2nd October 2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our PA Coffee Morning yesterday!! It was so lovely to see many familiar faces, as well as lots of new ones, and we hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about what the Parents Association has planned for the year ahead!! 

For those who could not make it, we have included some more information below about our different PA committees, what they do, and how you can get involved. We would absolutely love to have you! 

At the heart of the PA, we simply want to help make our already very special Garden House community even more special, bringing families together, supporting our school, and having lots of fun along the way.

There is plenty coming up over the next few weeks, including Cake Day and Harvest Festival, so keep reading for all the details!

As always, thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm!! Have a great weekend!! xx

Lindsey & Claire

PA Co-Chairs 2026 / 2027

Upcoming Dates

• Wednesday, 7th October: Harvest Day Giving
• Friday, 16th October: CAKE DAY, Halloween Theme (Years Baking: Middle School and Kindergarten Girls and Boys)
• Monday, 7th December: Wren Carol Service at Royal Hospital (Upper School)
• Friday, 12th February: Valentines Theme (Years Baking: Junior School and Upper School Girls and Boys)
• Friday 28th May: Chelsea Flower Show Theme (Years Baking: Prep and Transition Girls and Boys)

MEET THE PA COMMITTEES

We are incredibly lucky to have some AMAZING parents leading our committees this year and helping us bring all the fun of Garden House to life! There are lots of ways to get involved!!

🎄 CHRISTMAS DECORATING AT SCHOOL

Chairs: Stephanie Abrishamchi (07854 018 176) and Ezgi Taze

One of our favourite Garden House traditions! On Friday, 20th November from around 2 to 5pm, an army of parents will descend on the school to transform it into a Christmas Wonderland, ready to surprise the children when they arrive on Monday morning!

This year, Stephanie Abrishamchi and Ezgi Taze will be leading the Christmas magic, and they can always use more hands. Absolutely no decorating credentials required!

Please note that children are not allowed in the school while we decorate, so childcare will need to be arranged.

Please message Stephanie if you would like to join the Christmas decorating team!

🧁 CAKE DAYS

Chairs: Charlotte Brenninkmeijer (07957 395 205) and Nazli Brenninkmeijer

Our much loved Cake Days take place once a term, each with its own fun theme!

Children who sign up to bake bring in decorated cupcakes, and all children are invited to bring in £1 to buy a cupcake, sold by our brilliant PA volunteers. The Student Council helps count the money raised, with all proceeds going towards our charities. It is such a fun and easy way for the children to get involved in giving back!

There may be a few spots available to help on specific Cake Days, so please reach out to Charlotte if you would like to get involved!

🧠 QUIZ NIGHT AND AUCTION

Chairs: Zeena Kurdi (07719 689 612) and Stephanie Abrishamchi

We are going back to basics and focusing on what makes Quiz Night so much fun in the first place: great teams, a little friendly competition, plenty of laughs and, of course, the return of our favourite Quiz Master, MR LOCK!!

We are currently looking at May 2027, with lots more information to come.

Please reach out to Zeena if you would like to help. It is an absolute blast!!

🛍️ GARDEN HOUSE MERCHANDISE

Chairs: Alexandra Kornman (07734 413 983), Sonia Costa and Hilary Bowen

This brilliant committee will be keeping us stocked with all things Garden House throughout the year!

We have lots planned, so keep an eye out for merchandise sales throughout the term. There is always room for new ideas and extra hands on sale days, so please reach out to Alexandra if you would like to get involved!

💷 PA FINANCES

If anyone has a real love for spreadsheets, we would LOVE to hear from you! Please reach out to Lindsey or Claire.

❤️ AND THERE IS MORE TO COME...

We will also need lots of help with our Charity Day and Charity Family Walk in the Spring, our Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank collections once a term and, of course, the grand finale of the PA calendar, our Summer Fair!!

I also know there is Mum's Netball League, a Dad's Football League as well as a Padel Group!!

There really is something for everyone, and you can give as much or as little time as works for you. Every bit of help is hugely appreciated and makes these events possible.

Please message Claire or Lindsey about any of the above and we will happily point you in the right direction! xx

Lindsey: 07787 069 018

Claire: 07773 027 784

Halloween Cake Day

FRIDAY 16th October - Halloween CAKE DAY

Our first Cake Day of the year will take place on Friday 16th October...with a Spooky Halloween theme!

Years Baking:

Middle School I and II Girls and Boys

Kindergarden

Children are kindly asked to:

• Bring in £1 donation (in support of our school charities)
• If in the baking year groups listed above, please bring 6 nut-free cupcakes.

Important - Children with Allergies:

To ensure the full safety of children with allergies, and to make sure they receive a cupcake they are happy with, we kindly ask that parents provide a cupcake specifically for their child and hand it directly to the class teacher.

We feel this is the safest way to keep all children happy and risk-free.

Thank you so much for your support, and we look forward to a delicious (and very festive!) day!

xx Charlotte and Nazli

Chairs: Charlotte Brenninkmeijer (07957 395 205) and Nazli Brenninkmeijer

Harvest Festival Giving

🌾 HARVEST FESTIVAL GIVING

Our School Harvest Festival is coming up on Wednesday, 7th October!

The children will attend a special Harvest Festival service during the school day, and the school is holding a collection in support of two wonderful local charities, Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank and Glass Door Homeless Charity.

Both organisations do incredibly important work supporting people within our local community, and we would love to use Harvest Festival as an opportunity for our Garden House families to give back.

If you would like to take part, simply bring one or more of the items listed below to school on the morning of 7th October and leave them in the lobby.

Of course, all donations are completely optional. This is simply a lovely opportunity for the children and our wider Garden House community to come together and support those who need a little extra help. ❤️

HARVEST DONATIONS 2026

Glass Door Homeless Charity

• Instant coffee
• Instant hot chocolate
• Biscuits, such as digestives, custard creams and bourbons
• Breakfast cereals, such as Weetabix and cornflakes
• Sugar
• Tea, including black, breakfast, fruit and green tea
• Sauces, including ketchup, brown sauce and hot sauces
• White rice
• Pasta, preferably penne or fusilli
• Tinned tomatoes
• Tinned pulses, including chickpeas, beans and lentils
• Breakfast spreads, including jam, Nutella, peanut butter, honey and marmalade
• Tinned vegetarian soups
• Tinned sweetcorn
• Toiletries, including deodorant, shampoo, shower gel and bar soap
• Women’s sanitary products
• Instant coffee
• Instant hot chocolate
• Biscuits, such as digestives, custard creams and bourbons
• Breakfast cereals, such as Weetabix and cornflakes
• Sugar
• Tea, including black, breakfast, fruit and green tea
• Sauces, including ketchup, brown sauce and hot sauces
• White rice
• Pasta, preferably penne or fusilli
• Tinned tomatoes
• Tinned pulses, including chickpeas, beans and lentils
• Breakfast spreads, including jam, Nutella, peanut butter, honey and marmalade
• Tinned vegetarian soups
• Tinned sweetcorn
• Toiletries, including deodorant, shampoo, shower gel and bar soap
• Women’s sanitary products

Glass Door currently has the greatest need for instant coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits and cereal.

Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank

• Tinned meat and fish
• Tinned vegetables and fruit
• Cooking sauces
• Coffee
• Milk, UHT or powdered
• Cereals
• Long life fruit juice
• Tinned puddings
• Jam
• Instant mashed potato

PREFER TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION?

If you would prefer to make a financial donation directly to either charity, you can do so using the links below:

Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank:

https://kensingtonchelsea.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/

Glass Door Homeless Charity:

https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/Listing/Category/support-us

Thank you, as always, for your generosity and support! ❤️