Monday, November 16, 2009

Still Need to Get Donations In?

Are you thinking it would be so much easier if you and your friends and family could just go online to turn in your Walkathon Donation?

Wishes do come true!

Go on-line at Donate on Archway School's Website giving click on the donate now button and fill out the on-line donation form making sure to pick Fall Walk-a-thon under "program designation" and write "for Walk-a-thon" in the dedication box. Our nonprofit Tax ID is 23-7358960.

Thanks again for your support of Archway School.

How We Did We Do?

Hey Folks-

The 2009 Archway School Walk-A-Thon was a blast and an inspiration.What we saw on this lovely Halloween day was a horrifying and hilarious parade of vampires, vampiras, donation boxes and fast-food pitchmen. It was also a demonstration of good spirit, musical talent, community support, endurance and commitment to personal, class and school goals.

Appreciations From Head of School

November 11, 2009

A blue-haired Coraline, one piece of gum under a shoe, an anarchist vampire, a Hershey Kiss, a blind bat, a blue Power Ranger, and a Unicef box may on an ordinary day have nothing at all in common. But this was no ordinary day ...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Incentive Prizes

Incentives

Walkathon Update 10/23/09

Hello Lower Campus Archway Parents-
The Walk-A-Thon is just a week away. Time to make it all come together.

Showing up:

This year we are stressing, with incentive prizes and all of our communications with the kids, that this is a group effort. The fundraising will benefit the entire school, and many of the prizes are based on the performance of each grade as a group. In order for the community and each grade to be successful, we are all depending on each other to show up and participate.

Every student should come to the event well-rested, in good walking shoes and psyched to nail his or her personal goal. If everybody shows up with a full pledge form, ready to make some fun, and ambitious for success; we will have the best Walk-A-Thon ever.

Note: Come as early as you can. Registration takes a little while, and no laps can be walked until walkers are signed in. Registration will begin at 8:30, the course will open at 9:00. Coffee and bagels will be available for early arrivals.

Pledges:
Please Support your kids in their efforts to raise pledges. We are hoping each student will enlist enough cumulative support from donors so that they raise $10 for every lap they walk (or at least $250 in total funds raised for the day).

Help your kids think of people who will be receptive to a request for support, and help them feel comfortable and confident in making the requests. This is an opportunity for them to articulate and assert a commitment to their school and to their education.

Individual donors will want to know how much they will be in for. A good way to estimate that is to establish a personal lap goal. That way when the donor asks how much their donation of, say, $1.50 a lap is likely to cost them, the math is pretty easy. Make sure the donors understand that this is just an estimate. Donors who want to be sure of their pledge amounts are welcome to make a flat donation of any size.

Goals:

Please help your kids develop an ambitious but reasonable personal lap goal. A lap goal is useful for kids to keep them focused and engaged at the event. If they know what they are trying to achieve, it makes it easier to keep on going.

We've listed statistics from last year's Walk-A-Thon below, and our average goals for each student this year based on grade level. These goals are set to improve on last year's lap count, and can be used as a guide to help set your kid's goals. Remember that these are average numbers that include all of the students in the class- including those who don't show up or who only walk a few laps. Encourage your child to aim a little higher so that we can be sure to hit our numbers.

It may also help to review the incentive prizes and contests. See the attached file for a listing.

Note: One lap equals approximately ¼ mile.

2009 Walk-A-Thon Lap Goals

Kindergarten- 7 laps/student

First Grade- 8 laps/student

2nd Grade- 19 laps/student

Third Grade- 24 laps/student

Fourth Grade- 35 laps/student

2008 Walk-A-Thon Statistics

Top walker for the lower campus walked 44 laps.

Total Number of Students Participating, both campuses: 97

Total Laps Walked: 2,462 (average of 25 laps per student)

Total Miles Walked: 615.5

Total Number of Dollars Raised: $23,000

Average Dollars Raised Per Student: $240

Thanks for your support. See you on Halloween.

Sincerely,

David Dawson and Shareen Leland, Walk-A-Thon co-chairs

p.s.- We still have volunteer opportunities. If you're going to be there with your kids anyway, why not earn some fund-raising parent hours? Contact Frances Kaplan at wraplan@hotmail.com to sign up.

p.p.s.- Kids who show up in costume are automatically in the running for Costume Contest prizes in 4 categories- Scariest, Funniest, Most Original and Most Complete (craftsmanship and performance). Winners in each category will recieve two free movie passes. Runners-up will get gift certificates at Fenton's Creamery.

Friday, October 16, 2009

What is the walkathon all about?

Hello Archway School Parents-

We are just 16 days away from our 16th Annual School Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser, and we need you! Here's how:

PLAN TO ATTEND - Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9am and 2pm at the Lower Campus in Oakland.

SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT(s) in their efforts to raise pledges. We are hoping each student will enlist enough support from donors to raise an average of $250 per student; our goal is to collectively raise $25,000.

Pledge obligations are not meant to fall primarily on parents, who are already supporting the school with tuition, volunteer time and annual campaign contributions. Please help your
child(ren) reach out to their extended network of family and friends.

Help your kids think of people who will be receptive to a request for support, and help them feel comfortable and confident making the requests. This is an opportunity for them to articulate and assert a commitment to their school and to their education.

COME PREPARED FOR FUN. We will feed you, we will entertain you; we will exercise your kids. It is Halloween, so wear a costume if you are so bold (sorry-the Costume Contest is for the kids only). Make sure your kids are dressed for success. Contest categories: Scariest, Funniest, Most Original, and Most Complete.

Please Note: Proceeds from the Walk-a-thon go towards visual and performing arts programs. Meeting our goal this year will allow us to sponsor a visiting artists program that will culminate in a showcase of the student’s work in the Spring.

Currently on the lower school, Ms. Riva is teaching visual arts to 1st-4th graders once a week (Ms. Kathy incorporates her own art program into the Kindergarten curriculum). During Community Building each week, Ms. Kathy’s group will focus on visual arts, and Ms. Julianne’s group will focus on performing arts. Cross-grade buddy programs are structured to incorporate cooking and art projects.

Thank you so much for your help in making this event a success. If you have any questions, please direct them to
David Dawson - ddawson65@mindspring.com or my co-chair,
Shareen Leland- shareenleland@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you on Halloween.

Sincerely,

Melissa Castello Zippin
Lower School Head

Bridget Rivezzo
Development Director