School Calendar Turns Into A Fund Raiser

 

By Magdelena Suehrmann

Octorara High School junior, Ally Reel and her mother as well as Ms. Thwaites, a librarian at Octorara, have started a new program to ensure that community members, students and their parents have access to Octorara school calendars. 

The calendars were originally distributed free to each student, but, due to looming budget cuts, this will not be happening in the future.

Instead, Ms. Reel, who is in concert band and is a section leader for the marching band colour guard, will be doing this as her senior project for graduation.

The calendars will be available for ten dollars to any interested parties and order forms are available online and at the high school office, Monday through Thursday.

Completed order forms and payment should be dropped off at the high school office on the same days.

Some calendars will be available at the open house, but the prepaid sales will determine the print qualities, so it is advisable to order early.

This will be a fundraiser for the band and the Octorara Performing Arts group, in which Ms. Reel is deeply involved. She says, “The Octorara Band program and Octorara Performing Arts provide students the opportunity to learn and grow and develop self-confidence and awareness through music and performance - while also having fun and making many new friends. The staff at Octorara - Mr. Cullen, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Thwaites and Mr. Reynolds - who lead these activities are great!”

Ms. Reel has been a participant in the musicals and plays since her freshman year, and, as mentioned above, is an active participant in band.

It is no wonder she created a project like this that will benefit not only the programs that she loves, but will also help the community to stay informed about the goings-on at Octorara, including the band and Performing Arts Group performances.

The Calendar Story In Ally Reel's Own Words

About 2 years ago, my mother heard a rumor that the school was not going to provide the school calendar. 

She approached Dr. Newcome to see if the rumor was true and to ask if the calendar could become a fundraiser for a school group. Dr. Newcome said the day was coming when the calendar would be cut from the budget and he liked the idea of a group producing the calendar.

Well - next year's budget cuts include production of the school calendar so a fundraiser was born!

The calendar content will remain essentially the same including dates provided by the school principals and various departments within the district for all scheduled events.

We will be adding recommended reading lists for all grade levels, some additional information provided by the High School Guidance office, and, of course, samples of art work and photos of students throughout.

We are using the same printer so the calendar will be the same size as last year. We have also added a bonus - a miniature version of the calendar that easily fits in a purse.

We are also providing the opportunity to order additional calendars to be given to grandparents or to keep at the office so no one misses that special concert or other event.

My family really plans our life around the school calendar. We hope many families see the same value in the calendar and support this project. We expect this to be an annual fundraiser for band and the Octorara Performing Arts group and hope that this year the project is a success!

Order forms is available below as well as on the home page for each school building. There is also a supply in each school office and the district office. 

Order forms may be returned to the student's building office and I collect those on a weekly basis.

Calendar Order Form