John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Family Guide to Fundraising and Events
2022-2023
Kimberly N. Stevenson - School Principal Lauren Bodart – Advancement Director 111 West Spruce Street Washington, PA 15301 724-225-1680 www.jfkcatholic.com |
STEAM Camp
Here at John F. Kennedy Catholic, we strive to provide learning opportunities where children are able to create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically in a technology-rich environment to prepare them for their future. Our STEAM lab has created a more versatile space for the students to engage in hands on activities that compliment classroom learning. The middle school STEAM camp (5th-8th) allows students to explore various disciplines through scientific discovery, robotics, and computer applications, such as computer programming and 3D printing. In the elementary STEAM camp (2nd-4th) have fun with engineering projects and enjoy learning to drag and drop programming using Lego WeDo 2.0 robots. The camps provide a fun, interactive experience for the students.
Volunteer hours available
FALL
Lucky Money Calendar
Order forms are sent home at the beginning of the school year. You may order as many calendars as you wish to sell (50 maximum at one time). Each calendar is numbered and plays daily on the evening 3 digit PA Lottery drawing. Daily winnings are $30, weekends are $75 and holiday amounts vary. Calendars that have been ordered will be sent home in October. Stubs and money are due by a designated date in December. All calendar money and stubs must be turned in prior to January 1. If you have a winning number, a check will be mailed to you. Families earn $10.00 per calendar sold towards their assessment.
$10.00 fundraising credit per calendar
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is held in the library. Students visit the Book Fair during their designated class time. Money can be sent in with your student in an envelope marked “Book Fair.” Children love the idea of shopping for their own books! * Chairperson is needed.
No fundraising credit available / Volunteer hours available
Gala
The Fall Gala is one of our major fundraisers and has opportunities for families to earn both fundraising and volunteer credit toward your assessment. It is a fun adult only event that is held on a Saturday evening in November. The event consists of Live and Silent Auctions, assorted raffles, a Wine Pull and of course appetizers and dinner. All items auctioned and raffled are donated by businesses in the surrounding communities and by our families.
Families are asked to sell raffle tickets in advance and will receive fundraising credit. Winners are drawn at the Gala, but the winners need not be present. There are beautiful items made by each class that are auctioned each year as well as one of a kind teacher experiences that you can bid on.
Planning for the JFK Gala is year round but is most intense August through November. Two co-chairs help to lead the organization of the event but the details are decided amongst committees. Families can earn volunteer hours by joining a committee.
Make it a night out with your spouse, friends or family members and reserve a table or just plan on attending and meeting other families and parishioners. Questions can be directed to fallgala@jfkcatholic.com
Volunteer hour’s available/Fundraising credit available
Sarris Candy
We hold two sales each year, both of which are a family favorite. Many out of town families also love this fundraiser. This is a great way to start all of your holiday shopping and 35% of each sale will go toward your fundraising assessment.
Prior to Christmas and Easter, a Sarris Candy packet will be sent home with your children. There will be a detailed colorful brochure outlining available items as well as an order tally sheet. The brochure can be shared with friends or family members to purchase from your child. Online orders can also be made. The online code is 10-0549. Once you have completed your sale, complete the master order form and return it and payment to the school office. The pick-up time and location will be shared via email when the sale begins.
35% fundraising credit
Fresh Market
This fundraiser is fairly new but a big hit! Once a month different local vendor’s offer items to order. Most common is family style meals, seafood, varieties of salsa, meat packages, flowers and gourmet candy. Order forms are emailed and will have pick up dates included. Payment is due with orders on indicated date. Fresh Market is held throughout the school year.
Fundraising credit varies per product
Winter
Super Bowl Pool
If you enjoyed the Steeler Football Pool, you will want to get in on this pool! The pool is displayed on a grid of 100 blocks with numbers along the top and left side for each of the teams playing in the Super Bowl. Once the grid is full, numbers will be drawn.
Each square costs $20.00. Families earn $10.00 towards their assessment fee for each block sold. The payout is 1st Quarter= $125, Half-Time= $250, 3rd Quarter= $125 and Final Score
=$500. If you have the winning numbers a check will be mailed to you. Good Luck! If you have additional questions, email footballpool@jfkcatholic.com.
$10 fundraising credit per block sold
Santa’s Workshop
You won’t want to miss this winter wonderland! Each class will shop away at Santa’s Shop for their family and friends. Our elves work very hard to make this a very special event for all of the students.
Volunteer hours available
Night at the Races
Night at the Races is held every January and this event is a great way to meet other JFK families and parishioners. Horses (100) are sold in advance to the event. Throughout the evening, the race caller shows prerecorded races from around the country. No one knows who will win the race, including the caller! If your horse wins their race, you win $50! There are 10 regular races and the last race is an Auction Race. You may bet yourself or go in with friends to own a horse in this race. This is a big race to win, in the past winnings were over $600!
In addition to the races there are door prizes, paint stick 50/50, a reverse raffle and other raffles to make the evening a lot of fun! The committee provides a light buffet, beer and mixers. Families are allowed to bring any additional food/drinks they may want. This is a 21 year old and over event. Be sure to get your horses ahead of time, they sell out fast! See you at the starting gate!
$5 fundraising credit for each horse sold/purchased /volunteer hours available
Penny War
The annual JFK Penny War is held every year during Catholic Schools Week. The students bring in their pennies and place them in their classroom jar. Students then have the opportunity to “bomb” other classes by placing silver change in their class jars. Bills are available to be changed in for coins of their choice. Each jar is counted and daily winners are announced each day. The weeks overall winner wins an ice cream party! This is a fun event that all students and staff look forward to each year.
Volunteer hours available
Open House
Every winter John F. Kennedy Catholic holds an Open House that invites new families to visit our school. This is an opportunity to show prospective students and families what all JFK has to offer. The school relies on current families, alumni and student council members to tour new families. Please contact Lauren Bodart at lbodart@jfkcatholic.com with additional questions.
Volunteer hours available
Spring
Walk A Thon
The JFK student body and families love this fun event! It works just like any other “thon” where students ask family and friends to sponsor them during their walk a thon. This is an easy way to earn fundraising credit towards your assessment.
Families are asked to provide 10-15 names with which you would like to send a donation letter to. Students will write donation letters and send them from school. All donations are tallied and recorded towards your assessment. Preschool through 2nd grade walk laps around the church and school on the day of Walk a Thon, while upper grades walk to W&J football field and spend time walking the track. All students meet back at JFK to eat a picnic lunch and spend the remainder of the day outside.
20% of total donations-fundraising credit / volunteer hours available
Golf Outing
The annual JFK Golf Outing is held during the month of May or early June. It is a day of fun for men and women golfers. Golfers will have food and drinks throughout the day, as well as many raffles and giveaways. Sponsors are needed to make this day a big success!
Fundraising credit /Volunteer hours available
Year Round
Box Tops for Education
In 1996 General Mills created a program to support education. Over the years the program has continued to grow. Originally, Box Tops were asked to be “clipped” from participating boxes or packages and sent into school. Now, on your smart phone you can apply the app to your phone, choose John F. Kennedy as the receiving school, and simply snap a picture of your receipt. The receipt is scanned for participating items and our school will benefit. JFK gets $.10 from each Box Top.
No fundraising credit / Volunteer hours available
Recess Monitors
Monitors for recess are needed regularly with outdoor and indoor recess (weather depending). This is a great opportunity to spend time at school and earn volunteer hours. Contact allisonmarsteller@gmail.com if you are interested in helping. All volunteers must have clearances. Hours are 11:30am-1:00pm.
No fundraising credit available/ Volunteer hours available
Scrip- Gift Card Program
John F. Kennedy sells gift cards year round. When you purchase gift cards, the selling family can earn between 2%- 20% of the card purchase price toward their fundraising assessment. There are over 700 cards available to purchase including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, clothing, entertainment, etc. You can meet your fundraising assessment in no time by purchasing your gift cards for weekly groceries and gas for an example.
There are three ways to purchase gift cards.
2%-20% fundraising credit /volunteer hours available
Shop N’ Save
Shop N’ Save has a program that provides free assemblies from the Pittsburgh Zoo, PPG Aquarium, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Science Center. You just register your Perks Card online at the Shop N’ Save website (shopnsavefood.com). When you log in, go to the SEED Program link and select John F Kennedy. Start Shop N’ Savin!
No fundraising credit available / No volunteer hours available
Giant Eagle
By enrolling your Giant Eagle Advantage card, our school can earn points for free school materials every time you shop. Enrolling is easy, just follow these steps:
Enroll at www.gianteagle.com/schools/apples-for-students JFK code- 0532
No fundraising credit available / No volunteer hours available