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Fundraisers

It’s the end of the school year, which means that it’s time, once again, for the schools to come begging for money.  Because somehow, all the taxes we pay get spent somewhere, and the schools always come up short.

It isn’t the teachers’ fault, and I really do think our school district does okay with budgeting.  Sort of.  The elementary schools have become very dependent on having parents cough up the basics for the classrooms, like boxes of tissues, pencils, glue sticks, crayons – lots of things that you’d assume would be provided by the school.  Not anymore.  Those things are now “donated” by parents and go into a communal pot, so those kids whose parents either can’t or don’t “donate” still have the supplies.  But when the class runs out of stuff during the year, it becomes a problem.  For example, I was volunteering in Ane’s class last Monday, working on making some bingo sheets for her teacher.  I was gluing pictures onto the bingo grid, with the caveat that I was supposed to glue any rhyming words together on the same grid (i.e. “dog” and “log” should be on separate sheets).  And out of the four glue sticks I grabbed out of the craft basket, I ended up tossing three of them because they were pretty much used up – right down to the plastic nubs.  When I told Ms. V. that I’d used three up and thrown them out, she sighed and said, “Yeah, we’re pretty much out of glue sticks.”

Each kid was asked to provide two glue sticks at the beginning of the year – which really isn’t enough, especially when your child doesn’t end up using the glue sticks that they bring in, and some kids don’t bring any at all.  So, when Rerun and I were out shopping this week, I found glue sticks on sale for a pretty good price, and gave them to Ms. V., who was almost speechless.  “I can’t believe I’m getting so excited over this!” she exclaimed.

Honestly, I’d rather donate with materials than with money, but that’s not what’s happening right now.  Over the course of the year, Tad’s school has sold Christmas wreaths, flower bulbs, flower baskets, and collects Box Tops.  Ane’s school has sold frozen cookie dough, collects Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup Labels, and had a Scholastic Book Sale.

Now, it’s walk-a-thon season.

The kids walk laps, and the parents donate money.  I remember doing a walk-a-thon in 5th or 6th grade, and people pledged a certain amount per lap, or you could donate a flat amount.

Nowadays, they don’t even offer the “per lap” option.  They just ask for the flat donation.  Each student is asked to “raise” a certain amount – otherwise known as “give a minimum donation” – for the school.

Tad had his walk-a-thon last week, and Rerun and I went to cheer him on and walk a few laps with him:

At Tad’s school, firefighters came and handed out hats and “medals” to the kids when they finished.

The hat was crushed in less than 24 hours.  But I digress.

Ane’s walk-a-thon is next week, and I have no idea how they are fitting it into her class schedule.  The students will be walking during their lunch recess, which Ane doesn’t have because she is half-day.  I’m sure they’ll just have them do the walking during their morning recess – which I’m also sure Ane will gripe about, because who likes giving up their play time to just walk around?  I tried explaining the concept of the walk-a-thon to her, which confused her.  I can’t exactly tell her it’s just an extortion scheme… can I?

Oh, well.  Enough of this.  Time for a palate cleanser – hey, a cute baby in overalls!

Like I’ve said, I’m a sucker for a baseball motif.

Happy weekend, everyone!

4 Responses to “Fundraisers”

  1. Aunt Lynda
    May 21st, 2010 06:29
    1

    When I first started working there was a big supply room, and it was open. Then it was locked and you had to ask the principal for supplies; then they were doled out at the first of the year and you traded around. Then they were nonexistant. And most teachers spend way too much of their own money on supplies. Sad days.

  2. Ressis
    May 21st, 2010 06:41
    2

    Keep the pictures coming!

  3. Cousin Shelley
    May 21st, 2010 12:54
    3

    Derek’s principal asked me if I’d rather just cut a check to the PTA than do all their ‘fundraisers’. I said YES!!!

  4. Aunt Mary
    May 29th, 2010 19:11
    4

    He gets cuter every day! Must be the overalls! 🙂