Many parents like to know in advance what fundraisers you may be asked to participate in during the upcoming school year. We wanted to make you aware of the many and varied opportunities and appeals that you may be presented with. Some of these benefit the school, some benefit the students (Annual Fund), some benefit the parent (hot lunches), and some benefit the community (MDA Hop-A-Thon).
These opportunities are coordinated by the school, by the Friends of WHMS, and by the students. Some of these programs and fundraisers are major giving opportunities, and some are as simple as sending your used printer cartridges in to the school, but all add up to make a big difference for our students. Please review the list below, and consider how your family may be able to participate.
Appeals
The 2009-2010 Annual Fund
Each year families and friends of WHMS are asked to make a donation to the school to be used for supplemental expenditures in the current year that are not covered by tuition. In the past, the annual fund has been used to pay for a Steinway piano, playground equipment, swim classes, classroom furniture, and other items from the teachers’ wish lists. Every contribution to the Annual Fund is important no matter what the size, because it is an expression of your support. Every gift counts and every gift is truly appreciated. The donations are also tax-deductible!
Events
Woodland Hill Montessori School’s 5th Annual Golf Tournament took place on Friday, September 25 at Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. All WHMS members are invited to play golf ($100 includes lunch, golf, cart and dinner) or just come for dinner ($30). Other opportunities to participate in the event range from $125 for a tee-flag sponsorship to $1,500 for a Platinum sponsorship. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Technology program.
The 13th Annual Gala is scheduled for Friday, April 16, 2010. It is not to be missed! This fun social occasion features great food and music, and includes both a silent and a live auction. The 2010 ticket price is $75 per ticket. Additional opportunities to participate include honorary committee membership, corporate sponsorship, and purchasing Journal advertisements.
Recycling Fundraisers
Funding Factory – Donate your used printer cartridges and cell phones to WHMS, and we’ll receive a check from the Funding Factory. This year, we received $942 from the Funding Factory fundraiser.
Green Fiber- Put your excess paper and cardboard in the Green Fiber bin in the parking lot and WHMS will receive money. Save the earth and help the school! Save your paper at home. All paper must be clean – no plastic, except the plastic windows on envelopes.
Affiliate Programs [“No-effort” fundraisers]
Target – Take Charge of Education – Target will donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases to WHMS. In 2008-2009, we received a total of $344 from Target.
Hannaford Supermarkets – Hannaford Helps Schools. Collect eligible “School Dollar” slips from Hannaford and send them into WHMS by December. We received $105 from Hannaford in March 2009.
Price Chopper – Tools For Schools. You can help us earn new school supplies and sports equipment by using your AdvantEdge Card when you shop at Price Chopper. The program runs from August through December. Enroll your card at www.pricechopper.com. In 2008, we earned 31,645 points, well above the average total of 13,036.
Friends of WHMS’ Programs
Pizza Lunch – One of the largest fundraisers for the Friends, you are able to order pizza for your child every Friday. The forms are enclosed in this packet.
For Small Hands – Fall 2009. WHMS will earn a credit from orders purchased through the For Small Hands, a Montessori services company. Their specialty has always been to provide real, child-size tools to enable young children to have successful experiences learning how to care for themselves and their environment.
Book Fair – October 3 through October 7. Last year’s BookFairs by BookEnds was so successful that we’re bringing it back. BookEnds, an independent retailer from Massachusetts, provides an excellent selection of high quality books, with less emphasis on cartoon and movie characters than previous book fairs.
Hoffman Car Wash tickets – December 1 through December 10. Buy discounted Hoffman Car Wash tickets for yourself, or to give as gifts.
SilverGraphics – Spring 2010. SilverGraphics is an art-based fundraiser that turns each child’s individual full color artwork into a variety of unique and personal custom gifts for the whole family!
Elementary and Middle School fundraisers
Middle School lunches – The Middle School students offer hot lunches for sale three times next year. They are responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery. (October 29, December 17, and April 29)
Middle School Coffee Houses – Every other month, the Middle School transforms into a Coffee House that is open to students and parents. (September 24, November 19, January 28, February 25, May 20, and June 10)
Upper El Chili Fundraiser – Upper El students will be selling chili that will be packed up and sent home for dinner on Wednesday, March 3.
Grandparents’ Day flowers – The Middle School students sell corsages to the students to give to their grandparents and special friends.
Other
2009-2010 Yearbook – WHMS Yearbooks, put together by the Yearbook club and its advisors, provide a record of your child’s year at WHMS, and will be cherished a source of memories forever. They can be purchased at a reduced rate in November. Families will also be given an opportunity to place an advertisement in the yearbook.
Scholastic Book Orders – Your child’s teacher may send home book order forms, which allow you to purchase soft cover books at a discount.
Helping Outside the Community
Hop-a-thon – For several years, Wanda Drazan has coordinated a Hop-a-thon for the Lower El students, which has benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Earth Day Benefit – The WHMS Water Club held a fundraising movie and auction at Proctors Theater, raising over $12,000 for the Woodland Hill Montessori School-Sinai School fund set up to bring water and electricity to the sister school in Tanzania. They plan on holding another one on Earth Day 2010.
Middle School Food Drive – In November, the middle school students collect food for Concerns-U, a local pantry.
Violin Play-a-thon – The WHMS violin students have performed a violin Play-a-thon at Colonie Center as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
School Supply Drive – Bring in an extra notebook or backpack for the school supply drive. The supplies are then donated locally to benefit needy families.
If you have any questions about fundraising opportunities or would like to serve as a volunteer, please contact:
Moira Rienzo
WHMS Director of Development
2835400 ext. 32
moira@woodlandhill.org
Jennifer Krygowski
WHMS Parent CoPresident, Friends of WHMS
JenniferKrygowski@nycap.rr.com