Thursday August 14, 2008

How is your 2008 fundraising money being spent?

At the beginning of the year we spoke to you about the need to raise money for the school over and above the $58.65 per child that the government provides each year. We asked you to be generous with either your time or your money or both if you wanted your children to continue to receive the high standard of education that Mosman Public School has been able to deliver due to the generosity of parents and the local community.

In particular our goal was to be able to put a SMART Board in every classroom as soon as possible.

I am delighted to share with you that we have been successful in raising $178,000 this year through the 80’s Night and the Mini-Mos Race, Fair and Raffle. Furthermore, we expect to raise an additional $42,000 by the end of the year from the Hall Rental and the Uniform Shop. This is a phenomenal effort and highlights how fortunate our children are. We live in an extremely generous community.

Naturally you want to know how that money is being spent. In summary, the P&C have been able to pay for an extra teacher’s salary ($50,000), contribute $32,000 towards educational resources (in all Key Learning Areas), provide for 6 SMART Boards ($48,000), pay for $26,000 worth of school resources/educational items on the Wish List, buy a new sound system for the Hall ($22,000), supplement the canteen renovation (contributed $8,000 over the $25,000 carried forward from the prior year), as well as make a contribution to the Performing Arts Committee, Student Welfare, Teachers’ Christmas Party, Sports Skills and Fitness and the Year 6 Farewell.

We will also be giving a total of $10,000 to Camp Quality, which includes the money raised via the Everyday Hero website.

We now have SMART Boards in all Years 3-6 classrooms so we are getting closer to our goal.

At the next P&C meeting (Week 3, Term 4) we will review the fundraising budget for 2009. You are all welcome to attend that meeting. We will also be demonstrating a SMART Board at that meeting.

From time to time I hear people say that they don’t know why we need to raise so much money or how the money gets spent. If you hear these comments would you please spread the word that every cent essentially goes to your children’s education, either directly or indirectly.

It is the aim of our fundraising activities to be successful financially, to be fun for everyone and to create goodwill in the school and wider community. All of this is to be achieved in good spirit. I believe we have achieved all of our goals and more and I thank each and every one of you for your contribution.

Juli Hammond, P&C President