Why are parents fundraising for a playground? Shouldn't the school have come with a playground?
We hear this question often. Currently there is no room in Provincial budgets to build a playground when a new school is opened up . It is expected that parent groups such as Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society be formed to fundraise. Although this is a large task and may not make sense to most of us; this experience has given us an opportunity to develop an amazing sense of community both within the school walls and with the businesses and people that surround us. It has allowed the children to work towards a goal and in the end they will have a sense of pride when they walk onto the playground knowing that their efforts help make it possible. So although this seems like a long frustrating road I urge you to try to see the benefits we will get from this and continue to support us in our efforts.
I have heard that you can raise a lot of money in a Casino, why aren't you having a casino?
FOWSS is in the works of applying for a casino. You have probably heard that this is an excellent way to raise a lot of money in a short period of time. We are in the process of applying for a casino, but because this is a relatively easy way to raise money there is approximately an 18 month wait to get a casino. So, in the meantime we have opted to raise funds in other ways.
What happens if you raise all this money then get a casino?
Although the Playground is our goal right now FOWSS will continue to fundraise for other things in the school after the playground has been built. we will continue to support Westmount school for things such as materials for the library. the music department, extra phys ed equipment etc. Rest assured though our fundraising, once the playground has been built will not be as intense!
How do I get involved.
The more the merrier. If you are interested please e mail us at westmountschoolsociety@gmail.com we typically meet the last Tuesday of the month at Westmount School, You are more then welcome to stop by.
How can I help?
There are many ways you can help:
1. Support our fundraisers
2. Donations requiring tax receipt you can make payment to the Foothills School Division, just request that your donation be allotted for the Westmount School Playground , these donations are not eligible to use towards the matching grant.
3. Donations that do not require a tax receipt, payment can be made payable to Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society. We would be happy to issue a receipt but it cannot be used for income tax purposes as a charitable donation.
4. You or your business can purchase a bench or picnic table with your company logo on it, benches and tables will be installed at the time of the playground and will be situated though out the school yard.
5. SPREAD THE WORD! The more people that are aware of our efforts the quicker we will reach our goal .
Friday, 9 November 2012
How Close Are We.....do the math!
An installed playground for a school the size of Westmount carries a price tag of approximately $189,000 dollars. This number is quite daunting at first glance. So I thought that perhaps maybe we should break down the numbers....
1. First of all we are eligible to apply for matching government grants. So if we raise $95,000 we can apply for a $95, 000 grant .
2. The Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society has raised almost $25 000 to date through various fundraisers and donations
3. In addition to the $25, 000 we have there is approximately $36, 000 in trust with the Foothills School Division that is to be used towards the playground but is not eligible for the matching grant.
4. There are 693 students at Westmount school, when you break it all down we really not very far away from reaching our goal to have a playground installed by the end of the 2012-13 school year.
We Need $189, 000
We have in Trust with Foothills School Division $36, 000
This being said we now need $153, 000
Divide this number by 2 to get the total we need to raise for matching grant $76, 500
$76, 500 minus the $25, 000 we already have = $51, 500
$51, 500 divided by 693 (number of students) $74.31 per student!
1. First of all we are eligible to apply for matching government grants. So if we raise $95,000 we can apply for a $95, 000 grant .
2. The Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society has raised almost $25 000 to date through various fundraisers and donations
3. In addition to the $25, 000 we have there is approximately $36, 000 in trust with the Foothills School Division that is to be used towards the playground but is not eligible for the matching grant.
4. There are 693 students at Westmount school, when you break it all down we really not very far away from reaching our goal to have a playground installed by the end of the 2012-13 school year.
We Need $189, 000
We have in Trust with Foothills School Division $36, 000
This being said we now need $153, 000
Divide this number by 2 to get the total we need to raise for matching grant $76, 500
$76, 500 minus the $25, 000 we already have = $51, 500
$51, 500 divided by 693 (number of students) $74.31 per student!
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Current Fundraising
Smoky Ridge Old Style BBQ meat sales...
On Thursday Nov 8th your child should be receiving an order form from Smoky Lake Meats, forms are also available on the school website under the Latest News Tab. A portion of these sales will bring us a little bit closer to reaching our fundraising goal to build the children in Westmount School and the Community of Westmount a playground to enjoy for years to come. This fundraiser will run until Nov 16th with delivery the following week, (date to be determined), We realize that families cannot support every fundraiser that comes home but if is something that your family will purchase anyway we urge you to take part. Every dollar raised brings us that much closer to the playground.
Make mine a large pepperoni, with a playground on the side...
We currently have Dominos Pizza Cards to purchase The cost of the card is $25.00 and it is valid at Okotoks Dominos thru to Oct 2013. What's in it for you you ask? Simple a lot of free pizza! For $25.00 you get two large 3 topping pizzas in addition you get 15 BOGOs, buy one get one free. The best part is a whopping $17.00 from every card sold stays at Westmount School. This may not seem like a lot but do you know that if every Westmount Student bought one pizza card that would end up being $12, 000 towards our new playground. Take that money and double it in a matching grant that is $24, 000. This is a perfect example on how a little goes a long way. Don't delay order your card today. The order form is available on the Westmount School Website or you can request a form by e mailing westmountschoolsociety@gmail.com we would be happy to e mail one to you. Orders will stay open until Nov 30th.
Meet Penny the Pig...
Anyone who has been in the office has likely seen our friend Penny the Pig. Our swine friend is there to help us collect money for the playground. Please bring in all your unwanted pennies and other loose change you may have to fill Penny's belly and help bring us closer to our goal of $189, 000.
Meeting our Goal one Bottle at a time....
Bring your bottles into the Okotoks Bottle Depot and tell them you would like to dontate the money to the Westmount Playground. Do you realize that if every Westmount student donated $10 worth of bottles that would be $7100 towards the playground! This fundraiser is ongoing thank you to everyone that had already dontaed their bottles.
On Thursday Nov 8th your child should be receiving an order form from Smoky Lake Meats, forms are also available on the school website under the Latest News Tab. A portion of these sales will bring us a little bit closer to reaching our fundraising goal to build the children in Westmount School and the Community of Westmount a playground to enjoy for years to come. This fundraiser will run until Nov 16th with delivery the following week, (date to be determined), We realize that families cannot support every fundraiser that comes home but if is something that your family will purchase anyway we urge you to take part. Every dollar raised brings us that much closer to the playground.
Make mine a large pepperoni, with a playground on the side...
We currently have Dominos Pizza Cards to purchase The cost of the card is $25.00 and it is valid at Okotoks Dominos thru to Oct 2013. What's in it for you you ask? Simple a lot of free pizza! For $25.00 you get two large 3 topping pizzas in addition you get 15 BOGOs, buy one get one free. The best part is a whopping $17.00 from every card sold stays at Westmount School. This may not seem like a lot but do you know that if every Westmount Student bought one pizza card that would end up being $12, 000 towards our new playground. Take that money and double it in a matching grant that is $24, 000. This is a perfect example on how a little goes a long way. Don't delay order your card today. The order form is available on the Westmount School Website or you can request a form by e mailing westmountschoolsociety@gmail.com we would be happy to e mail one to you. Orders will stay open until Nov 30th.
Meet Penny the Pig...
Anyone who has been in the office has likely seen our friend Penny the Pig. Our swine friend is there to help us collect money for the playground. Please bring in all your unwanted pennies and other loose change you may have to fill Penny's belly and help bring us closer to our goal of $189, 000.
Meeting our Goal one Bottle at a time....
Bring your bottles into the Okotoks Bottle Depot and tell them you would like to dontate the money to the Westmount Playground. Do you realize that if every Westmount student donated $10 worth of bottles that would be $7100 towards the playground! This fundraiser is ongoing thank you to everyone that had already dontaed their bottles.
Fundraising to date...
Dinner and Silent Auction @ Rylie's Cattle Barn April 2012
In April 2012 we held a dinner and silent auction at Rylie's Cattle Barn. The night was sold out as the people of Okotoks rallied together to make this event a success. The support form local businesses was overwhelming, a complete list of sponsors can be viewed at westmountschool.@fsd38.ab.ca. Thanks to these businesses and the support of the people in the community we were able to raise a little over $10,000 and had tones of fun doing it.
Mother's Day Flower Basket fundraiser April/May 2012
Before the doors were even opened at Westmount School we set out on our second fundraising venture which proved to be quite successful considering we hadn't even really come together as a school community yet. By selling flower baskets, bedding plants, herbs and tomatoe plants we were able to raise just over $2000 towards the playground. the plants were very good quality, delivered to us from Devry Greenhouses. This is definitely a fundraiser we would consider doing again.
Home Based Business Fair May 2012
At the open house in May 2012, parents and community members who have home based businesses gathertogather to raise funds for the playground. Those businesses together raised $1800.00. A big thank you to everone who supported them and thank you to the businesses that particpated.
BBQ at Nutters June 2012
June 2012 we were contacted by Eagle Radio saying the Nutters wanted to have a charity BBQ at their anniversary celebration and were looking for a cause to donate the money too. We were more than happy to oblige and organized a group of volunteers to work at the BBQ for the afternoon. We raised $312, not bad for an impromptu fundraising event.
BBQ at Westmount School Sept 2012
A big thank you to he teacher's of Westmount School that held a charity BBQ the opening week of school, and a big thank you to the volunteers that help make this a success. Through the BBQ and donations it proved to be a profitable afternoon.
Miscellaneous Donations
We have received various donations since forming the society. Big Rock School graciously donated $5000 to Westmount for the Playground, Danielle Smith from the Wild Rose party presented Westmount School with a check as well. Through all the fundraising we have done and various donations we have a total of $24,000 that we can use towards a matching grant as well as an additional $46, 000 in trust with the Foothills School Division that has been donated by various donors who have chosen to donate through this route in order to receive a charitable donation tax receipt. The support in the community has been overwhelming.
In April 2012 we held a dinner and silent auction at Rylie's Cattle Barn. The night was sold out as the people of Okotoks rallied together to make this event a success. The support form local businesses was overwhelming, a complete list of sponsors can be viewed at westmountschool.@fsd38.ab.ca. Thanks to these businesses and the support of the people in the community we were able to raise a little over $10,000 and had tones of fun doing it.
Mother's Day Flower Basket fundraiser April/May 2012
Before the doors were even opened at Westmount School we set out on our second fundraising venture which proved to be quite successful considering we hadn't even really come together as a school community yet. By selling flower baskets, bedding plants, herbs and tomatoe plants we were able to raise just over $2000 towards the playground. the plants were very good quality, delivered to us from Devry Greenhouses. This is definitely a fundraiser we would consider doing again.
Home Based Business Fair May 2012
At the open house in May 2012, parents and community members who have home based businesses gathertogather to raise funds for the playground. Those businesses together raised $1800.00. A big thank you to everone who supported them and thank you to the businesses that particpated.
BBQ at Nutters June 2012
June 2012 we were contacted by Eagle Radio saying the Nutters wanted to have a charity BBQ at their anniversary celebration and were looking for a cause to donate the money too. We were more than happy to oblige and organized a group of volunteers to work at the BBQ for the afternoon. We raised $312, not bad for an impromptu fundraising event.
BBQ at Westmount School Sept 2012
A big thank you to he teacher's of Westmount School that held a charity BBQ the opening week of school, and a big thank you to the volunteers that help make this a success. Through the BBQ and donations it proved to be a profitable afternoon.
Miscellaneous Donations
We have received various donations since forming the society. Big Rock School graciously donated $5000 to Westmount for the Playground, Danielle Smith from the Wild Rose party presented Westmount School with a check as well. Through all the fundraising we have done and various donations we have a total of $24,000 that we can use towards a matching grant as well as an additional $46, 000 in trust with the Foothills School Division that has been donated by various donors who have chosen to donate through this route in order to receive a charitable donation tax receipt. The support in the community has been overwhelming.
Who are we and what we are doing for Westmount School
How we came to be...
Dec 2011 a meeting was held at Big Rock School for all future Westmount families. At this time we learned that there was no funding to provide Westmount School with a playground. This would be up to the Parents of Westmount School to raise money to build a playground. We started meeting shortly after that and on May 2012 we applied for and obtained society status. This is how Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society came to be.
Why form a society?
By forming a society this enables us to apply for matching grants against the money that we raise, as well it enables us to apply for casinos. By having society status we will be able to reach our fundraising goals much sooner than without. After the playground is built the society can continue to raise money for other things that Westmount School needs such as library books, furniture, music and phys ed equipment.
How much is does a playground cost?
The cost of the playground for Westmount School will be approximately $189,000. This is for a wheel chair accessible playground that will accommodate a school the size of Westmount. This also includes the cost on commercial installation while using volunteers for things such as landscaping, spreading of gravel etc.
Dec 2011 a meeting was held at Big Rock School for all future Westmount families. At this time we learned that there was no funding to provide Westmount School with a playground. This would be up to the Parents of Westmount School to raise money to build a playground. We started meeting shortly after that and on May 2012 we applied for and obtained society status. This is how Friends of Okotoks Westmount School Society came to be.
Why form a society?
By forming a society this enables us to apply for matching grants against the money that we raise, as well it enables us to apply for casinos. By having society status we will be able to reach our fundraising goals much sooner than without. After the playground is built the society can continue to raise money for other things that Westmount School needs such as library books, furniture, music and phys ed equipment.
How much is does a playground cost?
The cost of the playground for Westmount School will be approximately $189,000. This is for a wheel chair accessible playground that will accommodate a school the size of Westmount. This also includes the cost on commercial installation while using volunteers for things such as landscaping, spreading of gravel etc.
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