7, and Megan, in Year 4. What do you bring to the role of Saltus Association president? dedication to my children’s education and therefore the School’s success. If I can help make Saltus the best school it can be, then my children benefit from that. I am not afraid to voice my concerns or praise on what is working and what isn’t. I know if it’s a problem for me, then it has to be a problem for other parents. The other part of my job is keeping my team on task and motivated. I have tried to surround myself with other committed parents. As a team, it is important the Executive be comfortable with voicing their own thoughts and opinions and I trust them that when they say they are going to do something, they follow through. I think every president has his or her own style. Like any volunteer organisation, when you give so much time, you can get burned out, so it’s finding the right balance. We don’t always get everything right, but we all try our best. Who is on this year’s committee? I have an amazing team to support me. Its members are: darlene davis, vice-president; Ardleigh Young, vicepresident; Laura Mellor, secretary; debbie Titterton Narraway, communication/PR; Tina Burns treasurer; Shelly Ray, Jennie Kelly, debbie Buryj, Amanda Skinner, Maria Pichery, and Lisa Baumgartner. I don’t think people realise how much planning goes in to our events. We started planning this school year way back in June during a five-hour breakfast meeting at my house. It is a lot of work, but we try and make it fun as well. I couldn’t do this job without them, and I hope they all know how very much I appreciate the time and energy they give to Saltus. We also have Judith Landsberg, who isn’t on the Exec, but gives a lot of her time up to help run the Shop. And the Sports Committee, which comes under the Saltus Association, is run by Henrik Schroder. I think he deserves lots of credit for making our extracurricular sports programme one of the best on the Island. What are the Saltus Association’s key goals for this school year? Commitment: supporting the School and giving back to the School, financially as well as helping it be a strong, positive presence in the community. Partnership: working with Ted, the Senior Management Team and all the teachers in reinforcing the theme of the year, which is “Respect.” When we work together, we have a greater impact on the School and the students. Growth: the School is constantly This year’s key PTA goals are commitment, partnership and growth 10 S A LT U S M A G A Z I N E