John F. Kennedy Catholic School

 

                Family Guide to Fundraising and Events
             2022-2023

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Joining Faith and Knowledge

Timeline

Summer (Late June-August)
Fundraisers:                                                                              Events:
Festival                                                                                   Meet and Greet                                                                
Steelers Football Pool  
Sarris Candy Bars                                                



Fall (September-November)
Fundraisers:                                                                             Events:
Lucky Money Calendar                                                    Halloween Candy Drive
Sarris Candy Bars                                                              Parent Teacher Conferences
Fall Gala-raffle                                                                   Tailgate Party (hosted by staff)
Sarris Christmas Candy Sale                                             Fall Gala                                    

Winter (December-February)
Fundraisers:                                                                              Events:
Super Bowl Pool                                                             Santa’s Workshop
Night at the Races                                                          Penny War                                                                             
Sarris Candy Bars                                                             Open House
                                                                                        




Spring (March- Early June)
Fundraisers:                                                                             Events:
Sarris Easter Candy Sale                                                        Musical                                                                              
Walk A Thon
Golf Outing
Book Fair
Sarris Candy Bars



Year Round
Box Tops for Education                                                            Giant Eagle
Raise Right App                                                                          Shop N Save
Gift Card Program












John F. Kennedy Catholic Families,


Welcome to the JFK School Family. We are thrilled to have you here. Fundraising is a fact of life in a Catholic School, and we ask all of our families to take an active role in our fundraising efforts. Fundraising events at our school provide a special way to build community as well as a way to keep our school financially strong. This year (2022-2023) our financial obligation is upwards of $200,000. With all of our families working together, we can definitely meet this goal!

This booklet contains fundraising opportunities as well as social activities and events. It is our hope that this booklet will keep you informed of the many opportunities available to you to become involved in the John F. Kennedy Catholic School community, as well as aid you in reaching your volunteer and fundraising obligations. Please note that some of the events and fundraisers may be moved or eliminated due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Discover the many ways to become involved at John F. Kennedy Catholic School. You belong here!



Blessings,

Kimberly N. Stevenson
Principal

  When a family member commits to chairing a fundraiser or event at John F. Kennedy Catholic School, certain responsibilities are required to make the event successful. The Chairperson will be responsible for communicating with school families. It is important to be in contact with the school secretary to get the information sent out in weekly Comet emails. The chairperson is responsible for forming committees to help manage the event or fundraiser. The chairperson is responsible for getting volunteer hours and fundraising profit reported. There are also financial regulations one must adhere to in regards to one’s position. All volunteers that interact with students or children are required to complete all clearance requirements. The requirements from the Diocese of Pittsburgh can be found on the John F. Kennedy Catholic website (jfkcatholic.com) or diopitt.org. No one will be permitted to volunteer until all steps are complete and certificates are sent into the office. John F. Kennedy Catholic School has a Meet and Greet Event for parents of 1^st-8^th graders that welcome families back to school. The Meet and Greet is for parents only and gives them the opportunity to meet their teachers, review curriculum, and see the classroom before school begins.
Kindergarten and Preschool each have their own separate orientations where parents will learn important information for the coming year. Parent Teacher Conferences are held at the end of the first quarter. Parents are required to make an appointment with their child (ren)’s teachers via OptionC to discuss academic progress and development. Instruction on how to do so will be emailed.

                                                                     SUMMER

                                                             
This fun fundraiser joins our parish and school families and community together. The summer festival offers food, carnival games, raffles, kid’s area, prizes and entertainment nightly.

The summer festival typically takes place at the end of June each year and runs Thursday through Saturday. This is a great way to earn volunteer hours for the upcoming school year. Volunteers are needed for set up and tear down as well as food and game booths. Middle school/ high school students are able to receive volunteer hours in game booths and during set up and tear down.

Raffle tickets are distributed to each family to sell prior to the festival. Stubs and monies are due prior to the first day of the festival. Drawings are held nightly for cash prizes. These sales will be credited to your assessment for the upcoming school year.

We can’t wait to see you and your family there!

                                                                                                     fundraising/volunteer credit 




Steeler Football Pool

If you are a Steeler Football fan, you will love this fundraiser! The school offers a Steeler Football pool which runs for 17 weeks during the regular season. The pool is displayed on a grid of 100 squares with numbers along the top for the Steelers and down the left side for the opponent. Once the grid is filled with names, numbers will be drawn.
Each square costs $85.00 (which is $5.00 per week). Families earn $32 towards their fundraising assessment for each square sold. The payout is $100 at half-time and $200 for the final score. Pools will be emailed prior to the season beginning. If you have winning numbers, a check will be mailed to you. Questions regarding the football pool can be directed to footballpool@jfkcatholic.com.
                                                                                           $32 fundraising credit per sold square



 

 

STEAM Camp

Here at John F. Kennedy Catholic, we strive to provide learning opportunities where children are able to create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically in a technology-rich environment to prepare them for their future. Our STEAM lab has created a more versatile space for the students to engage in hands on activities that compliment classroom learning. The middle school STEAM camp (5^th-8^th) allows students to explore various disciplines through scientific discovery, robotics, and computer applications, such as computer programming and 3D printing. In the elementary STEAM camp (2^nd-4^th) have fun with engineering projects and enjoy learning to drag and drop programming using Lego WeDo 2.0 robots. The camps provide a fun, interactive experience for the students.                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                            Volunteer hours available
 

FALL

 

Lucky Money Calendar

Order forms are sent home at the beginning of the school year. You may order as many calendars as you wish to sell (50 maximum at one time). Each calendar is numbered and plays daily on the evening 3 digit PA Lottery drawing. Daily winnings are $30, weekends are $75 and holiday amounts vary. Calendars that have been ordered will be sent home in October. Stubs and money are due by a designated date in December. All calendar money and stubs must be turned in prior to January 1. If you have a winning number, a check will be mailed to you. Families earn $10.00 per calendar sold towards their assessment.

$10.00 fundraising credit per calendar

 

Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is held in the library. Students visit the Book Fair during their designated class time. Money can be sent in with your student in an envelope marked “Book Fair.” Children love the idea of shopping for their own books! * Chairperson is needed.

No fundraising credit available / Volunteer hours available

 

Gala

The Fall Gala is one of our major fundraisers and has opportunities for families to earn both fundraising and volunteer credit toward your assessment. It is a fun adult only event that is held on a Saturday evening in November. The event consists of Live and Silent Auctions, assorted raffles, a Wine Pull and of course appetizers and dinner. All items auctioned and raffled are donated by businesses in the surrounding communities and by our families.
Families are asked to sell raffle tickets in advance and will receive fundraising credit. Winners are drawn at the Gala, but the winners need not be present. There are beautiful items made by each class that are auctioned each year as well as one of a kind teacher experiences that you can bid on. 
Planning for the JFK Gala is year round but is most intense August through November. Two co-chairs help to lead the organization of the event but the details are decided amongst committees. Families can earn volunteer hours by joining a committee.
Make it a night out with your spouse, friends or family members and reserve a table or just plan on attending and meeting other families and parishioners. Questions can be directed to fallgala@jfkcatholic.com

Volunteer hour’s available/Fundraising credit available

Sarris Candy

We hold two sales each year, both of which are a family favorite. Many out of town families also love this fundraiser. This is a great way to start all of your holiday shopping and 35% of each sale will go toward your fundraising assessment.
Prior to Christmas and Easter, a Sarris Candy packet will be sent home with your children. There will be a detailed colorful brochure outlining available items as well as an order tally sheet. The brochure can be shared with friends or family members to purchase from your child. Online orders can also be made. The online code is 10-0549. Once you have completed your sale, complete the master order form and return it and payment to the school office. The pick-up time and location will be shared via email when the sale begins.

35% fundraising credit

 

Fresh Market

This fundraiser is fairly new but a big hit! Once a month different local vendor’s offer items to order. Most common is family style meals, seafood, varieties of salsa, meat packages, flowers and gourmet candy. Order forms are emailed and will have pick up dates included. Payment is due with orders on indicated date. Fresh Market is held throughout the school year.

Fundraising credit varies per product

 

Winter

 

Super Bowl Pool

If you enjoyed the Steeler Football Pool, you will want to get in on this pool! The pool is displayed on a grid of 100 blocks with numbers along the top and left side for each of the teams playing in the Super Bowl. Once the grid is full, numbers will be drawn.
Each square costs $20.00. Families earn $10.00 towards their assessment fee for each block sold. The payout is 1^st Quarter= $125, Half-Time= $250, 3^rd Quarter= $125 and Final Score
=$500. If you have the winning numbers a check will be mailed to you. Good Luck! If you have additional questions, email footballpool@jfkcatholic.com.

$10 fundraising credit per block sold

 

Santa’s Workshop

You won’t want to miss this winter wonderland! Each class will shop away at Santa’s Shop for their family and friends. Our elves work very hard to make this a very special event for all of the students.

Volunteer hours available

 

Night at the Races

Night at the Races is held every January and this event is a great way to meet other JFK families and parishioners. Horses (100) are sold in advance to the event. Throughout the evening, the race caller shows prerecorded races from around the country. No one knows who will win the race, including the caller! If your horse wins their race, you win $50! There are 10 regular races and the last race is an Auction Race. You may bet yourself or go in with friends to own a horse in this race. This is a big race to win, in the past winnings were over $600!
In addition to the races there are door prizes, paint stick 50/50, a reverse raffle and other raffles to make the evening a lot of fun! The committee provides a light buffet, beer and mixers. Families are allowed to bring any additional food/drinks they may want. This is a 21 year old and over event. Be sure to get your horses ahead of time, they sell out fast! See you at the starting gate!

$5 fundraising credit for each horse sold/purchased /volunteer hours available

 

Penny War

The annual JFK Penny War is held every year during Catholic Schools Week. The students bring in their pennies and place them in their classroom jar. Students then have the opportunity to “bomb” other classes by placing silver change in their class jars. Bills are available to be changed in for coins of their choice. Each jar is counted and daily winners are announced each day. The weeks overall winner wins an ice cream party! This is a fun event that all students and staff look forward to each year.

Volunteer hours available

 

Open House

Every winter John F. Kennedy Catholic holds an Open House that invites new families to visit our school. This is an opportunity to show prospective students and families what all JFK has to offer. The school relies on current families, alumni and student council members to tour new families. Please contact Lauren Bodart at lbodart@jfkcatholic.com with additional questions.

Volunteer hours available

 

Spring

 

Walk A Thon

The JFK student body and families love this fun event! It works just like any other “thon” where students ask family and friends to sponsor them during their walk a thon. This is an easy way to earn fundraising credit towards your assessment.
Families are asked to provide 10-15 names with which you would like to send a donation letter to. Students will write donation letters and send them from school. All donations are tallied and recorded towards your assessment. Preschool through 2^nd grade walk laps around the church and school on the day of Walk a Thon, while upper grades walk to W&J football field and spend time walking the track. All students meet back at JFK to eat a picnic lunch and spend the remainder of the day outside.
 

20% of total donations-fundraising credit / volunteer hours available

Golf Outing

The annual JFK Golf Outing is held during the month of May or early June. It is a day of fun for men and women golfers. Golfers will have food and drinks throughout the day, as well as many raffles and giveaways. Sponsors are needed to make this day a big success!

Fundraising credit  /Volunteer hours available

 

Year Round

Box Tops for Education
In 1996 General Mills created a program to support education. Over the years the program has continued to grow. Originally, Box Tops were asked to be “clipped” from participating boxes or packages and sent into school. Now, on your smart phone you can apply the app to your phone, choose John F. Kennedy as the receiving school, and simply snap a picture of your receipt. The receipt is scanned for participating items and our school will benefit. JFK gets $.10 from each Box Top.

No fundraising credit /  Volunteer hours available

 

 Recess Monitors

Monitors for recess are needed regularly with outdoor and indoor recess (weather depending). This is a great opportunity to spend time at school and earn volunteer hours. Contact allisonmarsteller@gmail.com if you are interested in helping. All volunteers must have clearances. Hours are 11:30am-1:00pm.

No fundraising credit available/  Volunteer hours available

                                                   

Scrip- Gift Card Program

John F. Kennedy sells gift cards year round. When you purchase gift cards, the selling family can earn between 2%- 20% of the card purchase price toward their fundraising assessment. There are over 700 cards available to purchase including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, clothing, entertainment, etc. You can meet your fundraising assessment in no time by purchasing your gift cards for weekly groceries and gas for an example.

There are three ways to purchase gift cards.

1. You can send the completed gift card form that is emailed in the Comet, available on the JFK website or outside of the school office with payment to school. The order will be sent home with your child the following week.
2. You can purchase certain cards directly from the school office. The office keeps popular cards on hand for easy pick-up. This is a quick way to grab and go.
3. You can also order from the Raise Right app on your mobile device use code- 935B28491643

2%-20% fundraising credit /volunteer hours available

 

Shop N’ Save

Shop N’ Save has a program that provides free assemblies from the Pittsburgh Zoo, PPG Aquarium, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Science Center. You just register your Perks Card online at the Shop N’ Save website (shopnsavefood.com). When you log in, go to the SEED Program link and select John F Kennedy. Start Shop N’ Savin!

No fundraising credit available / No volunteer hours available

 

Giant Eagle

By enrolling your Giant Eagle Advantage card, our school can earn points for free school materials every time you shop. Enrolling is easy, just follow these steps:
Enroll at www.gianteagle.com/schools/apples-for-students    JFK code- 0532

No fundraising credit available / No volunteer hours available