less then 2 months in

[Geckmumto3]

Is there a Council you can get involved in? Our Council helps regulate what the school does as fundraisers and charities. Now, our school does a lot, but more than half are charity things, vs raising money for the school. At the beginning of the year, Council sends out a letter with all the proposed fundraisers and the months they will start in, as we try to make sure nothing is overlapping. We stress in the letter that each family has to pick and choose what (if any) fundraising opportunities they will take part in. It helps a lot, because if there is a charity or fundraiser that is useful or near or dear to your family, you can save your resources for that. At this point in the game, three kids in school, my kiddos know we cannot possibly come close to participating in everything, so we pick and choose.

Originally Posted by Terra Thin mints. Must have thin mints. And Somoas!

Mmmmm.... For Thin Mints only, I miss being a GG leader. DS came home on Friday and said someone in his class was selling them, andcould he have money. Yes, sir, you can!!!! But the cookies come home to mama! We only get the sandwich style and the Thin Mints in Canada, though, you lucky Americans and your Somoas.

[Terra]

Originally Posted by Geckmumto3 Is there a Council you can get involved in? Our Council helps regulate what the school does as fundraisers and charities. Now, our school does a lot, but more than half are charity things, vs raising money for the school. At the beginning of the year, Council sends out a letter with all the proposed fundraisers and the months they will start in, as we try to make sure nothing is overlapping. We stress in the letter that each family has to pick and choose what (if any) fundraising opportunities they will take part in. It helps a lot, because if there is a charity or fundraiser that is useful or near or dear to your family, you can save your resources for that. At this point in the game, three kids in school, my kiddos know we cannot possibly come close to participating in everything, so we pick and choose. Mmmmm.... For Thin Mints only, I miss being a GG leader. DS came home on Friday and said someone in his class was selling them, andcould he have money. Yes, sir, you can!!!! But the cookies come home to mama! We only get the sandwich style and the Thin Mints in Canada, though, you lucky Americans and your Somoas.

Good idea about joining the PTO or council! We pick and choose too personally. Like sometimes I'll buy the silly wrapping paper because I know I'll use it and at least the money is going to school.

Oh yeah, and Edy's Ice Cream will make a GS Somoas ice cream I'm so ready for GS cookies again!

[Kimmyann]

Since school started 6 weeks ago we have had 2 different book orders come home (scholastics), a school shirt fundraiser, a fund raiser for a school ipad lab where each family was supposed to provide 5 or more names and addresses of people the school could send out letters to asking for money, then a flyer came home asking for a book of stamps per family to mail out the fundraising letters, a fundraiser for the pta, 10 dollars for class parties this year, 15 dollars for a school wide movie day to go see a special early screening of Wreck it Ralph, a BJ's warehouse club membership fundraiser. And I am sure there are a few others I am forgetting. So much for public school being "free". I have used more checks out of my checkbook in the last 6 weeks than I have in the last 6 months.

[mkrisel]

I am torn on fundraisers. Dd is only 2, so we haven't encountered them yet, but I am also a teacher. I know how much our PTA does with the moment earned from them and how much it supplements our limited budget. Yet I want nothing to do with them! I would rather just write a check and have all the money benefit the school instead of buying junk and a small portion going to the school. Yet, I know the "prizes" are a big deal to kids. My hope is that we can talk about why we are not doing a fundraiser and do something special as a family instead of prizes. But we will see how that works once dd starts school!

[MN Mama to 3]

Originally Posted by Terra I work at an elementary school and I can assure you that it's not about using their cuteness. It's about funding because of the educational cuts. Our teachers are given $100 for the entire year for supplies, room decorations and field trips. Without fundraisers we would have nothing. And our kindergarten teachers alone [I'm in kindergarten], each spend well over $500-700 a year out of pocket. And many even pay for children's field trips when they can't afford them, buy them clothes, shoes, etc. I understand about not liking them so much, but they really do help. And I proudly buy from my son who is a kindergartener this year, and my pre-school/VPK son at his day school to help out those teachers.

I'm glad you posted this. In our school most of the money from the fundraisers goes to all the extra things not covered in the budget. There's always something in there we can use, and the kids ask close family members; no posting orders at work or selling door to door. It's never a huge order, but the kids are proud of the work they do to help the school.

[rverrone11]

That's the nice thing about our tiny school. We do one fundraiser a year, and it is a spaghetti dinner/bake sale.