Unless our budget situation changes quickly, I am sad to report that we will be forced to discontinue some of our most popular programs – programs that enrich our children’s school experience and their lives. These are programs like Cultural Arts Assemblies, our International Festival, the rewards and new quizzes for the Accelerated Reader program, the teacher grants that help purchase needed materials for the classroom, our excellent choral program and much more.

So far this year we expected to have raised $59,000 with activities like Dining for Dollars, the sale of Citipass books and the Fall Fundraiser. Unfortunately, we have only raised $43,500 to date. The PTA Executive Board is currently looking for ways to cut expenses and possibly remove programs (such as those mentioned above) from the 2010-2011 budget to help us recover from this $15,500 deficit.

Please consider helping us before we have to make difficult decisions that will change the quality of your child's school year. WE NEED YOU! There are many ways to help out. Cash donations are always welcome and needed – so are your volunteer hours. Parent and Teacher involvement in a school is crucial to creating the kind of school experience that we know you want your child to have. Please read the options below and get involved to keep Weatherstone Elementary School the best it can be. If every family can pick just one way to help out, we can make a difference.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP!

BINGO NIGHT

• Come out on March 12th for bingo & bring friends!
• Pre-order your meal - Donate prizes
• Volunteer to help (catdupuisnc@gmail.com)

SPRING CARNIVAL

• Get on a committee! (ckmtay@hotmail.com)
• Donate raffle basket items
• Come out on April 17 with friends for lots of fun

FUNDRAISING FOR ’10-‘11

• Talk to friends at other schools, find out what fundraisers have worked for them
• Attend the planning meeting (Tues. Feb. 23 at 2pm in room 224) to share ideas and provide input on next year

MERCHANT FUNDRAISING

• Sign up your Harris Teeter Card or Kroger card, this helps bring in over $2000, and don’t forget your box tops!

IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL HELP

• If you are in the position to help out with a financial donation, 100% of it will go to keeping our programming going (don’t forget it is tax deductible!) - Checks made out to Weatherstone PTA can be dropped off at the office anytime - If you haven’t joined the PTA yet, please go to www.weatherstonepta.com and join, it is never too late!

If you can help out at all, this is the time. The bottom line is that we need you!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions,

Diane Williams PTA President
Prp1970@bellsouth.net