Since Cary and Dean started pre-school, we have already had to bug our friends at work to buy cakes, cookies and pizza for a fundraiser. We've gotten a coupon book the school wanted us to buy (we didn't). The boys got sent home with 25 tickets to a turkey dinner that we are required to sell (which means we're just sending in a check for $25, because I'm not selling turkey dinner tickets). And we have to send in diapers and wipes every month -- a huge box to share. That one I get, because the boys are still in diapers, but added to everything else, it all starts to get a little overwhelming.
At least twice a week, we get notes from the school like this:
- Please help the school's Certificate Program! We need to sell $150.00 in AMC Theaters and/or Applebees to receive an additional $7.75 discount! That may not seem like a lot, but it adds up!
- The preschool classes will be riding their bikes for the annual Trike-a-thon to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Please make your donations payable to "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital."
- Longaberger Basket Bingo - Location: Church Hall Cost: $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Food and baked goods will be on sale starting at 6 P.M. Bingo will start at 7 P.M. Plan to join us for this fun fundraiser that will benefit the church and the school.
The latest thing is a fall festival next week, where the school will have the kids make scarecrows. I assumed from the flyers they've sent home that the scarecrow part of the festival was optional, but I was told yesterday that no, we are required to buy the materials for Cary and Dean to make scarecrows.
Please keep in mind I just bought the boys a whole complement of fall things, like fleeces, hoodies and these super-cute puffer vests:
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So I was none too pleased about being told I now have to buy two sets of overalls, two shirts, two sets of pantyhose, and two hats. I have two boys after all. They both will want to make scarecrows!
Their teacher said, "Oh, just go to the thrift store." But the last time I checked, the thrift store still requires actual money in exchange for their goods!
Ugh!
I know I'm being a little huffy about this, and I know it's all for a good cause. I want the school and all the kids -- not just mine -- to have the things they need to be successful. But I honestly (naively) thought that the tuition plus materials fees we paid before school started was the extent of the cash we'd be "required" to shell out.
I suppose the boys going to school is as much an education for me as it is for them.
3 comments:
I will say, this is one time where day care is "better" than preschool. With full time day care, you pay one fee and they do everything - meals, crafts, etc. No fundraising. But... day care is a lot more expensive than preschool
I don't mind doing all of this for public school bc it's free and everyone knows the schools are hurting.
I feel your pain! Say no to anything that's optional. For the rest of it, write a check! I usually try to participate in the fund raisers (like wrapping paper, etc.) because the more people who participate, the more money the school gets. But I buy one, very simple item, and I never ask anyone to buy anything.
As president of our day care board of directors, I ended the fund raising requirement that had been in effect since the school's founding. We had a $350 requirement, and various fund raising "opportunities" every month. It had become an ethical issue with Senate staff (who make up a majority of the families), plus I hated it, so we ate the huge budget deficit and said, "Buh-bye." I thought people would be ecstatic that we got rid of that and that everyone would sing my praises for years to come. Meh--not so much. I guess there weren't as many budget-conscious families at our center as I expected. LOL.
In response to Laura's comment, clearly not all child care centers are the same. Ours is a cooperative daycare center, run by a parent-volunteer board. So even with the high cost of daycare, we were still expected to cough up the extra fund raising money.
And I almost forgot--the boys look ADORABLE in their puffy vests!
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