3. Please comment on these fundraising events (indicate the event). Include details on how to improve.

1.

Boxtops need more work/ info

2.

I'm not sure but it doesn't seem that there is enough participation in the gift wrap, magazine drive, and fundraising letter. I think Boxtops could use a little more promotion and handy reminders to take grocery shopping, maybe a list of specific items or an online personal checklist that could be made and taken shopping.

3.

I personally don't like this fundraiser. I feel that the prices are too high. Perhaps some other product could be investigated?

4.

I don't like the magazine drive because of the prizes. The kids who don't participate and don't receive the prizes always feel bad. This is a mostly parent-driven activity and yet the children are rewarded. This is not "Pierce-like" in its current state. While the auction continues to be our biggest fundraiser and a great event, I would love to see a night event created and perhaps the carnival used as a children's spring event--perhaps even incorporated into end of year picnic. I don't know how labor intensive gift wrap is, but i wouldn't mind seeing it go. The paper is not usually very attractive. Fundraising letter seems to be less work than other things, and thus if it raises enough money, should stay. Pierce apparel is a fabulous addition to our school. Book fair is a great and valuable event for everyone, although I know for the amount of work it is, it doesn't raise that much money. Carwash seems to be student run and if it raises money, without being to adult-intense, why not. I am not aware of library book donation.

5.

I think the car wash may need more advertising? Just curious how much it makes for the effort the students and staff put in.

6.

The auction is the most important fundraiser for the Pierce PTO and, as such, I believe the goal should be to maximize the event to bring in as much money as possible. It seems that the PTO is trying to combine their most important money-making endeavor with a community event rather than focusing on raising funds. The fund raiser can still be a lot of fun but I'd much rather see a night-time auction where more attention can be paid to (and hopefully more money offered) the items up for bid. I would also encourage you to decrease the quantity of items and increase the quality. There were many items of quality/value at the auction, including the wonderful baskets made by the classes, but the sheer volume of items sometimes made it hard to appreciate the good stuff. Finally, a silent auction must end at exactly the time stated.

7.

Most fundraising is good. Library books just don't seem to grab people as much as other fundraisers. For the Auction make sure the carnival DOES NOT take people away from the vocal auction. Maybe open it during breaks etc.

8.

Have we ever had a fundraising letter that simply says "This is our budget (say $60,000)...which is $100 per family, which is $10 a month from September to June. Please think about doing this. If you do it for two/three families great.

9.

Better organization so the work load doesn't go on one or two people

10.

It's hard to judge, as you don't know how successful each program is. They are all fine and fairly non invasive -- very easy to ignore if you're not interested.

11.

I think all these activities need to be balanced against the amount of money earned and the time put in by various people. The gift wrap session seems to raise quite a bit of money as does the Magazine Drive however I don't know how much administration goes into making these activities successful. The Auction, Fund Drive and Book Fair are keepers - now, what would I do with all those boxtops if we didn’t give them to PSED?

12.

I think that a little less attention on the prizes would take down the stress level of this fund raiser. It is the most public display of haves and have-nots for the children.

13.

Though I don't participate in all of these, I think all but the magazine drive all worthwhile. If others like the magazine drive or it brings in money, why not continue it? It would be easier to evaluate these things if we knew how much money each raised. And finally, some of these events are purely fundraising (gift wrap and magazine drive), and some are clearly also community building (auction) and some are also educational (book drive), and the same criteria cant be applied to events that have different goals.

14.

Some very valiant parents spend enormous energy on the auction and I'm not sure the payback is adequate or that others will step in when they move on. The magazine drive is too oriented toward the prizes-- makes some kids feel bad when they can't get enough subscriptions. Carwashes are bad for storm water runoff quality. Everything else is good-- useful, apparently not too labor-intensive. I would hope that more parents like ourselves would give more in response to the annual fundraising letter if more emphasis were put on that, since it's easy, readily tax-deductible, based on ability to pay, etc.

15.

Sorry, but I consider the gift wrap and magazine events extremely intrusive. It is hard not to participate, but I feel people end up buying things they don't really need and annoying neighbors and friends in the process.

16.

The auction needs to be modified, perhaps a kids auction/carnival and then a parents night time event?

17.

I think we should split the carnival from the auction. We should make the auction a night time grown-up event. I think we will raise more money. Then we should have a carnival for the kids.

18.

I hate the tacky prizes for the magazine drive. Couldn't these prizes be changed? Maybe we still need an incentive, but not garbage toys.

19.

Auction is a great community builder but an awful lot of work done by a few. Would suggest adding an evening adults-only component with alcohol and hiring a professional auctioneer to raise the amount collected. Eliminate white elephant. Book fair is too much work by same few again. We'll all do the reading anyway so not necessary. Boxtops - lots of work for slim pickings. Carnival was a great addition to the auction, but should it be a separate event on a separate day?

20.

As much as I enjoy purchasing gift wrap from sally foster, I now have an abundance of it. Maybe if we did it every other year, it would be more effective. I do have a suggestion about another fundraising opportunity...family picture day at pierce park. Coffee pond productions offers an incredible fundraising opportunity for families to have their pictures taken in an outdoor setting (weather permitting). I've participated in it in the past and was incredibly happy with the results, and the pricing was excellent!

21.

All of these activities are good it they are bringing in enough money for the work they involve. For example, the auction is a lot of work, but it brings in a lot of money and builds a community of workers, and supports and includes neighborhood business. It is a great way for us to reach out to them and for them to give back to the school. The gift wrap is only worth doing if it brings in enough money to make it worthwhile. I don't know how much work is involved here. I know I always buy a couple of rolls, but never sell to anyone else. Most parents I know hate the magazine drive. They hate the prizes and they hype. My husband has a cheaper resource for purchasing the same magazines and would rather do that and give a donation to the school. Annual Fundraisers are a great, easy way to get money, so why not do it? I know some people complain that public schools are suppose to be free, but if only a small percent give, it only cost the stamp and they time it takes to do the mailing. I think it is great for the 8th grade to do their own fundraiser to support their own class trips and activities. Perhaps other classes should consider this also.

22.

1. Would continue gift wrap and magazine drive if they are money-makers that are worth the time and energy put into them. 2. It doesn't look like fundraising letter gets a good response but I wouldn't stop it. Maybe we could build on it in some way to get a better response. 3. Book Fair last year (first I attended) had a awful lot of unsold used books. There should be a plan for donating these books if we continue to collect them. Maybe some public or school libraries hit by Hurricane Katrina. Obviously we would need money for shipping expense. 4. If library book donation refers to donating money and getting the child's name on a plaque inside the book, then I would like to expand this to include donating a book itself, either new or like-new. Why shouldn't we take advantage of resources we may already have instead of spending more money for new books?

23.

I don't like the prizes attached to the magazine drive. As for the gift wrap I buy it myself, but don't sell to others. I don't know how much it makes, so it is hard to say whether or not to continue. If it makes a lot of money and doesn't involve a lot of work, than do it.

24.

I volunteered ran the gift wrap fundraiser for a couple of years and it is a relatively small amount of work (a couple of busy weekends worth for a couple of people) for approximately $6,000 each year. I detest the magazine drive! Those students who don't or can't participate see other students with armfuls of prizes. There must be a better way! I help with the book fair and I think it's a great event! I love seeing the students pouring over all the choices. Everyone gets a book, the teachers often get gifts from their wish lists, and summer reading can begin early!

25.

Follow up fundraising letter with personal phone calls.

26.

i HATE HATE HATE magazine drive. HORRIBLE pressure on kids, especially younger kids, who don't win the "cool prizes", either because their family/friends are not interested in participating in this, or because their family/friends don't have the resources to purchase subscriptions. PLEASE stop this magazine drive. I used to dislike it, but now i truly despise it! Another comment: the car wash is listed here as an 8thgrade event. I thought it was a 7thgrade event, raising money for farm school trip. the Pierce apparel is great.

27.

I don't really know about the Library Book donation. My guess is as fundraisers, some are making less money (Book Fair?  Car Wash??) However I would assume they are fun for the children to participate in. It would be helpful for the community to know how much money is raised for each fundraiser. My guess is the Auction and Gift Wrap raise the most money. Unsure about the Annual Fundraising Letter (though I did send a small contribution, though not when I received a letter in the mail, which I assume I got! I sent it after reading something I got in the home school folder. The Boxtops probably doesn't raise that much money however assuming it is minimal work involved, then it should be continued.

28.

Gift wrap - seems really expensive - I'd rather just write Pierce a check for the difference. Annual Fundraising Letter - make it more of a year-long event and start at the beginning of the year before people feel tapped out. I like that the focus was on percentage of participation than a $ figure. I also like that there is anonymity - maybe publicize that more so that those that can only donate a small sum don't feel awkward about it. Magazine drive - I don't like do things that involve hitting up friends and family.

29.

Shilling merchandise for others is unseemly. Selling Pierce merchandise is appropriate.

30.

Even though I complain about the wrapping paper, we end up buying and liking it. We get too many newspapers and magazines already. And we are force to buy so the kids can get the prizes. They don't solicit from friends and family. I'd rather just write a check. We love the Auction and Carnival. We love Pierce Apparel. Boxtops is OK for us, as long as we don't have to get so many notices in the e-mail about it. We are good about turning ours in. We like the idea of the library book donation and have done it as a way to honor teachers. The car wash seems like a good idea, but it's pretty lackluster. Combined with the Katrina auction, I think it was better. I think that perhaps the auction should not have a flea market, but instead the flea market stuff be sold and money donated, as we did for Katrina.

31.

Since I end up contributing so much through the magazine and gift wrap, I'm unlikely to respond to the fundraising letter. I'm not involved, so i don't know for sure, but the boxtops seem like a no-brainer. I think it's great for the 8th graders to do some specific fundraising to support their activities.

32.

I do not know how much money these efforts raise, and how much effort they take. so it is hard to evaluate them. The fund drive letter seems appropriate, the apparel builds community, the book fair and library donation build literacy. All of these seem worthwhile. I do not know how much money they yield as compared to work put in....

33.

It seems like the magazine drive doesn't occur until after my last year's subscription has stopped.

5. Please comment on these services, and provide details about possible improvements.

1.

I'm not sure what is meant by school tours. The website is great but could use some architectural clarification and needs to be updated on a daily basis.

2.

Could it be published for less money?

3.

What are school tours? How can I get one?

4.

These are all very important to the school for functional and "feel good" reasons. I am not familiar with The Post.

5.

They are all good services.

6.

Yearbook could use more pictures of life at Pierce.

7.

The broadsheet needs to be spruced up a bit. I've never seen a yearbook.

8.

The broadsheet should be also available for parents at the school's entrance. Not all parents have time to read it on time, and sometimes it gets lost, or older kids may not mention it.

9.

Website?

10.

School tours are helpful at the beginning of the term but I'm not sure how many families actually take advantage of them. Julie Leitman has done a tremendous job of the tours but I think they're most helpful during that first grade level meeting in September and perhaps may be tied to the K picnic given for incoming parents and students during mid-August.

11.

It would be great if Pierce-post, the website, and pierce broadsheet could be combined in a way that allows accessibility for all community members. Think of the saved paper!

12.

I find the broadsheet and directory essential. PiercePost is relatively new, but also a great communication tool.

13.

I have not yet received PiercePost even though I signed up twice. The last (only) time I ordered a yearbook it was never delivered, so I'm not sure about that (we're trying again this year). The broadsheet is very important-- thanks!

14.

Never knew there were school tours available. I think that's terrific as the school building can be very off-putting to people.

15.

These are all things that keep people connected and informed. For that reason they are all important. I don't know enough about School Tours to comment here. For people who are not in the school every day, the broadsheet is a great tool to keep them knowledgeable about what is going on, introducing programs and sharing information about activities, curriculum and teachers.

16.

All of these a important forms of communication and community-building. I strongly recommend adding a student newspaper. In fact it is really surprising to me that Pierce does not have a student newspaper. Obviously a faculty sponsor would be needed.

17.

I didn't know there were school tours. Lack of publicity?? Hard to say anything about unknowns.

18.

I like the broadsheet as it keeps me updated with stuff going on. I esp like this year the little articles by support teachers. It keeps everyone "in the loop". School tours are important as Pierce is unique and you have to "see it to understand it". Class pictures -- do enough people buy them? Maybe a volunteer parent from each class could take a digital photo for the yearbook. Then push the yearbook sales a little more.

19.

The website should be improved, please.

20.

I don't know anything about School Tours. I think the rest of the services are valuable for the community, especially those of us who don't get to school daily due to work commitments. Class Pictures are a MUST! RE: yearbook, it obviously only benefits 8th grade, but I think they value it!

21.

I had no idea school tours were available. Please publicize this more, especially to K parents unfamiliar with the main building.

22.

I'm barely aware of the website where as other publications (including e-mails)are effective means of communication. There doesn't seem to be much reason to go to the website.

23.

We love the broadsheet, can't live without the directory. We could live without the school picture and the yearbook - although our kids love both. I'll leave my husband to comment on the website. I love the Pierce Post.

24.

Yearbook - upper grades only.  Pierce post is helpful but I wonder how much effort it is to have both it and broadsheet and if they couldn't be combined.

25.

These all seem to be very helpful, community building efforts.

7. Please comment on these activities and possible improvements.

1.

These are all very important events. Could the 7/8 grade kids participate somehow in the 2-6 musical and visa versa? Even engaging them in creating sets, etc., or doing jobs during the performances. Is this done now on some scale?

2.

All of these are great events!

3.

These are all costly, but worthy events for Pierce. I would be curious to see how much people want theater, because it is a GIANT amount of volunteer work and does not make any money. I love it and value it, but i would like to know if others feel the same. And most importantly if our administration feels the same and would be willing to begin to take on some of the work.

4.

Most everything is good. At movie night play movies that appeal to all ages.

5.

These are all fun. The plays promote great school spirit and real sense of pride in our kids. I've never been to Movie Night, so I really can't comment, but it sounds fun. I've been on most of my son's fieldtrips, we've enjoyed them. The picnic is a blast. Having said all this, as a relatively new parent, I haven't "killed myself" working on these events.

6.

Better organization to better distribute the work load

7.

The 2-6 musical is somewhat expensive to participate in. Both plays should probably be tied to some kind of formal theatre arts program (which we don’t have) at Pierce.

8.

Movie night hypes up the students and blurs the line between Pierce being a school and a community center. The 2-6 musical is a wonderful activity, but could be produced in a smaller way that makes for less stress for students and adults.

9.

I find it hard to imagine Pierce without the two plays each year. I think field trips are an essential part of education. Movie Night and picnic are community building activities, and part of what makes Pierce work so well is that it is a community as well as a school.

10.

too much volunteer hours needed for play. movie night a little chaotic

11.

I've always been a bit puzzled by the amount of emphasis placed on the grade 2-6 play. It seems to take too much time from the kids and from the valiant parents who organize it. Perhaps take a year off and try a couple of easier minor events to take its place, like a talent show? I've never been to the 7/8 play so can't comment. Movie night is sort of fun but seems like a lot of bother, discomfort (chairs, floor) and waste (refreshments) for the duration/quality of the experience. The Pierce picnic is good fun for the kids thanks to Billy and Wes and those who organize the food, but is also a bit disjointed.

12.

All of these bring kids and parents from different classes together either for a shared experience or a shared, creative activity. They are superb and valuable activities and help make Pierce the special place it is.

13.

I think we should make the Kindergarten trips local. It would save money and be less stressful. The first grade trip to Plymouth should allow a longer time there or discontinue it.

14.

Could the 2-6 grade play continue with substantially less parent involvement? It seems to take so much work from a limited number of nonworking parents. It is a great thing for the kids but I wonder if we could rely on staff or paid staff more and parent volunteers less?

15.

These activities are all important as they all build community. There is a little room to make some money or at least self support that activities, but what is important here is community support and participation.

16.

I think the movie night is dispensable but it's okay. I'd rather see a sports night. The other activities are school essentials.

17.

Get more student and parent input on what field trips should be taken. Request higher voluntary student contribution, $100 field trip fee for the school year. But it should be voluntary.

18.

the 7/8 play and 2/6 musical are HUGELY important to the very soul of Pierce. My kids would actually not be the kids they are today (and i sure like how they turned out) without those experiences--first as audience members, then as participants.

19.

All contribute greatly to the school community!!

20.

This year, our daughter opted not to participate in the 7/8 play as she is in eighth grade and thought she wouldn't get a big part and all of her friends would, so she chose not to participate. As a working parent, I took on a moderate role for the 2-6 play, but it took incredible amounts of time. Modifications would be to reduce the amount of time it takes for parents and kids to participate. Of course, the field trips are great. Kids need to get outside of the school.

21.

Again, I am not sure how much work is involved in each of these events, i have helped with some of them. I think that the theatrical efforts may not be as important as improving some of the academic efforts at the school. I would like to see the theatrical efforts somehow linked to the curriculum. I know that these efforts have required a tremendous amount of effort for those involved. At each event a representative from the school needs to speak and welcome members and contextualize the event/build community.

22.

Carnival & picnic together?

9. Please comment on community service at Pierce.

1.

I'm not aware of our involvement with UNICEF and the Shattuck Shelter.

2.

I would like to see the UNICEF collection publicized more and more children actually doing it. Could there be a report in the broadsheet as to how much the school as a whole raised? My children really got into the pennies for patients when it was held. They talked about it almost everyday and actively talked about how to get money to contribute and did so more than one day of the campaign. In the past there was also, the bake sale to raise money for the tsunami victims. I think that it is worthwhile for our community to be involved in helping out other wherever they live. If the yard sale became an annual event the proceeds could go to a group or groups that offer aid such as the American Red Cross or Oxfam. There are many spots in the world that are suffering and an annual fund raiser could help to educate our kids and make them aware of what they can do, instead of just worrying about the world's situation. Perhaps there could be some kind of vote on which causes or organizations would receive the money.

3.

I have not really been aware of these.

4.

I would like to see more opportunities for kids to interact with the less fortunate...trips to nursing homes, taking meal to an elderly person, making dinners etc...

5.

To me the UNICEF takes more effort to put together and is too much work. The yard sale was not well advertised (I did not know when it was)

6.

more UNICEF & community service kinds of contributions

7.

Very important. I'd love to see more.

8.

I was going to say discontinue the yard sale for Katrina, but it might be a good idea to remind the kids that the repercussions of tragic events do not go away quickly. Perhaps giving them an update and telling them it's important to remember that supporting the "cause of the moment" is not the way one becomes a true philanthropist. Which is also a good reason to continue with the other three.

9.

I don't know what these are exactly

10.

not sure what pennies for patients is. Yard sale is good, but might be better if the cause changes each year. The kids could vote.

11.

Pennies for Patients/Katrina Yard Sale - I think activities such as these give students a sense of connection to those less fortunate than themselves. It develops a social conscience that is necessary in an increasingly fragmented world. I don’t think I've ever heard of the UNICEF program...

12.

I don't know very much about these things. I think giving kids the opportunity to do community service is important.

13.

Maybe pick a "cause" each year to focus on (e.g. Katrina).

14.

I don't have a sense as to how much impression these make on the kids, which counts more than the real contribution I suppose. My own child (5th grader) does not seem to think they're too valuable. As for UNICEF, I'm all for the organization (I donate) but I don't like putting kids in the position of being saints instead of frolicsome at Halloween.

15.

Didn't realize Pierce participated in UNICEF.

16.

Like the idea of Queens Day (or John Pierce Day) where the neighborhood has a big yard sale. This could replace the yard sale at the auction.

17.

We all have lots of ways to do community service outside of Pierce, e.g. through churches and synagogues. If we're feeling strapped, perhaps this is one area we could cut unless a particular class or grade (student-led) chose to take on their own project.

18.

I think each family can do community service on their own and contributing to Pierce so that the whole Pierce community can partake of events is enough.

19.

It is important for all kids to learn about social justice and doing for others. I think that these activities could be done in the classroom to make them more meaningful to the children. Many thought the "pennies for patients" was collecting money for Pierce even though it was clearly stated in the literature. It was also competitive -- the class that collects the most wins a prize. I hate things like that as giving should come from the heart, not to collect a prize. UNICEF boxes should be available for kids at Halloween and collected the next day, but more than that is not necessary. If kids are not bringing them in, that means they are likely keeping the money for themselves and that is like stealing the money. Maybe it is best not to be involved at all here. I know the 3rd graders feel great about collecting for the Shattuck Shelter and that is run by a teacher, so I think that kind of project is worth continuing. Other grade levels could do projects like that if the teachers are willing to run it. But too much is not good either...

20.

I'm not familiar with Pennies for Patients or Shattuck Shelter community service projects. I think the community service aspect of school should be greatly expanded. 7th and 8th graders especially should have meaningful community service commitments and experiences, far beyond babysitting for PTO meetings and 7th grade carwash.

21.

It would be a relief if community service could be performed without it being a fundraising event. There's enough fundraising on behalf of the school already. How about visiting elderly people? Reading for the blind? Taking placid pets to a nursing home? Collecting gently used toys and clothes for Cradles to Crayons and other organizations where kids need stuff?

22.

It is nice to do community service, but perhaps it could be done in a classroom bases and not a whole school-wide thing. Some people thought those activities were fund raisers for Pierce.

23.

Pennies for patients, to me, is distasteful. feels manipulative. Great cause, but I dislike the approach.

24.

Don't know about Pennies for Patients. UNICEF is minimal work for children and donations are useful. Shattuck Shelter seems valuable for the children that organize as well as those who bring things in. Katrina Yard Sale, assuming it was a good fundraiser, could be changed to an annual fall yard sale for various non profits. (Again, don't know what was raised)

25.

I am unfamiliar with these.

26.

Pierce builds a wonderful community. Charitable efforts should continue that by supporting local area charities. (Exceptions for extraordinary circumstances like Katrina, of course.)

27.

We never really participated in UNICEF or Pennies for Patients. The Katrina yard sales was good in that it really involved 7/8 kids. The contributions to the Shattuck shelter - we see it on the way to the Zoo - is a good thing for the kids and build a sense of the importance of community to support those who don't have the same resources.

28.

The Katrina yard sale should have a different community cause each year.

10. If you want a reply to any question or concern, please provide your question, name and email address:

1.

I like community events that also raise money, such as the plays and the auction. It brings the school community together which indirectly strengthens support for the school. What do you think of maybe adding a faculty talent show, a Sock Hop, or international dinner nights?

2.

More is better when it comes to fund raising...these events have momentum and I would rather see well thought out tweaking than cessation...it is extremely tough to reintroduce something

3.

In evaluating the "cost vs benefit" of various fund raising activities, I think it is important to weigh in the impact/importance of an event as a community builder. Sometimes it's worth it to make a little less money (or even lose a little money) if the event has great value to our children and/or pulls in many different facets of our community in a positive way. For example, if we move the auction to the evening, we may make more money, but are less likely to involve a broad spectrum of families and children. Another example, except for the past couple of years, the 7/8 play has either lost money or barely broken even, but I would argue that it is still well worth doing because of the experience it provides to our children and the enjoyment of the Pierce community.

4.

I think that Pierce is a wonderful community and that all of these activities have their benefits and important places in our school life, but we do need to prioritize because together they are overwhelming. Also, I think that teachers should not be asked to pay when attending student performances. We are there to support students, taking away from our own family time, and by providing the ticket, this is acknowledged.

5.

You guys are great!!

6.

Thanks for putting the Boxtops for Education blurb in this survey. I'll be interested in the results. Kathy Rozek email: kathyrozek@rcn.com

7.

I have offered to be involved in developing a better community service program but have not gotten much of a response. I think this aspect of student life should be much more developed--it is a big gap in the students' school experience. Peggy Ueda, pueda@comcast.net.

8.

I would also suggest discontinuing the lower grades' magazine sale.