Fundraising is more than just dollars and cents!  It’s about community support of the school – support that can be shown in all kinds of ways.  This year, the PTA will host or help with a variety of fundraising events:

• October – November – “Just One Check” Fund Drive. For busy parents, a gift of $10, $50, $100 or more is a simple way to show support for the school. With “just one check” you can give classrooms the boost they need at the very start of the year.  In 2008-2009, this campaign raised over $8,000!
• Monday, November 23 6-7:30 pm – Our first ever George Watts Coffee House! This fun, free event will feature poetry readings by members of the Watts community, as well as musical entertainment provided by parent Peter Holsapple.  Come enjoy the event and support the school by buying some delicious baked goods, snacks, and hot chocolate!
• December 7-11 – George Watts Book Fair: This event runs for one week in the Media Center. There are several ways to participate: 1) Purchase a book as a gift for a class. Each teacher makes a “wish list,” and school librarian Mrs. Ham posts the lists at the fair. 2) Donate money so that children who cannot afford to purchase a book can take home something new to read. 3) Purchase a book for your child – or for anyone.  The Book Fair is a fundraiser for the library.  In 2008-2009, we collected $509 in donations to meet the needs of 79 students who had not been able to purchase a book at the book fair.  And as part of the profit from sales, Mrs. Ham pulled $1046 worth of hard cover books from the book fair shelves for our Media Center.  Plus the school received an additional $1081 to purchase additional books for our school’s collection!
• March – Great Human Race: Grownups and kids are invited to walk or run in this 5K event to raise money for our school — and to feel healthier.  In 2008-2009, we raised $2200!
• Saturday, April 17 – Spring Carnival: In 2008, this event was our Fall Carnival.  This year it’ll be in the Spring.  It’s our most popular PTA event! Families come to bounce in the moonwalk, play games and win prizes, eat hot dogs and tamales, listen to live music, and bond with other families. In 2008-2009, the Fall Carnival brought in over $1900! Click here for the story and pictures.
• Year-round – S.O.S. (or Support Our Schools): George Watts volunteers (parents, staff, friends) work at the concession stand of Duke Football and Men’s Basketball games and Durham Bulls games. Your labor translates into free money for our school. Sign up with a spouse, friend, neighbor or kid (14 or older). The S.O.S. effort, which other Durham schools also participate in, brings roughly $4,000 to our school annually. Interested in signing up? Contact Angie Douglas, S.O.S. chair, at 479-2015 or angiedouglas@nc.rr.com.

5 free, easy ways to support your school:

1. Box Tops for Education: George Watts Montessori participates in the Box Tops for Education program. Simply collect the Box Tops symbol from your eligible grocery store purchases and send them to school with your child or bring them to the office. The school earns 10¢ for every Box Top collected. Contact Jerrica Melvin, school secretary, at 560-3947.  Click here for more info.
2. GoodSearch.com: Start using GoodSearch.com as your search engine and online shopping mall. Every time you search the Internet or make an online purchase at one of their partner merchants, GoodSearch makes a donation to George Watts. How to get started: On the main page, under “Who do you GoodSearch for?” type in “George Watts Montessori Magnet,” then “Verify.” You can also add GoodSearch to your browser toolbar.
3. Harris Teeter VIC and Food Lion MVP cards: At Harris Teeter, you can have your card linked to our school, so the school gets 12% of the amount you spend every week. Any HT cashier can set up the link (school is listed as “George Watts Elementary”). At Food Lion, customers can link their MVP cards to their school of choice by either registering online at “Lion Shop and Share” or calling 704-633-8250 extension 3810. How much our school receives is a little more complicated, but it’s possible for the school to earn up to $1,400 per year through the program.
4. Target Credit Card Reimbursement: Through the “Take Charge of Education” program, Target will donate a percentage of your Target Visa or REDcard purchases to our school. To participate, just register online and designate “George Watts Elementary” as the recipient of funds. And tell grandparents, neighbors and friends to do the same!
5. Montessori Services “For Small Hands” catalog: Want to implement Montessori ideas in your home? Order age-appropriate items from this catalog, and our school earns at least 10% in merchandise credit. These gorgeous materials make fabulous birthday and holiday gifts, as well. Offer runs through December 31.

**Bonus tip**

DonorsChoose.org: It isn’t a freebie, but it’s a great way to give. Teachers ask for what they want for their class, and you choose which project you’d like to donate to. Simple, right?  To find out if our teachers need your help with a project, do a quick search for “George Watts” on DonorsChoose.org.