At the Cooper Elementary School fall carnival, a section of tables in the cafeteria was dedicated to Gifts of Time. For the school's Parent Teacher Organization, Gifts of Time is an important fundraiser; but for teachers and students at the school, it's more than that.
Early in the school year, PTO officers put a request in the school mailbox of each teacher and staff member at the school. Dozens of them responded with their own take on a Gift of Time.
Teachers offered everything from the opportunity to be a "Teacher for a Day" to a trip to the local trampoline park. Administrators followed suit. Many of the activities gave a student a chance to invite a friend. If the expedition cost money, teachers paid that cost, PTO President Jennifer Knaup said.
Although they don't know exactly how much money was raised by Gifts of Time, they know the Fall Carnival raised more than $6,000 and all of that goes back to the school.
The PTO funds several subscriptions for services in the classroom, member Daphne Willaby said. When the teachers need something for their classrooms that the school doesn't provide they turn to the PTO. The board brings the request to the entire PTO for a vote on whether or not to fund it.
They also work on larger fundraising projects, Knaup said. Now, they're saving money to pay for a new awning for the playground. There are both students and teachers in the school who can't be out in the sun because of a medical condition. The awning will allow them to participate in recess.
Teachers chose how they wanted to "gift" their time, and the information was put together in a display for the carnival. Parents bought the gift of time via a silent auction.
Mr. Mims offer to be principal for a day might have raised the most money, Knaup said. There was also a chance to have Mani-Pedi, go for a bike ride or chose the music for the early morning car line, she said.
Diane Snieski, a second-grade teacher, auctioned off the chance to be "co-teacher for the day." Second-grader Robert Willaby received it.
"It's very fun," he said seriously. He found disciplining to be challenging. He warned the class that they had three chances and Jackson used two of them. Jackson did not want to stay in line but, after Robert gave him a second warning, he straightened out. As co-teacher Robert helped with a math lesson and in literacy, he got the class to read a poem.
Robert may become a teacher when he grows up.
"He's been a super-duper helper," Snieski said about her job shadow.
PE for Life teacher Ashlee Lunsford loves to bake, so her gift of time included baking in the teacher's lounge. She offered two sessions, one for pies and one for Christmas cookies; and the winner of those auctions not only got to bring along a friend, he or she got to bring home the products that were baked.
For Lunsford, it's not about the fundraising, it's about sharing her passion for baking. Ironically, it's often boys who win at her auctions. She supervises closely, but they do the actual measuring and stirring. While their creation is baking, she takes them over to the gym to shoot a few hoops.
General News on 12/13/2017