Boosterthon at Haycock

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much disgusted by a lot of you, but thankful that your posts are anonymous. Perhaps you should think about reading your posts to your kids and think about how you would explain them. The content, tone, language, everything. I came on because I have concerns with the way boosterthon is run. Good fundraising % or not, it seems aggressively marketed. My son said "I need to have 10-12 people signed up so I can be a leader some day." I watched some of the videos and read the material and it's just unfairly marketed to the younger kids (1st grader). Although I will be leaving with a bit of information, most of these comments were not worth your time to type, can't we all be a more supportive community and not behave this way. To anyone who was forcibly redistricted, I hope your child/children don't suffer from these FCPS decisions. We're all in this for the kids right. - Haycock Parent

OP, I think you raised a good point in good faith. This issue isn't unique to Haycock or the Boosterthon, but it would be a blessing if FCPS made it clear that schools and individual programs should not make families feel like they are obligated to give or raise large amounts for what are ultimately optional fundraisers. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing good work there. Spend more time helping children study, less time worrying about other parents!

http://www.mathleague.com/downloads/gs1213/va-678-1213.pdf

http://www.sungazette.net/mclean-greatfalls-vienna-oakton/news/longfellow-mathcounts-team-regains-va-title/article_be9b0ecc-a118-11e2-ac9c-0019bb2963f4.html

This is like the Kid beauty pageants they show on TLC, where only 5 kids enter. Our center doesn't even participate in this and we have an excellent math program. Entire classes, in each grade, taught 2 years ahead in math instead of the standard 1 year ahead. I'm sure the education at haycock is good, but to say its the best bc of things like this is silly.

What a simply mean post. Why must you denigrate some students' hard work and achievements in order to try to prove your point that your school, too, has an "excellent math program"? You can have a terrific program and choose not to participate in these extracurriculars. Or a school with a so-so program can have some great students who do choose to do these extracurriculars. Either situation is fine. Why do you feel compelled to put down those individual kids' efforts by saying that these programs are like "a kid beauty pageant"? Why does it matter if there were five kids or 45 kids from a school participating? Their participation still reflects well on the school and most of all reflects well on the kids themselves. These kids worked to achieve something on their own time; don't put down their efforts to make some point about your school or any other school.

And no, I am not a parent of one of these kids -- in fact my kid does not go to any of the schools mentioned (and does not go to Haycock) and is not in Math Counts or math league at her own school. I just hate to see any kids' efforts dragged in the mud by parents posting on this forum who are just trying to score more snarky points against schools they dislike, or to defend their own schools. Just appreciate the fact that some kids did a good thing and worked hard, and don't try to use it to score points here.

Not trying to be mean or 'score points'. No kids are reading this blog. Just making fun of another parent trying to tell us again how great haycock is. Like i said I'm sure its a good school.

If you want to see mean go back and replay the school board meetings from January. There scores of Haycock parents got up and begged the SB to kick 7,8,9 and 10 year old kids out of 'their' school.

[Anonymous]

Here's the testimony - when I read it, I don't see parents being mean or repeatedly speaking ill of others, the way that 21:13 does. I see parents urging the School Board to find a workable solution to the overcrowding at Haycock that also preserves its identity as a neighborhood school.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/94AM8F593AA6/$file/Speakers'%20Testimonies.pdf

Those of you - whether Cluster 2 parents or others who enjoy treating Haycock like a pinata because you are envious or just enjoy stirring the pot - should be ashamed of yourselves. It is vicious and it serves no valid purpose. By every indication, the students moving to Lemon Road will have a great experience, in a school with dedicated teachers and administrators and in a program that has the critical mass considered necessary by educators of gifted children. Continuing to kvetch over decisions made months ago that didn't go your way makes you look very small. Surely you are capable of setting a better example for your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the testimony - when I read it, I don't see parents being mean or repeatedly speaking ill of others, the way that 21:13 does. I see parents urging the School Board to find a workable solution to the overcrowding at Haycock that also preserves its identity as a neighborhood school.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/94AM8F593AA6/$file/Speakers'%20Testimonies.pdf

Those of you - whether Cluster 2 parents or others who enjoy treating Haycock like a pinata because you are envious or just enjoy stirring the pot - should be ashamed of yourselves. It is vicious and it serves no valid purpose. By every indication, the students moving to Lemon Road will have a great experience, in a school with dedicated teachers and administrators and in a program that has the critical mass considered necessary by educators of gifted children. Continuing to kvetch over decisions made months ago that didn't go your way makes you look very small. Surely you are capable of setting a better example for your children.

Right back at ya!

Please make it stop!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PTA provides funds to the school that supports regular yearly purchasing, etc. To buy technology, the school needs additional money than what the PTA already provides. My understanding is that the PTA didn't want to do a large fundraiser for technology this year so the school decided to do it instead. And, recognize that the next 3 years, the PTA will have to do large fundraising efforts for the renovation. As Kelly said, it's either now or never.

The last time the PTA did a large fundraiser for technology was 7 years ago (Silent Auction) and that was the last time technology was purchased. Hence, why the school is so behind.

I applaud Kelly and her staff, they're taking the only option they have to raise money for the school. I'm tired, frankly, of our parents complaining, criticizing, etc and instead should trust the teachers and staff what is needed most. Ask any teacher, they fully support the need and necessity of technology.

If you attended her coffee or PTA meeting, she recognized that 40% goes to Boosterthon (which is a typical deduction in any fundraising company). Less than 10% of actual donations come from parents.

It's clear the school needs help. I plan to write a flat donation to the school. All kids can run, so support the need for technology, give directly to the school and it's a win/win.

Hahahaa Haycock need help. Please! They do an arm chair donation each year which raises thousand of dollars. Now this? I agree with others why not just ask for donations again, instead of having a company keep 40 percent of the profits? This doesn't make sense to me!

[Anonymous]

They just raised $50,000, which means they must have had close to $100,000 in pledges. That's a lot of money!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They just raised $50,000, which means they must have had close to $100,000 in pledges. That's a lot of money!

They have $50,000 in pledges...now we have to see how much is collected. These pledges include those innocent elderly neighbors who pledged $50 a lap not realizing that's a total of $1250.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They just raised $50,000, which means they must have had close to $100,000 in pledges. That's a lot of money!

They have $50,000 in pledges...now we have to see how much is collected. These pledges include those innocent elderly neighbors who pledged $50 a lap not realizing that's a total of $1250.

Actually, they received over $90k in pledges, which amounted to $50k for the school. We didn't fleece the neighbors but we did fleece grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They just raised $50,000, which means they must have had close to $100,000 in pledges. That's a lot of money!

They have $50,000 in pledges...now we have to see how much is collected. These pledges include those innocent elderly neighbors who pledged $50 a lap not realizing that's a total of $1250.

Actually, they received over $90k in pledges, which amounted to $50k for the school. We didn't fleece the neighbors but we did fleece grandma.

So I've read that the company gets 40%. What is the dollar amount that the school keeps and what does the company keep?

[Anonymous]

Boosterthon gets 48% plus a $2000 set-up fee.

Thinking $100,000 pledges overall, that averages to about $110/ student if everyone participated. They also received a number of direct donations. Wonder if the pledged profit calculated figures those in.

My son is moving to Lemon Road, so we didn't do the online pledges. I pledged him $5/lap....Will write a check for $175 and send it sent directly to Lemon Road. And we are making a donation to Inova Fairfax Children's Hospital as well because he felt badly that hospitalized children wouldn't get the prizes Boosterthom provides as a result of his participation.

Win, win, win. Haycock gets their computers, LR gets my donation and Inova Hospital gets help as well

[Anonymous]

Lemon Road had its own Boosterthon. They are hoping to net about $12,000. Not sure if that includes current Haycock families who are giving to LR rather than Haycock because they are moving this fall.

http://lemonroadpta.com/2013/05/thank-you-for-an-excellent-boosterthon/

[Anonymous]

No, Lemon Road's profit does not include those families.

Lemon Road's Boosterthon was done a few weeks ago. A few of the transferring families have decided that their Boosterthon efforts will be directed to Lemon Road, but their was no marketing done on Lemon Road's part to those families.

We decided that is where our money should go because that is where our children will be going. Completely voluntary on our part.

[Anonymous]

Okay, but going back to 7:51's post, what is the net profit for the school? Will Boosterathon take 40% plus the $2K set up out of the quoted $50K? Or is all of the $50K going to Haycock?

[Anonymous]

Just FYI, if a donation seems out of whack the Boosterthon rep for your school will call you to confirm. They aren't TOTALLY shady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, but going back to 7:51's post, what is the net profit for the school? Will Boosterathon take 40% plus the $2K set up out of the quoted $50K? Or is all of the $50K going to Haycock?

The principal said the pledged profit was $51. I am quite certain that is what the school gets after the company's cut.