Final fundraising push before the school year ends

Times Reporter

 

It’s like buying a house, that’s how Westmount’s Associate Principal Dana Graff has begun to think of the school’s playground project. The new playground will cost approximately $300,000, which is equal to a decent sized family home these days. The playground is so expensive because schools are required to install playground equipment that is CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved.  Equipment that complies with the CSA guidelines is expensive.  

Fundraising began in April, and there is still quite a way to go with less than a month until the end of the school year. 

“We’re at about $90,000. A $125,000 will be matched from the CFEP grant, so we need to raise a total of about $175,000 to give us our $300,000. So we need about another $85,000 or so,” said Graff.

CFEP is the Community Facility Enhancement Program grant.

From now until the end of the school year there are still a few fundraising initiatives happening. 

There is a coin jar in the school for people to drop off their change, and the individual who brings in the most coins will win two tickets to Heritage Park in Calgary. Outside the school there is a blue dumpster, and people are encouraged to stop by and drop off their empty bottles in the bin during school hours. 

Parents who are on the playground committee can also be seen at Sobeys or No Frills on the weekend selling raffle tickets. Two bikes, a boy’s and girl’s bike, both with helmets, and four tickets to Calaway Park are being raffled off. Pat and Brian Coone donated the bikes. Raffle tickets are selling for $2 a piece and can also be purchased directly at the school. 

“The other thing we’re doing is a Sobeys card sale from now until the end of the year. The nice thing about it is we’re not asking people to give us money because you buy a card for $50, you get a card for $50 so you don’t lose any money,” said Graff. 

The grocery cards can be purchased in $25 or $50 denominations, or a variable card that can hold up to $500. The form to purchase the cards is available at the school, or at the booth in either Sobeys or No Frills at the raffle table hosted by the playground committee. June 18 is the deadline to turn in the order forms, and on June 25 people will be able to pick up their card(s) from the school. 

Graff said everyone who is interested is encouraged to purchase a grocery card, whether they are a Westmount parent or not. The hope is to raise the $175,000 needed by the end of the school year, but realistically Graff thinks the committee will have to continue fundraising in the next school year. If enough money can be raised before the end of this school year the planned installation of the project is this fall. If the committee is unable to meet its financial goal, installation will be put on hold until spring of 2013. 

A display is set up at the front of Westmount school, which shows the new structures for the playground. There are also  displays set up at Sobeys and No Frills while the raffle tickets are being sold.