SUBJECT: Support the Annual Fund and Cultivate Community
Way To Go, Mason-Rice!
We've Reached 41% of our Annual Fund Goal!
We are nearly halfway through our Annual Fund campaign and already 33% of families have contributed, helping us raise nearly $14,000* toward our $34,000 goal! Thank you, all!
We are still more than $20,000 from our goal. Fully funding the Annual Fund will allow the PTO to support all the programs and needs for this year. Can you help?
Last week, we spotlighted ways the PTO supports teachers' classroom and curriculum needs. (Missed it? Read it here.)
This week, we invite you to read below and learn about ways the Mason-Rice Annual Fund allows the PTO and the school build a cohesive, connected community.
*Note: Numbers as of Tuesday afternoon, October 12th.
Can you give more? Please consider doing so as not all families are able to contribute at this level*.
Gifts of all amounts are appreciated.
The Annual Fund Helps to Bind our Community
The Mason-Rice PTO exists to support our entire community—a vibrant community of engaged families, teachers, and students. But what does that mean really? The PTO is the engine behind much of the programming that helps families connect to the school and to each other. Starting with the Kindergarten Club and the New Families Program, we rally teams of volunteers to ensure that new families feel welcomed and are able to make meaningful connections. And throughout the year, we seek and support ways to maintain cohesion by sponsoring activities that celebrate our community and bring us together for shared experiences.
We encourage you to read on to learn more.
Pictured above: (L) Weatherproof flag with pole purchased by 2020-21 PTO to celebrate our then-new mascot, logo, and renewed need for community. (R) Mason-Rice mountain lion mascot costume, purchased for the school to add levity, community pride, and fun at school-wide events.
Principal Bultema on the Value of Creating Community
In my first year as principal our students voted to determine our mascot as the Mountain Lions. This collaborative process with our staff, students, as well as our PTO led us to our lovely logo that adorns our welcome rugs at each entrance, our school flag that flies outside our school, our smiling mascot that makes guest appearances in and around school from time to time, and our school swag that we all enjoy wearing. We collectively--staff, students, and families--are all Mason-Rice Mountain Lions. Together we partner to create a community where all our students can make meaningful gains socially and academically. We are so grateful for the unwavering support that our PTO provides us so we can continue to grow and thrive.
New Family Program
Part of what makes Mason-Rice exceptional is its warm, welcoming community. We acknowledge that new families with a student(s) not entering Kindergarten face unique opportunities and challenges. So, the PTO created the New Family Program. Offering assistance to address questions/concerns of families transitioning to our school community is one piece of this program. In an effort to help new families acclimate to the Mason-Rice community, this program connects new families with host families, engaging them right away and helping them navigate their first year at Mason-Rice.
In their words...
I am grateful for all of the things that [the Mason-Rice PTO] have done for the M-R community and for our family. Being completely new to the neighborhood, and eager to make connections, the PTO at Mason-Rice made this easy! The Back to School Picnic, the morning coffee, the meeting with the principal, all of these activities allowed us to get to know the school, the families, and even the neighborhood events. We are building a sense of belonging, around the Mason-Rice community, and big thanks to the PTO at Mason-Rice.
- Ping He, new 2nd grade parent
Back to School Picnic
Each fall, the Mason-Rice community gathers for the Back to School Picnic. The picnic is a time for families, teachers, and our entire community to come together and reconnect at the start of the school year.
In their words...
The annual picnic is such a wonderful way to kick off the new school year! I'm always so amazed when I see that back hill covered in picnic blankets, filled with families from all grades. With kids going in every direction over the summer, it’s always so great to watch the kids reconnect with friends they missed over the summer and get excited for the year to come!
- Bobbie Matyska, 1st, 3rd, and recent grad parent
World Cultures Festival
Every other year, alternating with the Science Fair, the Mason-Rice community comes together to celebrate its rich cultural diversity at the World Cultures Festival. This special event includes interactive and educational country displays, an amazingly tasty international food hall, and a variety of engaging cultural performances. In the past, more than 30 countries from around the globe have been represented!
In their words...
WCF has three components: displays, food, and performances. Mason-Rice kids and the parents get to know more about the cultures, the traditions, and the history of different countries through this event. It delivers a vivid image of the beauty of the diversity in our Mason-Rice community.
- Fangxin Hong, 2nd grade and recent grad parent
Your donations go a long way in making our community stronger. When we invest in our people—their happiness, connectedness, and wellness—the investment has far-reaching impact.
Goal: Raise $34,000 by October 31st
Please help us as we support our community.
We suggest a donation of $100 per student.
We recognize that not all families are able to contribute at this level*. Gifts of all amounts are appreciated. Gifts in excess of $100 per student will provide relief for community members who aren't in the position to contribute.
Does your employer match your nonprofit contributions? Double your contribution to the PTO by participating in their matching gift program!
*Is your family experiencing hardship? Please reach out to Principal Bultema; he is able to leverage the Principal Discretionary Fund to support you and your family. Information about which families benefit from this fund is known by Mr. Bultema exclusively.
Want to help in other ways? We always need more volunteers. Consider signing up by clicking here!
