Parent Survey: 2011/2012 Fundraising at Runnymede

The Spirit Committee is considering some big changes in our fundraising strategy for 2011/2012 and we are looking for your input through a parent survey. You can complete the survey online or you can fill out the hard copy that was sent home and return it to your child’s teacher. Either way, please return the survey by Friday, May 13.

What is the Spirit Committee considering for 2011/2012? As parents ourselves, we know time is precious and that constantly being asked for money can feel frustrating. Some schools have been able to simplify fundraising when parents agreed to make an annual per-child donation. A similar fundraising strategy would allow us to reduce the number of requests for money but still allow students to receive the benefits that fundraising dollars provide. We also recognize that some fundraisers not only raise money but also promote community spirit. To maintain a balance, if Runnymede parents support the idea of an annual per-child donation, we propose to:

Eliminate: Dance-a-thon Pledges, QSP Magazine Drive, Gift Wrap, and Domino’s Pizza Dinners.
Continue: Pizza Lunches, Spring Thaw: Art Show & FUNdraiser, Parent Pub Night and T-shirt Sales.

Our goal is to make parents’ lives easier while allowing our children to continue to benefit from the amazing “extras” that fundraising dollars make possible. Please take the time to fill out the survey and if you have any questions, please contact Krista Wylie (co-chair, Spirit).

Staff Appreciation Lunch – Donate Your Time or Food

In celebration of the wonderful staff members of Runnymede Public School, a potluck lunch will be held on Friday, June 10 from 11:35 to 12:30 in the library.

If you would like to help with the event, please contact Audrey Robinson.
If you would like to contribute a dish for the potluck lunch, please contact Kelly Kenny.

4th Annual Pub Night – A Ton of Fun!

Close to 200 parents came out to the Crooked Cue on Friday, April 29, to enjoy great entertainment, lively conversation and lots of fabulous prizes on the silent auction table, and helping raise over $6,000 for Runnymede. Thanks to everyone who organized and supported this great annual event.

Grade 7s Learn About Creative Career Options

On April 21, Grade 7 students participated in Runnymede’s first-ever
“Individual Journeys: A Creative Careers Day”. The day-long event exposed
students to 26 professionals from a variety of artistic industries and
creative businesses. Workshop leaders ranged from a runway fashion designer to a Juno-award winning Jazz musician to a video animation creator. Keynote
addresses were made by The Director’s Cut and CJ’s Skate Park.

Students were fascinated to see how many people in their community make a living being creative. Feedback from students and staff was overwhelmingly positive. Runnymede’s guidance program and the Arts Enrichment committee were thrilled about the great response from community volunteers who made this day a huge success.

Spring Yard Day 2011 – A Great, Rainy Success!

Little helper carries mulch — There's no minimum height requirement to help on Yard Day!

A HUGE thank you goes out to all the Runnymede families who braved the wind and rain on Saturday, April 16 to help out at Spring Yard Day. We spread a “Mountain of Mulch.” We tended to the Hillside Garden trails. The Kinder-Garden now has a pathway! We also collected a lot of litter and spruced up the front beds of the school.

Meanwhile in the Kindergarten classroom, children painted cedar planks for the Adventure Playground, had their faces painted and enjoyed wonderful baking, drinks and warm coffee. We capped off the morning with a dynamic performance by Creole Drummatix in the library – check out this video!

Want to help out next time? Contact Yard committee chairs Bruce Toner and Sarah Frame. Thanks again, everyone.