How to help other APS elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

Here's an idea: at the next auction or whatever, why not have up for bid, a "Be a Student in a South Arlington School for a Day!" item? Come with us on a tour of a school that is so close by, and yet ... so far away. Subsidized lunch and bilingual conversation provided. Be sure to sign a waiver!

[Anonymous]

OP, I've had similar thoughts to you, so I'm glad you posted. It's not that I view s Arlington as equivalent to Beirut, it's that I see the amount of money that our home school gets and realize that most schools - not just in the county, but anywhere - do not have that. I have Amazon smile set up to benefit our school because it seems weird not to support my kids' school, but I think there are probably a lot of other schools that could use the funds a lot more than ours.

[Anonymous]

You absolutely can donate to another school's PTA, and I bet they would be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have our kids in a north Arlington elementary school, and as I'm watching everyone get back to school, I'm struck by the number of offers that seem to go around to donate stuff to the school (supplies, classroom equipment, time), and it struck me that I can't imagine as much flows into the lower SES south Arlington elementary schools simply because there isn't nearly the same degree of wealth and resources. While we'll still contribute to our home school, I'd also like to be able to make contributions to other APS elementary schools/teachers to help out. Does anyone know how I might go about finding out what's needed or how I can help? Are there teacher wishlists posted anywhere? Can I make a contribution to another school's PTA?

Sorry if this is coming off as some kind of white savior thing, I realize that there's a good amount of presumption going on here and there's definitely a part of me that's uncomfortable even posting this because it seems to not really come off right. But it is coming from a sincere place of caring about the world outside of my privileged little bubble, and wanting to find ways to help when I can.

Nothing wrong with wanting to help out where you can. I prefer to contribute within my community and since our kids are at an Arlington Title I school there are plenty of opportunities to do that. I'd rather give money for school supplies, book fair books, and secret Santa gifts to children and their families within our community rather than donate to nationsal or international charities.

At our school (and probably others that use EduKit for school supplies) there is always an option to donate money towards other students' supplies. Our school also finds sponsors for families at Christmas time to provide books, clothing, and also a fun thing or toy for each member of certain struggling families. I'm sure you could call the schools directly and ask if they do outreach like this or contact the PTA.

[Anonymous]

Take a look at the schools with highest farm rates. Just being title 1 isn't necessarily enough. Some of the title 1 schools have tremendous wealth at their disposal, but we have elementary schools with 70-80 percent poverty. They truly don't the numbers to have a good balance. Arlington is so messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the schools with highest farm rates. Just being title 1 isn't necessarily enough. Some of the title 1 schools have tremendous wealth at their disposal, but we have elementary schools with 70-80 percent poverty. They truly don't the numbers to have a good balance. Arlington is so messed up.

Doesn't matter what school they go to -- needy kids are needy kids. OP just asking how to find out how/where to help. Pretty sure most Arlington schools have kids that could use some help, although you're right, some have more than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the schools with highest farm rates. Just being title 1 isn't necessarily enough. Some of the title 1 schools have tremendous wealth at their disposal, but we have elementary schools with 70-80 percent poverty. They truly don't the numbers to have a good balance. Arlington is so messed up.

Doesn't matter what school they go to -- needy kids are needy kids. OP just asking how to find out how/where to help. Pretty sure most Arlington schools have kids that could use some help, although you're right, some have more than others.

OP here, you are right that needy kids are needy kids, but also right that some schools have more than others and I think the broader community wealth makes a difference in how well those kids' needs are met. In our school, there are several programs in place between the PTA and the school itself to provide assistance to needy students, whether indirectly (such PTA funding field trips so no students have to pay, or providing bulk classroom supplies to teachers so they have what they need regardless of whether parents can afford to buy them), or directly (such as maintaining a supply of clean, good-condition donated clothing and outerwear that can be given to students who come to school without proper clothing because their families can't afford to buy them winter gloves or long pants). Not to mention that teachers and the PTA can ask the parents for more than the actual per-student contribution needed, knowing that most of us won't bat an eye and the extra will cover those who can't afford it.

From everything I've read and heard (including from friends who are teachers in other areas in lesser-privileged schools), a lot of that simply isn't the case in less affluent schools. So yes, a needy child in my north-of-Lee Highway elementary school may be just as much in need as needy students in south Arlington, but there are a lot more resources available here to meet those needs without having to reach outside our immediately community or have the teachers kick in their own money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the schools with highest farm rates. Just being title 1 isn't necessarily enough. Some of the title 1 schools have tremendous wealth at their disposal, but we have elementary schools with 70-80 percent poverty. They truly don't the numbers to have a good balance. Arlington is so messed up.

Doesn't matter what school they go to -- needy kids are needy kids. OP just asking how to find out how/where to help. Pretty sure most Arlington schools have kids that could use some help, although you're right, some have more than others.

OP here, you are right that needy kids are needy kids, but also right that some schools have more than others and I think the broader community wealth makes a difference in how well those kids' needs are met. In our school, there are several programs in place between the PTA and the school itself to provide assistance to needy students, whether indirectly (such PTA funding field trips so no students have to pay, or providing bulk classroom supplies to teachers so they have what they need regardless of whether parents can afford to buy them), or directly (such as maintaining a supply of clean, good-condition donated clothing and outerwear that can be given to students who come to school without proper clothing because their families can't afford to buy them winter gloves or long pants). Not to mention that teachers and the PTA can ask the parents for more than the actual per-student contribution needed, knowing that most of us won't bat an eye and the extra will cover those who can't afford it.

From everything I've read and heard (including from friends who are teachers in other areas in lesser-privileged schools), a lot of that simply isn't the case in less affluent schools. So yes, a needy child in my north-of-Lee Highway elementary school may be just as much in need as needy students in south Arlington, but there are a lot more resources available here to meet those needs without having to reach outside our immediately community or have the teachers kick in their own money.

This. I don't understand why the pp doesn't get that. If a school has 80% farms, the other 20% is likely overwhelmed by the needs of so many. But by all means, go ahead, funnel your dollars into Nottingham. How very noble.

[Anonymous]

You could absolutely donate to another PTA and/or contact the school directly to see what is needed. I know many teachers and staff end up funding things at our school, like their own supplies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've had similar thoughts to you, so I'm glad you posted. It's not that I view s Arlington as equivalent to Beirut, it's that I see the amount of money that our home school gets and realize that most schools - not just in the county, but anywhere - do not have that. I have Amazon smile set up to benefit our school because it seems weird not to support my kids' school, but I think there are probably a lot of other schools that could use the funds a lot more than ours.

Beirut has PAUL boulangerie, Tumi, Tiffany, etc., upscale hotels and high rises, the beautiful American U campus. It isn't Beirut circa 1980.

[Anonymous]

The comments on this ArlNow article about PTA fundraisers last year in Arlington are an interesting read, and touch on the subject of the N /S Arlington "divide". https://www.arlnow.com/2015/05/06/cash-strapped-drew-school-pta-hosts-spring-fair/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the schools with highest farm rates. Just being title 1 isn't necessarily enough. Some of the title 1 schools have tremendous wealth at their disposal, but we have elementary schools with 70-80 percent poverty. They truly don't the numbers to have a good balance. Arlington is so messed up.

Doesn't matter what school they go to -- needy kids are needy kids. OP just asking how to find out how/where to help. Pretty sure most Arlington schools have kids that could use some help, although you're right, some have more than others.

OP here, you are right that needy kids are needy kids, but also right that some schools have more than others and I think the broader community wealth makes a difference in how well those kids' needs are met. In our school, there are several programs in place between the PTA and the school itself to provide assistance to needy students, whether indirectly (such PTA funding field trips so no students have to pay, or providing bulk classroom supplies to teachers so they have what they need regardless of whether parents can afford to buy them), or directly (such as maintaining a supply of clean, good-condition donated clothing and outerwear that can be given to students who come to school without proper clothing because their families can't afford to buy them winter gloves or long pants). Not to mention that teachers and the PTA can ask the parents for more than the actual per-student contribution needed, knowing that most of us won't bat an eye and the extra will cover those who can't afford it.

From everything I've read and heard (including from friends who are teachers in other areas in lesser-privileged schools), a lot of that simply isn't the case in less affluent schools. So yes, a needy child in my north-of-Lee Highway elementary school may be just as much in need as needy students in south Arlington, but there are a lot more resources available here to meet those needs without having to reach outside our immediately community or have the teachers kick in their own money.

This. I don't understand why the pp doesn't get that. If a school has 80% farms, the other 20% is likely overwhelmed by the needs of so many. But by all means, go ahead, funnel your dollars into Nottingham. How very noble.

Right?!?! If your schools has a sub-6 FARMS rate, any request for donations or assistance is given freely. Don't you see it's not the same at schools where the economics are flipped?

[Anonymous]

I for one find the yearly school supply purchase thing incredibly wasteful. The schools would have so much purchasing power if they bought the items in bulk and simply charged it to the parents as an alternative to us going and each individually buying things like 48 pre-sharpened #2 pencils. There is no reason why teachers should be spending their own out of pocket money for school supplies either.

[Anonymous]

9:42 - our arlington school sort of does that. Everyone is strongly encouraged to buy the Staples supply kits and the supplies from them go to the school first and are pooled. A few things will come home and the teachers will put out a call later in the year for more glue sticks or whatever.

It does take the fun out of buying school supplies, though.

Our PTA (FARMS % in the 20's) uses box tops and a grants program for teacher reimbursement. Teachers get reimbursed up to about $50 from the box tops program. Bigger requests (like the newberry award books for the classroom library) are handled through grants - teachers submit a proposal and the committee approves as many as possible.

[Anonymous]

Designate another school to receive donations via your Harris Teeter, Giant, Safeway purchases maybe?