Since I have had a child at Denton Creek, things have really changed. All of these changes have made big differences in how the school functions and raises money. The PTO is the main source of funds for the school outside of it's regular budget. Every year, the PTO raises tens of thousands of dollars to support the school as they request. We pay for field trip buses, educational speakers, teacher continued education speakers, technology, playground equipment, extra classroom equipment, research tools, etc. Every year, the school needs more of these things because the budget is shrinking while the school continues to grow. However conversely, every year, we have fewer and fewer families involved in the PTO.
Does it seem this issue comes up often in my blogs? Sorry. I need your help. This is YOUR PTO. How can we make it work better for everyone. How do we make people understand where their money is going? How can we get more volunteers for all the things that we do for everyone's children. Why are so many people content to let everyone else do all the work to make their children's school a better place? How do we change that? Can we? Or is this the world in which we live now? If it is, how can we deal with that while still meeting the increasing demands of the school?
We are having a fabulous, fun event next Saturday. We have only sold 65 tickets? Why aren't more people coming? What can we do better next time to make it so that more people want to attend? Please help me. If you have ideas, thoughts, comments or suggestions, please email me. I would LOVE to get some fresh ideas and perspective from others. We want new blood. WE NEED IT!
It isn't too late... buy your auction ticket (see the newsletter for the form). Come, meet new people. Have fun! Support your kid's school. We will be slating the new board of PTO officers next month. Is there something you are passionate about with regards to the school? Let us know. We'd love to have you.
Email me if you have some ideas. I would love to hear them.
Lisa Johnson
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Volunteering and Donating
I went with some friends and their fifth grade daughters yesterday to work the morning at the North Texas Food Bank. It was a wonderful experience. I am so proud of our girls. They worked as hard or harder than any volunteer there. Together our small group provided weekend meals that will feed over 3300 children in the North Texas area. Amazing! Before we went to work we watched a video and heard a speaker from the food bank. He said something that stuck with me. He said, "It is not the large donations from a few but the small donations from the many, that will make the difference in changing lives." I thought that was something to ponder.
If you volunteer a lot at Denton Creek, you will quickly find out that it is approximately the same group of moms and dads who volunteer for every event. Occasionally you will see a new face here or there, but for the most part it is the same group of moms and a few dads who work every single event. Is this because everyone else works full time and can't donate, no. While there are a large number of families in which both parents work full time, this is not the case for the majority. Even in those cases where both parents or the single parent works full time, we have many regular volunteers who manage to find a way to work volunteering into their schedules. Perhaps, they work the weekend events or in the evenings or maybe they just take off during a late lunch to come celebrate with their child. I guess what I am saying is, if you have the time, please consider donating more of yourself to the school. If you don't have time, but you have money, we will take that too. If everyone in the school gave just a little bit as opposed to only a few giving a lot, it would make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the lives of our children. If you have ever volunteered or written a check to donate, THANK YOU! If you are one of the ones I mentioned above and you are at every event, BLESS YOU! If you haven't volunteered yet, because you didn't feel like you were needed, I am asking you for your help. Ok, off the soap box.
Now, how can you help right now? Buy a ticket for the auction. If you can't attend, you will be receiving notice soon on how you can bid online for a teacher related auction item. Do you know someone who owns a business who might be willing to support our school? A kindergarten parent is a regional manager for Uncle Julio's. They have graciously offered to provide our auction with an amazing dinner for no charge. WOW! Last year, Anamia's wrote us a check for $1000. If you have a business or know someone who does, we would love to have your help. If we all help a little, this could be our biggest fundraiser ever. I can honestly say that I think everyone who attended the auction last year enjoyed themselves. I think this auction will be even better (I know the food will be).
I hope to see you there.
If you volunteer a lot at Denton Creek, you will quickly find out that it is approximately the same group of moms and dads who volunteer for every event. Occasionally you will see a new face here or there, but for the most part it is the same group of moms and a few dads who work every single event. Is this because everyone else works full time and can't donate, no. While there are a large number of families in which both parents work full time, this is not the case for the majority. Even in those cases where both parents or the single parent works full time, we have many regular volunteers who manage to find a way to work volunteering into their schedules. Perhaps, they work the weekend events or in the evenings or maybe they just take off during a late lunch to come celebrate with their child. I guess what I am saying is, if you have the time, please consider donating more of yourself to the school. If you don't have time, but you have money, we will take that too. If everyone in the school gave just a little bit as opposed to only a few giving a lot, it would make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the lives of our children. If you have ever volunteered or written a check to donate, THANK YOU! If you are one of the ones I mentioned above and you are at every event, BLESS YOU! If you haven't volunteered yet, because you didn't feel like you were needed, I am asking you for your help. Ok, off the soap box.
Now, how can you help right now? Buy a ticket for the auction. If you can't attend, you will be receiving notice soon on how you can bid online for a teacher related auction item. Do you know someone who owns a business who might be willing to support our school? A kindergarten parent is a regional manager for Uncle Julio's. They have graciously offered to provide our auction with an amazing dinner for no charge. WOW! Last year, Anamia's wrote us a check for $1000. If you have a business or know someone who does, we would love to have your help. If we all help a little, this could be our biggest fundraiser ever. I can honestly say that I think everyone who attended the auction last year enjoyed themselves. I think this auction will be even better (I know the food will be).
I hope to see you there.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
What a week.....
Wow, I don't think anyone in a million years would have guessed that we would have been out for 4 days of school last week. I am just hoping now that we are not in school until midJune making up those missed days. Unbelievable. On a good note, I am thinking the icky germs that were floating around up there, have had a chance to clear out, so that is good. Since school was out all the publicity planned for basket collecting for the auction didn't happen. So, I thought I would do a little basket promotion.....
In the past, each grade has collected items for a themed basket to be auctioned off at our spectacular auction (don't miss it). This year we thought it would be more fun if people got to choose what they wanted to buy for the baskets rather than just having to get one themed item. The choices are almost endless. It would be most fun if you let your child pick. They could choose whichever category interested them and then go to the store with you to pick out the items or item that you want to donate. We are taking donations of cash or new items only. We don't want to auction off used items at this time.
The category choices include; Little Scientist (microscopes, CSI, chemistry sets), Building Fun (Legos, Kinex, model cars), Family Fun (Main Event g/c, movie cards, restaurant cards), American Girl (AG dolls, clothes, AG books), Creative Fun (jewelry making sets, crafts, g/c from Michaels), Music (iTunes, iPods), Sports (sporting event tickets, apparel), Girls Night Out (nice purses, dining g/c, cooking class)
On Tuesday and Wednesday morning of this week between 7:30-7:50 am, our fifth grade students will be collecting the items from you as you drop off your children. If we reach our goal, ALL DCE students will earn extra recess time. If your child rides the bus, they can bring their items and there will be students collecting from the bus lines as well.
Thank you for your participation. The baskets are some of our biggest moneymakers at the auction. We really appreciate your help.
Lisa
In the past, each grade has collected items for a themed basket to be auctioned off at our spectacular auction (don't miss it). This year we thought it would be more fun if people got to choose what they wanted to buy for the baskets rather than just having to get one themed item. The choices are almost endless. It would be most fun if you let your child pick. They could choose whichever category interested them and then go to the store with you to pick out the items or item that you want to donate. We are taking donations of cash or new items only. We don't want to auction off used items at this time.
The category choices include; Little Scientist (microscopes, CSI, chemistry sets), Building Fun (Legos, Kinex, model cars), Family Fun (Main Event g/c, movie cards, restaurant cards), American Girl (AG dolls, clothes, AG books), Creative Fun (jewelry making sets, crafts, g/c from Michaels), Music (iTunes, iPods), Sports (sporting event tickets, apparel), Girls Night Out (nice purses, dining g/c, cooking class)
On Tuesday and Wednesday morning of this week between 7:30-7:50 am, our fifth grade students will be collecting the items from you as you drop off your children. If we reach our goal, ALL DCE students will earn extra recess time. If your child rides the bus, they can bring their items and there will be students collecting from the bus lines as well.
Thank you for your participation. The baskets are some of our biggest moneymakers at the auction. We really appreciate your help.
Lisa
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