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2009-2010

2nd Installment Due Dec. 4th
A huge thank you to all that have donated.  For those that haven't and still wish to, please print and fill out the ORCA Fund Donation Form below and send it to school with your donation.  Details follow.

Did You Know...

For each classroom in our building the district supplies one teacher desk & chair, the student desks & chairs, a bookshelf, a file cabinet, a flag and the required curriculum (text books).  The technology levy that was passed by voters has enabled us to have the computers that are in the classrooms or on the rotating cart.  The posters, baskets, paper, pencils, notebooks, and all the other items you see in classrooms are provided by the teachers (yes, out of their own pockets!) or through parent donations.  The ORCA Fund is vital and necessary.

What Is The ORCA Fund?

A flat, tax free donation of at least $75 per Edmonds Elementary child to be used to cover the cost of:

  • student school supplies... every EE student received student supplies on their first day of school.  Yes, those are the supplies that you did NOT have to purchase from a list in the rush before school started! 

  • testing supplies

  • classroom activities & supplies

  • student planners for intermediate students

  • field trips

  • 5th & 6th grade camp subsidy

  • emergency shed supplies

Why Do We Need The ORCA Fund?

Bulk student supplies purchasing = $ cost savings & no more back to school shopping!...

In these difficult times when our school operating budget is at an all-time low, we need to find smarter ways to use available funds.  Plus no more back to school supplies shopping lists for you... just provide a backpack and lunchbox.

No more requests throughout the year for $5 here and $10 there...

How many times last year were you asked for either money or a donation to go towards field trips, classroom parties, classroom art projects, etc.?  With the success of the ORCA Fund, these requests will vanish

Give every EE student a chance to attend camp at a reasonable cost...

In addition to saving money by having the 5th & 6th grade classes attend camp together every other year, we will start to build a fund to subsidize the per student cost.  Please note, parents of those children attending camp will still be asked to pay an additional amount for camp participation.  All EE children will get the opportunity to attend camp in the 5th & 6th grades.  The ORCA Fund will make the cost to parents more affordable.

Ensure our Emergency Shed is well stocked...

Every year we need to replenish perishables in the Emergency Shed so the children and staff have the food, water, and medical supplies they may need in a disaster situation.

No more hassles of selling gift wrap AND we keep 100% of what we collect...

Rather than have the children (and us!) go through the hassle of selling cookies, gift wrap, or candy to raise funds to support all of the above, many parents said they prefer a flat donation at the beginning of the year.  With programs like selling gift wrap, EE keeps only a portion (around 50-60%) of the funds collected.  The rest of the money goes back to the company whose goods we sell.  If you have asked friends and family to buy products we've sold in the past, please ask them to help again this year by supporting the ORCA Fund.  The more support we get, the better school experience your child will have.

Key Dates For Payment

*** If you can, please donate NOW to ensure we have the funds available to purchase back to school student supplies (remember the ones you no longer have to purchase!). ***

  • Deadline to return form with payment: September 15, 2009

  • Installment due dates: September 15, 2009; December 4, 2009; March 5, 2010

How To Pay

Print and fill out the ORCA Fund Donation Form.  Mail the completed form with a check made payable to Edmonds Elementary PTA to:

ORCA Fund

c/o Edmonds Elementary

1215 Olympic Avenue

Edmonds, WA 98020

 

Your contribution is tax deductible (Tax ID #91-1486539  501(c) 3).  If your employer has a matching gift program, please include the matching gift form with your donation.

Does The ORCA Fund Replace The STARS Auction?

No.  The STARS Auction in the spring, is unique to Edmonds Elementary and completely separate from the PTA.  The auction is the only source of income for the many numerous and generous grants given to the classrooms "Supporting the Teaching of Arts, Reading and Science."  The STARS Auction will continue to need your time and donations to succeed.

So That's It?  Just One Check And I'm Done For The Year?

Well, not exactly.  We still need your support for:

And of course spirit wear, yearbooks and tickets to special events will be sold at the lowest possible cost to those families who are interested.

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