We are on our way to 100%

Give now to the school fundraiser that uses your money, but NOT your time.

• 100% goes to Central!
• 99.9% hassle free (just write a check)
• 100% tax deductible!
• 100% product sales free
• 100% APPRECIATED

Now the majority of funds raised for valuable PTO events and activities will come from the Central 100% fund – a “just write a check” option that is simple, quick and benefits your children … 100%!  We are well on our way to our goal of $8,000 and you can help us achieve it. 100% fund supports educational programs and social community building activities such as:

• Classroom items like cameras and Science-in-a-Can
• Books for Central School Library
• Teacher appreciation activities and luncheon
• Recycling bins for classrooms and Ecology Club
• Birthday Boards
• Jr. Great Books/Flying Carpet Club
• Roadrunner Yearbook
• Read to Succeed Program
• Kid’s Care
• Board Games for indoor recess
• Hike and Bike to School
• Talent Show
• Social events such as Ice Cream Social, Skating Party and Family Fun Night
• Artist in Residence Projects
• Halloween Play
• Living Classrooms
• Turn off TV week
• 5th Grade Games Night
• Cultural Art Materials and Field Trips

Giving to the 100% club is optional, but parents are encouraged to contribute a suggested amount of $100 per family. Any amount, however, will be greatly appreciated and well utilized!  To donate to the 100% fund – click here- 100% Fund Donation Form.

Any questions, please contact Stephanie O’Brien or Jane Wilhelm

Please contribute by September 8, 2010.

Central School PTO

Letter from Incoming Co-Presidents

2010-2011

Greetings Central Parents,

As another wonderful school year is coming to a close, we already are making our plans for what promises to be an exciting 2010-2011 year at Central! This past year, we have gone paperless. Consequently, the 2010-2011 PTO forms, which traditionally you have received in your child’s backpack, are now attached and available on the Central School PTO website (www.centralptonews.org)* as follows:

Committee Information & Volunteer Sign-up sheet – lists and describes each of our PTO committees;

Room Parent Volunteer Sign-up sheet – describes how you can help in your child’s classroom (Print out and return completed Committee and Room Parent forms to the PTO mailbox by Wednesday, May 12);

Student Directory & District 96 Calendar Order Form – (Print out and return completed form with payment to the PTO mailbox, by Wednesday, May 12);

Central 100% Fund Information & Contribution form – an optional way in which to donate directly to the PTO (If you choose the Fund, we would appreciate the completed form with your donation by Friday, May 28, 2010);

Auction flyer (caution 3.4 MB download) – provides information regarding our first auction, set for Friday, November 5, 2010 at PJ Klems (Mark your calendars!); and

Fundraising programs flyer – lists and describes other Fundraisers sponsored by the PTO, including brand new ones such as Riverside Foods and Great Lakes Scrip.

Central is more than just our school; it is a community. While we are fortunate that Central has a phenomenal team of teachers and staff, the excellent education that our children receive is bolstered by our efforts as parents. Countless studies show that children perform better in the classroom when parents actively participate in the school. Our PTO provides many opportunities to get involved, whether as a Room Parent or Committee Volunteer, or through participation at our events. Even if your time is limited, there is a place for you in Central’s PTO!

Last, but very important, are our Fundraisers. New next year is our Auction, which will be held on Friday, November 5, 2010, at PJ Klems. We are partnering with Central’s teachers and staff to make this event a night to remember. The money we raise from our Auction and other Fundraisers allows us to sponsor many programs including Artist-in Residence, Book Fair, Cultural Arts, Ecology Club, Flying Carpet Club, Science-in-a Can, Family Fun Nights, Ice Cream Social, and much, much more.

It will be our pleasure to serve next year as your PTO Co-Presidents. We are looking forward to a successful and fun 2010-2011 school year. In the meantime, browse through the above forms, and have a wonderful summer!

Warmly,

Samantha Durst (Pres-sam@centralptonews.org)
Jeannine Glavas (Pres-jeann@centralptonews.org)
Incoming Co-Presidents, Central PTO, 2010-2011

*If you would like to receive automatic e-mails (“feedblitz”) from the PTO, the PTO website has a sign up option located on the bottom right column. In addition, you can access District 96 information, important dates, and a link to your child’s classroom page on the District 96 website at www.district96.org. 4/19/10jc

Our Fall Fund raising Drives are completed. A heartfelt thanks to all who contributed.

We raised over $11,000. While we are grateful for all who supported our endeavors, we are $5000 less than we budgeted. Like all of us are doing during these difficult times, the PTO board is having to review our 2009 – 2010 plans.

If you planned on supporting the PTO this year

• but you missed the Innisbrook fundraiser
• but you missed the Original Works fundraiser,
• you can still support our endeavors through the 100% club.

100% means that 100% of your tax-deductible contribution goes to
PTO programming for your child.

Our 100% form is here: Central School 100% donation form

What your child receives from the PTO is:

• field trips,
• programs for our school,
• two wild and carefree Family Fun nights,
• an over-the-top Book fair,
• an all-you-can-eat Ice Cream social ,
• a lunch book club,
• monthly Cultural Arts presentations
• and many other extras for your child.

We are hoping for 100% participation in at least one of fundraisers.

If you have supported our fundraising efforts this year, we are extremely grateful.

But if you haven’t had a moment to do so.… any check, cash, money order you can contribute is very much appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Allyn Pilewski
PTO President

As an alternative to asking for countless volunteer hours for numerous fund raising events the PTO has developed a simplified alternative, The 100% Fund.  Central PTO’s 100% Fund requests a one time contribution that covers all of our financial needs for the year.  Unlike many fund raising events this approach is designed to be 100% tax deductible. The suggested contribution is $100.00.

With this contribution the PTO supports numerous educational, cultural and social opportunities for all Central students.  Last year the PTO used a portion of these contributions to leverage a Illinois Art Council grant to bring in a performing arts group, Striding Lions, to help students write and perform One Act plays about geometry.  Every year the PTO funds cultural field trips and volunteers staff a Jr. Great Books lunch discussion for students.

We hope to have 100% participation in the PTO.  During these hard economic times, the PTO does realize that some families can not afford such a large contribution.  Any contribution is much appreciated.  If contributing is not feasible at this time, please consider donating a few hours of time.  Your children will love seeing you volunteer.

Monday is the final day for our Fall 100% Fund drive. If you have contributed, Thank You.   If you have not, please consider funding the PTO.

You will find the donation form here Central 100% fund.

In the past, Central Elementary ran multiple fundraisers to finance the various programs that enhanced our children’s public school experience. The energy we put into these efforts never yielded the kind of results we needed. A search for a better way led us to create The 100% Fund, which was designed to replace five of our annual fundraisers and allow all of our donated dollars to go directly to Central PT0. Some highlights of this program are:

Please also consider the matching funds program your employer may offer — many businesses view $100.00 as a reasonable match. As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Together we will build our community and better our children’s educational experience!

100% funds support educational programs and social community building activities such as:

Download the original version of this flier here. You will find a donation form here.

Are you looking for a great opportunity to help our kids and Central School? If so, we need your help. The following PTO Committee Chair/Co-Chair positions are available and looking for enthusiastic volunteers:

Book Fair – Lead and coordinate the spring fund raiser April 5 – 9, 2010. There are many assistant volunteers to help – we need someone to coordinate their activities in setting up, decorating, scheduling for classrooms, cashiers, and clean-up. This annual event is much loved as it encourages a life-long passion for books and reading.

Central 100% Fund – Promote and monitor participation in the PTO’s most lucrative fund raiser. Please help us lead up this effort to solicit tax-deductible contributions. This funding supports PTO programs and activities. The 100% Fund Chair is a great position for those with availability during non-school hours (you set your schedule!).

Cultural Arts – Classroom – a Co-Chair is needed from October 2009 through May 2010, to ensure the assigned volunteers have their classroom schedules and available materials for the monthly presentations. Please help us facilitate bring the arts into our kids’ classrooms.
(Note – the Cultural Arts Fieldtrip Chair and Co-Chair positions have been filled.)

Halloween Play – Produce our very own PTO Halloween play. A fan favorite! No writing experience needed as we have a playwright, but we lack a producer.

Turn-off-TV Week – let’s “unplug” for a week. We need a Chairperson, or a team of chairpersons, to coordinate this annual event that encourages our kids to turn off the TV, as well as other electronic media (computers, games, music, etc.).

If you are interested in any of these once a year — will not be offered again for a year, opportunities, please e-mail Nancy Hutchings at firstvp-nancy@centralptonews.org or Jennifer Sedivy at
firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org.

Hope you are enjoying the summer!!

Help wanted for 2009/10, fabulous opportunity for motivated individuals, benefits will come in hugs from our children and your name in the infamous PTO calendar.

We are fast approaching the end of the school year and we still need your time and talent in a few areas next year! We have received lots of your committee and room parent forms (thank you, thank you), but several committees remain un-chaired (say it ain’t so!). The PTO would greatly appreciate your taking the time to read through the following list and consider chairing/co-chairing one of the committees listed. Please send an email to Jennifer Sedivy at firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org before school lets out, or you might find her knocking on your door, calling your home, disturbing the general peace of your summer months…no one wants that to happen! Thank you very much for your consideration.

• Book Fair: Seeking a DYNAMIC TRIO. Urgent Need! Do you want to be loved and revered by teachers, students and parents alike? We need 3 co-chairs to take over this fantastic event loved by the whole Central School community. This is a wonderful opportunity to run a major event for the school and learn from the current chair, Beverly Aieta, who will run the fair for one more year to train the next co-chair “team” and pass on all of her wonderful knowledge in this area. (The book fair is scheduled for the week of April 5th, 2010, immediately following spring break).
• Cultural Arts: The Cultural Arts Committee needs another co-chair for the classroom presentations. This is a position that is busy in September organizing the presenters for each grade level and classroom. The children love to have mom, dad, caregivers come into the classroom to discuss a work of art. Cultural Arts in the Classroom cannot happen without someone to help organize it. There is an immediate need to fill this position (1-2 people).
• 100% Fund: Promote our tax-deductible fundraiser (generally with flyers). Great for a working parent.
• Birthday Boards: Needs one more co-chair to share the responsibility…can you take every other month and honor student and staff birthdays on the hallway bulletin board?
• Pavers: Promote brick paver dedication program during fall and spring with flyers.
• Roller Skating: Reserve the rink for Central’s October skating event (usually an early-release day).
• School Supplies: Coordinate the online ordering and distribution of pre-packaged school supplies. Many people love this convenient way to obtain school supplies, but we currently have no one to coordinate it.
• Science in a Can (K, 2, 4th Grades): Organize and replenish cans once per week for 10-12 wks in winter (30-45 min.)
• TV Turn-Off Week: Plan/execute this event where children choose to be active, rather than watching tv, playing video games, etc. Folder is available with all of the information from this year’s successful first annual tv turn-off event.
• Programs: Select and schedule 2-3 daytime all-school assemblies for the year.

Thanks for your honest consideration of your time and talents!

If one of these opportunities sound like a heck of a lot of fun, contact Jennifer Sedivy at firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org and win her unending gratitude.

Thank you to all that returned the PTO forms so far. We are so impressed with everyone’s organizational skills during “May Madness”!

For all those that are sitting on the forms: the deadline for turning them in is tomorrow 5/22. Please help your PTO VP’s have a great summer by completing the committee sign-up sheets, the room parent sign-up, the calendar and directory form and the 100% fund form.

• Committee sign-up form
• General Room Parent Letter
• Directory and Calendar order form
• The 100% Fund form

Still looking for that last minute 2008 tax deduction? The Central PTO is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization so all donations to the fund are tax deductible. Donations are accepted anytime throughout the year, but to qualify for a 2008 tax deduction, you must have your donation in by December 31st, 2008. Donations can be placed in the PTO mailbox (please make all checks payable to Central PTO) or can be made online through JustGive.org.

If you have any questions, please contact Kristine Adler, 100% fund chair at fundraising@centralptonews.org.

We are ready to accept online donations to the Central School 100% fund. You can make your donation at JustGive.org in just a few minutes.

Please see your child’s backpack today for the flier that was sent home regarding our progress. You can learn about all the ways your donation helps Central School and our children here. Thank you for helping make Central School great!