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Upstairs Fundraiser
During the first week of December, 2006, the teachers and students of the Upstairs were having an interesting discussion during morning circle. The topic was a continuation of our discussion of business and commerce. Blending Math and Social Studies, the group was introduced to the terms profit, loss, gross and net income and expenses. We had previously talked about people earning money to be able to purchase goods and services. The cycle of cash flow had been examined as well. There were several books read as well as other lessons focused on these topics. This led to a discussion of what gifts these 1st-4th graders wanted for the upcoming holidays. We all estimated how much we thought our favorite toys would cost and the average cost of all of the estimates was determined. Then the actual price was found in a catalogue and the difference was compared. We talked about how lucky we were to be able to get gifts. The students were concerned about children who couldn't get gifts. They expressed a desire to try to help those children. We found out that there was a Toys for Tots collection site at the Wappingers Falls Town Hall. This tied in very well with our year-long theme of Connections. We had taken a drive around Wappingers Falls using our newly acquired compass and map skills to see sights of interest in our community. One of the places that the students had seen on our drive was the nearby town hall. We had already planned on taking the students there as part of our study of local government and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity.
The next question was how to raise the money to buy the toys. The students generated a long list of ideas, ranging from a lemonade stand to a bake sale. Then it occurred to us that a few of our parents were musicians. The school is selling coffee from Costa Rica as a fundraiser for a trip to Costa Rica by our oldest students. We thought to blend the two and have a Musical Morning Coffee House. We asked our musical parents to volunteer their time and skills. Our other parents were asked to bake something to serve with the coffee. They were asked, if possible, to shop and cook with their children so that the students would understand more of the entire process. Voluntary donations would be accepted at the door and our guests could help themselves to coffee and treats. The date was set for Wednesday, December 13th. We all began to prepare for the big event. We merged Art and Language Arts and made signs and flyers. We put an announcement in the school's Friday note and invited the entire Randolph community to come and enjoy the festivities. We converted a room upstairs to be our performance stage and used another room for the cafe. Our first parent artists were Jen Clapp and Dan Fisherman. Jen is a professional musician who has performed throughout the state. The next performer was Michael O'Neill who played many holiday favorites. Closing our list of musicians was our own music teacher, Creek Iversen. There was even an impromptu dance choreographed and performed by three of the students from the Upstairs. During all of the performances students of all ages in the school came and enjoyed the music. Parents came and sat with their children, enjoying a cup of coffee and pleasant music before heading out to go to work.
The entire event lasted about two hours. After our last guest left and we had all cleaned up the rooms, we gathered together to count the money. The counting included various math lessons, such as how to count by 5, 10 & 20. The cash was totaled and we had raised $220, late donations brought the total up to $240. We then subtracted the approximately $40 that had been spent on the expenses for the event and ended up with a profit of $200! The students were then asked to think of toys that they thought should be purchased. we generated an impressive list. It was decided that a teacher would do the actual shopping (Eleven students in a toy store at holiday time seemed like a situation best avoided). The next day, Thursday,we received a call from Chris Masterson, the Town Clerk, to say that the Poughkeepsie Journal wanted to do a story on our fundraiser. Reporter Leigh Gomez came to the school and interviewed the students. She asked the students many questions and they were very clear and descriptive in their answers. The article appeared in the next day's issue (the text is below).
On Friday the students and teachers went up the road to Town Hall. there we were met by Mr. Masterson. the students were treated to a tour of the entire facility and they had the special opportunity to meet with many of the staff, who were very kind to our students. They described their jobs and offered the students many wonderful treats. A journalist from the Southern Dutchess News met with the students and interviewed them. We then had the opportunity to meet with Joseph Ruggiero, the Town Supervisor. He described his job and answered the questions that the students had prepared. The students left with their arms overflowing with gifts and smiles across their faces. What had started as a lesson on general economics transformed into a very exciting experience for all. The entire Randolph community was integrated into a lesson that was inspired entirely by the students. The students were able to experience, first hand, all of the related topics, skills, and concepts that were a part of this lesson. The students involved in this project were Daniel, Noam, Soren, Noah, Josie, Matthew, Anilee, Massimo, Edwin, Anthony and Elizabeth. Friday, December 15, 2006
Today, the children will donate the goods they bought with the money at Wappingers town hall. Afterwards, Town Clerk Chris Masterson will lead them on a guided tour of the town hall. The project started when students were reminded the holidays were coming up and how fortunate some children were to have presents, teacher and co-administrator Bradford King said. "Why don't we help the children who don't have toys?" second-grader Josie Altucher suggested. The other 10 students who are in first through fourth grades agreed. The teachers wanted the students to learn about the economy, government and money, King said. The skills learned were applied through the hands-on experience of the event. Using imagination Students brainstormed various ways to raise proceeds, such as selling baked goods or lemonade. With the help of staff, the students determined they'd create a mock coffee house, called Musical Coffee. A room on the second floor of the Victorian schoolhouse was transformed into a cafe where parents and students were invited to listen to holiday tunes and feast on brownies and breakfast burritos, which some students helped cook. Musical guests included parents Jen Clapp and Dan Fisherman, Michael O'Neill and school music teacher Creek Iversen. At the end of the two hours, students made about $240. They learned $38 went towards fundraiser expenses, which left them with about a $200 profit. Among the things the students bought for Toys for Tots were: a globe, Mancala, Amazing Allison talking doll, strategy games, Legos and Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards. The students said it didn't matter to them if the children who receive the donations live in other areas. But, they added, it's good to donate locally. "If everyone donated money to the community, there would be a relatively even amount of money," fourth-grade student Noam Fisherman said. For people who can't afford to donate money, second-grader Josie Altucher had a suggestion: "You can always make up games, or play with the children if you don't have toys to give."
Leigh Gomez can be reached at lgomez@poughkeepsiejournal.com |
