Hello Parents!  

Bookmark the 7th/8th Grade Class Trip Page for the most recent information regarding the trip. 

It is almost November and our fundraising goal for the month is to reach $20,000! We have 2 big, can’t-miss events this month to help us reach that goal.

Letter Writing Campaign: November 9 at 5:30 PM
   Mandatory Event for all students.
    Coordinators: Amanda Johnston and Pastor Jenson

Download THIS TEMPLATE for your 20-25 addresses for family members or family friends who might be interested in supporting a trip to Washington D.C. Share your completed list with me BEFORE the event. 

This fundraiser is different than the other ones, in that funds go first toward your $2000, then toward your $760 balance. Any funds raised in excess of your balance will go to the general fundraising total. Chaperones, after your child is covered, funds can also be applied to your balance, if requested.

Dodgeball Tournament Gym Night & Snack Bar: November 25
(Fourth Saturday night, not third)
    Mandatory Event for all students.
    Coordinator: Sylvia Jones

This fun idea can be hugely successful IF we properly prepare and advertise. Based on the survey, I know that Mrs. Hernandez, Mrs. Wang, and Gracie are willing to volunteer. We could use a few more volunteers to help plan, and then EVERYONE’s help to advertise the Tournament. We will be posting our promotional flyers on our trip website this week. 

Silent Auction
Do you know of a business or person who would be willing to donate something we could auction? If you have ideas, let me know. If we can gather enough interest, we can move forward with this event, either coordinated with the African Children's Concert or the SBCS Christmas Program. 

Here is a list of other scheduled fundraisers. If you would like to volunteer, please let me or the coordinator know. 

• Recycling Drive: Ongoing
      Coordinator: Silvia Hernandez-Jones
      Bring your recycling on Fridays. If you bring your recycling mid-week, you can drop it off in the back-right corner of the parking lot, next to the Storage shed.
  
  

• On-going Cookie Dough Fundraiser: Finishes on Nov. 7

Sign up at shopfund.com and share your link with family and friends to earn funds.

• Home Game Snack Shops: Nov. 1 (now an away game) and Nov. 7

November 7 Coordinator:  Silvia Hernandez-Jones

• Car Wash(es):

  • 1. November 3: Coordinator, Esdras Hernandez, and Robert Scherer

    2. November 17: Coordinator, Dwayne Elkins, and Esdras Hernandez

    3. December 1: Coordinator, Esdras Hernandez, and Robert Scherer

A big thank you to our coordinators. They will still need student and parent volunteers. Please volunteer for at least one of the events. 

• African Children’s Concert Event: December 6
      Coordinator: Darolyn Jensen and Amanda Johnston
      This highly anticipated community event is sure to bring in a large audience. We have permission to prepare something ahead of the concert for the people who arrive early. Ideas include dinner, refreshments, silent Auction, or something else! We have some time to plan, but this is sure to be a big opportunity for fundraising.

Students are encouraged to participate in every event they can. Parents are asked to volunteer for at least 1 event a month. The more we volunteer the less the burden falls on only a few. Thank you all for your help in raising the $50,000 for all of us to go to Washington D.C.

Blessings Always,

Amanda Johnston 

Dear Parents,

Things are moving quickly for the Washington D.C. Trip! Our first two fundraisers are done, and we have made over $1,600 already!  However, we need to keep looking forward to our next fundraising events. 

Some important things to make note of (please read the full email): 

• Student Payment Plans:
  Student accounts will be subsidized with fundraising, with only $859 coming from your pocket. After your $99 deposit, the remaining amount has been set up for 4 payments of $190 starting on November 15. If you qualify for financial aid, later payments will be adjusted. There is also an Extended Payment Option if you need more time to pay the $760 balance.
  
  

• Financial Aid:
  Call 800-468-5899 to see if you qualify for discounts and scholarships.
  I can also nominate students for certain scholarships if I’m aware of a financial need, or family service in the military or as a first responder. Let me know if you would like me to nominate your child. I can only nominate 5 students.

• Full Refund Protection Plan:
  Some families already purchased the Full Refund Protection Plan when they put down their deposit. This is not a required expense, but if you can afford it ($345),  the FRPP is the program that allows us to get a full refund if we need to cancel last minute.
  
  If we are significantly off track for fundraising in February and need to cancel the trip at that time, you will get back 75% of the funds you have paid to WorldStrides even without FRPP. The school would attempt to cover the remaining 25% from our fundraising balance, if possible.
  
  However, if the trip is moving forward and you need to cancel after the February 15 date, the percentage of funds retained increases. If you need to cancel the week before the trip, the only way to get 100% of your money back is to buy the FRPP. The school cannot afford to purchase FRPP for students or adults so it is up to you if you would like this extra protection.

• Chaperone Payments:
  So, it looks like when World Strides updated the Student Payment plans, they ALSO updated the Parent accounts with the same payment plan. That means you will also have 4 payments of $190, but chaperones will have a lump sum of approximately $2500 due in February. At that time, you can choose to pay the $2,500 or set up an Extended Payment plan. That unexpected blessing minimizes the financial risk for Chaperones if fundraising isn’t on track. 

• Fundraising Goals:
  With approximately 4 months of fundraising ahead of us, here are some metrics we can use to see if we are on track for reaching our goal:

  • 1. • October 31: $5,000 Total Raised

       • November 30: $20,000  Total Raised

       • December 31: $40,000 Total Raised

       • January 31: $50,000 Total Raised

So, we have an ambitious fundraising schedule ahead of us. We need to walk a delicate line between focusing on a few key events and taking as many opportunities as possible without burning out our volunteers. We have some big events coming in November, some of which are mandatory for students.

Upcoming Fundraising Options:

• (updated list of fundraising options in the newest email)

If you would like to be a coordinator or volunteer, please reply to this email and let me know specifically which events you would like to help with. I will keep the 7th/8th Grade Class Trip page updated with information sent via email or discussed in meetings. 

Thank you all for your participation so far. We are asking that students be involved in as many fundraising events as possible and that parents participate in at least 1 event a month. If we share the burden, it will keep it from getting too heavy on a core few. Please add the dates to your calendar so you can spread the word, even if you can’t participate. 

In the future, I will add a “Washington D.C. Update” to the bottom of our Weekly Updates as well as update the Class Trip Page. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions, suggestions, or want to volunteer for an event. 

Blessings Always,

Amanda Johnston
South Bay Christian School
Middle School Principal

Dodgeball Tournament Sign Up Page