November 2005
Dear Quilchena Parents:
Quilchena’s Students Need Your Help!
On behalf of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), welcome to
Quilchena Elementary. All of us are
happy to be settling back into school, and whether this is your first “Q” year or
you are a returning family, we hope that it is full of exciting and enriching
learning experiences for all of us.
This year, the PAC is building on our success of the past
few years with the Annual Quilchena Appeal for funds. As parents, you have consistently told the
PAC over the years that you prefer to write a single cheque in one major
fundraising campaign rather than buying a variety of products that are brought
home as ‘fundraisers’ throughout the year.
Our children need funding for learning tools and to improve
the school.
Last year, Quilchena families generously contributed over
$22,000 to the Annual Quilchena Appeal (AQA), and this money was used to
purchase reading and resource materials, library books, new risers for the gym,
computer and information technology resources, the Safe Arrival phone line, and
to support various student activities.
At our most recent PAC meeting on November 3rd,
parents discussed the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of completing this year’s Appeal in
November, or delaying until the New Year.
There was strong consensus that we should proceed with the Appeal now,
mainly so that our children can benefit as soon as possible from the funds
raised.
We are therefore now seeking your support for this year’s
Annual Quilchena Appeal.
What is the money for?
First, PAC
provides annual funding to pay for
things such as the Safe Arrival program, subscriptions for the Library, Grade 7
Graduation, Fine Arts programs and an annual allocation to each classroom in
the school.
Second, we
provide ongoing funds for:
·
Textbooks, workbooks and readers, both English and French;
·
Computers and Information Technology;
·
Art and Science programs; and
·
Sports and school equipment.
Third, this
year we plan to begin a major ‘legacy’
project to benefit the children at Quilchena for many years to come. Parents
have decided to concentrate efforts on making substantial improvements to the
Library, so that it is a dynamic
resource and learning centre, providing an array of interactive resources
for our children.
PAC is hoping to raise
$25,000 in the 2005/06
Annual Quilchena Appeal, in order to fund the priorities for this year and make
a ‘down payment’ on the ‘Library Improvement Legacy Project’.
How much should I
give?
There is no maximum or minimum donation amount. Last year, we received donations from $25 to
$1,000. ALL gifts are welcome.
We are asking families to consider contributing $100 for
each child ($10/month), or an amount
that is meaningful for you.
Mostly, we hope that all families will participate in the Appeal.
A Reply Form is enclosed with this
letter. Please complete the Form and send it back to the
school, with your cheque (payable to
“Quilchena PAC”) in the enclosed envelope. If it is more convenient, please contribute what you can at this time, and
include post-dated cheques for later dates in the envelope. Official Tax Receipts will be issued for
all Annual Appeal donations over $25. Your questions may be answered through the
‘Question and Answer Fact Sheet’ that is enclosed. It is also posted on the Quilchena web site
at www.quilchena.vsb.bc.ca (click
on PAC).
This year’s campaign will end on Friday, December 2nd. Please complete the Reply Form and return it
to the school, with your cheque, by December 2nd.
Every day, all of us see the difference that the goodwill,
time and financial support offered by parents bring to the quality of life at
the school. Thank you for all that you
do in making this happen, and for participating in this year’s Annual Quilchena
Appeal.
Thank you for helping students at Quilchena!
PAC Chair PAC Vice-Chair