PTP Activities

Parent Teacher Partnership Activities 2010-2011 School Year

Aluminum Can Recycling:

• We have a very successful aluminum can recycling effort at St. Christopher.  There are two collection bins located just north of the parking lot between the school and the garage.  All funds from this effort are sent to CureAmerica, an organization that works with the poor of Bolivia, with an emphasis on inoculating children.

Auction: 

• Usually held in November, this evening includes dinner, silent and live auction, and a reverse raffle.  There are many volunteer opportunities available including securing and tracking donations, basket representative, and working the day of the event, work from home jobs are available as well. These efforts benefit the Third Source Income which helps to minimize tuition increases.

Bingo:

• Every Friday night (5-10pm) we provide the kitchen help for St. Christopher Bingo.  There are seven teams and each team works about seven times per year, including summer.  There are also opportunities to provide baked goods and to do early setup (outside of the 5-10pm time slot).  This benefits the PTP and capital improvements for the school.

Book Fairs: 

• In October and April of each year the resource center hosts a book fair and help is needed in assisting the students in choosing and purchasing books. A percentage of the profits from these sales go to our school library. 

Breakfast with Santa:

• This event takes place the 2^ndSaturday in December.  We serve breakfast; provide craft activities and a photo with Santa. Proceeds go to PTP.

Buddy Families: 

• Members of this committee volunteer their time to make contact with and update new school families with information; they serve as a first point of reference for questions throughout the year. 

Cafeteria Decorating:

• This committee decorates the cafeteria each month based on holidays and other themes. 

Campbell Soup Labels and Box Tops for Education:

• Labels from Campbell’s products (soups, sauces, etc.) can be clipped from their containers and collected at school or in the baskets at each entrance to church.  Labels are collected throughout the year and redeemed for educational equipment.  The Box Tops are redeemed for cash and benefit PTP. Volunteers are needed to cut and trim the labels to prepare them for shipping; some of this work can be done from home.

Catholic Schools Week Teacher Luncheon: 

• Held during Catholic Schools Week, volunteers help to serve lunch (which is catered), assist with lunch, recess and office duties so we can honor our teachers and staff with a luncheon together.  Volunteers also set up, clean up and provide decorations for the event.    

Charity Kickball:

• This game is played annually by students in grades 4 – 6.   All of the students in the school bring in money that day to be out of uniform and to participate (by playing or by watching) the game.  The money raised is donated to a different charity each year.

Cheer Committee:

• This committee assists with providing emotional, spiritual and physical support to faculty, staff, students and their families in various ways, such as sending cards, making arrangements to have meals and/or childcare provided, etc.

Christmas Dinner for 55 & Over:

• As part of our community outreach, the PTP sponsors a dinner for any active parishioner that is 55 or older.  They are provided with a Christmas dinner and entertained with a short program.  Dinners are also delivered to the homebound parishioners. This is held the 3^rdSunday in December and set up takes place the Saturday before.  Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve and clean up as well as deliver meals to parishioners.

Classroom Committee:

• Each classroom needs a parent volunteer to be the classroom representative.  Each room rep acts as a liaison between the classroom teacher and parents to coordinate classroom assistance and help with various school events.  This committee is also in charge of the 6^thGrade Dance, the 6^th Grade Graduation Reception and the 2^ndGrade First Eucharist Reception. Volunteers also provide treats for teacher’s birthdays. 

Coat Closet:

• All families are asked to go through their closets to look for coats, hats, gloves that could be donated during our Coat Closet drive in October.  It is requested that the coats come in cleaned or washed and then will be presented at the altar during Mass in November.  The clothing is given to members of our community who are in need.       

Community Night:

• This group works with stores and restaurants to offer a rebate to our school if you patronize their establishment on a certain day.  These efforts benefit the Third Source Income which helps to minimize tuition increases.

CYO  Sports Activities:

• Students in the 4^ththrough 6^thgrades are invited to participate in a variety of sports throughout the year.  Sports offered include, fall and spring kickball and volleyball for girls; basketball for boys and girls; co-ed soccer, track, and cross-country teams.  Volunteers are needed as coaches and to work the St. Chris concession stand

Enrichment:

• This committee makes it possible for our children to be exposed to cultural and educational programs and field trips. 

Field Day:

• This day is near the end of the school year and is organized by our P.E. teacher, Mrs. Powell.  The entire school, including kindergarten, participates in this fun-filled day of games and activities. Volunteers are needed to help with games and refreshments.

First Communion Reception: 

• This event is coordinated by the Classroom Committee, parents of the 2^ndGrade class and the 2^ndGrade teacher(s).  The reception is held the Monday after First Holy Communion.

Golf Outing:

• This event is held in the fall and volunteers are needed on the day of the event, as well as help in obtaining hole sponsors, door prizes and golf participants. These efforts benefit the Third Source Income which helps to minimize tuition increases.

Grandparent’s Day:

• This event is held on Columbus Day in October.  This is a day when all the students invite their grandparents or some special adult to join them in school for the morning.  The day consists of:  A short reception with coffee and donuts, a presentation by the students, mass, and a visit to the classrooms.  Volunteers are needed to serve food and drinks and help assist our visitors in finding their way around campus.

Graduation  Reception:

• This reception is held after the 6^thGrade Honors Mass at the end of the school year.  Sponsored by the Classroom committee, 5^thgrade parents, teachers and students plan and host this event

Junior Achievement:

• This activity provides our children with the knowledge of the relevance of education and the workplace.  This helps to teach our children how to be a good consumer and gives them a basic understanding of how our economy works and how we must work together to be a successful society.  One volunteer per classroom is needed to teach the students in the spring of each year.  Volunteers will spend approximately one hour per week in the classroom for five sessions.

Market Day:

• This is a food co-op where families can order items either via a paper order form or online.  Orders are picked up once a month between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria.  Volunteers are needed to set up, unload the truck and help fill orders for approximately 3 hours.  There are two teams that rotate every other month.  Proceeds go to the enrichment fund (to pay for class field trips).

Mini Marathon:

• Volunteers sell beverages at the Mini Marathon each May; workers must have a current liquor license. 

Other Ways to Benefit the School: 

• We have several opportunities to provide the school with extra money throughout the year. These include Printer recycling, Nestle Water Bottle Labels, Good Search, Meijer, etc

Parish Festival Snack Trailer:

• This committee is responsible for selling snacks and St. Chris T-shirts, etc. during the St. Chris Parish Festival in July. 

Pep Rally:

• Students are allowed to wear St. Christopher School T-shirts and jeans to school and near the end of the school day, all students gather in the cafeteria for popcorn and drink and a short pep rally where sports teams, chess and academic teams are introduced.  Volunteers work approximately two hours on each of these days making and serving refreshments.

School Spot: 

• School related items are published in the church bulletin to inform parishioners, families and prospective families of school events and information.

Scrip Program: 

• Gift certificates and pre-paid cards can be purchased and used like cash.  Scrip can be used for everyday purchases from grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, retailers and much more.  Our school earns 2%-18% of each Scrip purchase.  You now have the ability to purchase cards and earn 50% of profits back at the end of the year toward a reduction in your tuition for the following year.  Help is needed each Wednesday during school hours and selling Scrip at all of the masses the first weekend of the month.  These efforts benefit the Third Source Income which helps to minimize tuition increases.

Track Concessions:

• We staff a concession stand at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the races. Many volunteers are needed on approximately 7 days to make this a success.  Proceeds go to the Technology Fund to purchase computers, hardware, software, and Internet access. 

Trash Bag Sales: 

• This fundraising activity involves the selling of tall white kitchen bags, large yellow heavy-duty trash bags and even larger heavy-duty blue bags.  At the beginning of each school year, order forms are distributed and soon after, the largest portions of trash bags are distributed.  Trash bags are also available throughout the school year by contacting the school office.  Proceeds go to PTP.

Uniform Trade-In:

• This committee collects all uniforms that our children have outgrown, or no longer need.  We then set them out at various meetings throughout the year for the parents to select clothing needed.  It is requested that the clothing come in clean when you turn them in.