Back-to-School BBQ
Held in late September or early October, the Back to School BBQ at Schenley Park Vietnam Veterans Pavilion is a great way to reconnect with your Campus School friends and families! Mitch’s Mobile B-B-Q rolls in their big truck containing award-winning barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, and a variety of fresh, homemade side salads. . .all topped off with a sundae bar featuring homemade ice creams. Vegetarian options also available. This event requires a permit from City Parks, issued on a “first come, first served” basis usually in late March or April prior to the event.Bring your own lawn chair if you’d like (although there are a few picnic tables under the shelter), along with footballs, Frisbees, soccer balls, etc.
Chairperson: Dana Casale (need four people to help out with set up, clean up, registration); 412-732-9422
Scholastic Book Fair
Held for one week during the school year in the Library, either at the end of September or the beginning of October. Many volunteers are needed for set-up and break-down, adding up and bagging sales, and assisting students in their selections.
Chairperson for 2009: Karen DiVito - 412-661-0398; karen.divito@gmail.com
Co-Chairs (Emeritus): Joan Carcillo, Amy Johnson
This event requires multiple volunteers to help out in the Library throughout the week.
Fall Scavenger Hunt
This Fall Scavenger Hunt is held in the first two weeks of October and is for grades Preschool, Montessori, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd. Chairs confirm date with School’s Executive Director. Start time is 9 AM and ends at 2:30 PM, and teachers decide who will come out first. Groups are usually no larger than 20 kids and are spaced at least 45 minutes apart to allow for set-up, etc. The Hunt is held on the Green (weather permitted), or inside in case of inclement weather. After the hunt, children are given a drink, cookie and treat bag.
Chairpersons: Open (past Chair: Laura Cecconi)
Need 2 or 3 people to help coordinate the Hunt, buy items, etc.
Santa’s Workshop
Santa’s Workshop is primarily for the younger students, grades Pre-K, Montessori, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd. “Santa’s helpers” make purchases or accept donations which are then displayed in the decorated Library and sold to the children at very low costs (typically no more than $6). The gifts are then wrapped by volunteers for the children to take home and have their own special surprises for their loved ones on Christmas. This is an all-day event, with each of the young grades having ½ hour to browse, shop, and visit Santa. Grades 3 through 8 also have the opportunity to purchase quality gifts (some may be slightly higher priced) for family and friends.
2009 Chairperson: Rosalyn McCorkle, 412-456-2975
Need several volunteers to help with set-up and primarily, assisting younger students with shopping
Christmas Basket Raffle
A week-long event that is a real Campus School tradition! Each homeroom classroom collects items for a basket in late November, sticking to one theme (i.e. Webkinz, Cooking, Board Games, Sports, etc.). Families also generously donate baskets (i.e. Steeler Basket - Clark and Rooney families; Home Depot Basket - Gismondi; Central Catholic Basket - Hils Family). There are usually at least 25 baskets, wrapped and displayed in the 1st floor of Tiernan the first week of December. Raffle tickets are sold the week before and of the Raffle, with winners selected and announced by Director on a Friday.
2009 Chairperson: Irene Hils, 412-754-9361; jimirenehils@comcast.net
Need several people to help wrap baskets the week before the Raffle, and people to man the raffle ticket desk during the display week.
Meager Meal
During Lent, it is important that we celebrate our Catholic tradition of pausing to remember the less fortunate. Money is donated from families that individually decide to contribute funds that might be spent on a family meal (at home or at a restaurant) to a charity that is usually voted on in the January PTA meeting. In the past, more than $2000 has been raised for various charities, including Northside Common Ministries, Pittsburgh Food Bank, and Intersections. The Meager Meal recipient for 2009 is Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
Chairperson for 2009: Dana Casale (working with Patty Cooper, Director)
Ice Skating Party
The annual ice skating party is offered as a fun and inexpensive outing for families and friends. Chair and volunteers ensure pizza, snacks, and drinks are available to Campus School families and their friends.
2010 Chairperson: Lorraine Buck, LKBuck1@aol.com, 412-829-2825
Need 3 or 4 people to help purchase and set up food at Schenley and 1 for registration of families as they arrive.
Bingo Night
Bingo is a family-oriented fun event typically held on the last Friday in April. This year’s bingo will be held Friday, April 3, 7 to 9 p.m. in the Cafeteria. The date must be cleared by the University Event Office, Campus Police, and Cafeteria. Confer with Executive Director to confirm date as well. Every child is a winner and receives something small (even those who don’t win at actual bingo!). Prizes are purchased by Chair (in the past, at J. Ronins Co. in Wilkinsburg, but this entirely up to the Chairperson’s discretion), and typically, $500 to $550 is budgeted for prizes. Typically, six games of bingo are played: 3 games with 25 small prizewinners; 2 games with 20 large prize winners. The final game of the night is winner’s choice from either table. 50/50 tickets are sold, and a door prize is raffled off at the end of the evening (past years, a beanie basket, a family game night basket full of board games, movie passes and popcorn, etc.) Refreshments are usually organized by Student Council (coordinate with sponsor Theresa Hassett – Computer Teacher).
Chairperson: Catherine DelBarba cmdelbarba@comcast.net
Kennywood Day
Every year, the PTA ends the school year with our “Carlow Campus Kennywood Picnic,” usually held the first Sunday after school lets out. Families receive discounted pricing on ride and dinner tickets (buffet). This is a long-standing event, and we have had the same Kennywood contact for many years. Chairs’ (two) task is to keep a record of families who purchase tickets, ensuring that tickets are sent home in students’ backpacks, and forwarding all checks and cash for tickets to PTA Treasurer.
Chairperson: Anne Ward ward105@comcast.net
Enrichment Activities
The Enrichment program helps to fund field trips, tickets for plays, concerts, and other performances, and other cultural events. The Enrichment Chair and committee work with Individual faculty members and consider requests for various cultural activities throughout the year. Enrichment activities are paid for entirely or partially by the PTA.
Enrichment programs for 2008-09 alone included an assembly given by Jay Banks on “Stamp Out Bullying”; a presentation by Sean Gibson of the Josh Gibson Foundation during Black History Month; a performance by CLO called “The Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh;” a visit to Phipps for the Montessori Classrooms; a Carnegie Museum representative coming to Trinity Hall; and more.
2009-10 Chairperson: OPEN
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education (sponsored by General Mills) has helped America’s schools earn over $200 million since 1996. The Campus School can earn up to $20,000 every year through Box Tops! Simply clip the 10 cent coupon on hundreds of your favorite products, on brands such as Cheerios®, Betty Crocker®, Pillsbury®, Ziploc®, Kleenex®, Hefty® and more.
For more information on the Box Tops program, take a look at their website www.boxtops4education.com; or contact the Campus School chair of this important and easy program, Maria Hairston mhairston@cvty.com
The class that collects the most Box Tops in a 10 to 12-week period will be able to choose the PTA-sponsored party of their choice: Rita’s Ice, San Remo’s Pizza, or Ice Cream Sundaes. The contest will be held between classes in Trinity Hall; First and Second grades; Intermediate (3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades); and Upper (6th, 7th, and 8th Grades). All Box Tops should be placed in the designated shoe box placed in each homeroom in Trinity and Tiernan Halls.
In 2008-09, the Campus School earned $925.00 through this program! This is as close to “free money” and mimimal work as you can get with fundraising, ditto Campbell’s Soup Labels.
2009-10 Chairperson: Maria Hairston, 412-488-0619
Homeroom Parent
Each homeroom should have one or two primary homeroom parents who are responsible for working with individual teachers in planning holiday parties, helping to organize chaperones for classroom field trips, and any other classroom related area that teacher specifies. Also, the homeroom parent works with Homeroom Chairs in acquiring donations from interested parents (per classroom), which are used towards buying end-of-year gifts for faculty and ancillary teachers from the entire class.
Chairpersons: Lorraine Buck lbuck1@aol.com (teacher gifts) and Lisa Gismondi lisajohn47@comcast.net (412)824-6622 (list of homeroom parents).
2009-10 Chairpersons: Lisa Gismondi for Homeroom Parents; Teacher/Anciliary Gift Giving: OPEN
Someone with Excel Spreadsheet savvy and good organizational skills needed for Giving Program (Lorraine Buck has done an unbelievable job on both fronts)
Margo Jones Memorial “Children of Spirit” 5K
Bake Sale
Bake Sales are usually held during the Christmas and Spring Concerts in the Library, before and after the performances. Funds raised are usually for one product or program (i.e. Nanny Gate Software License Fee; new hymnals for Music program).
Volunteers needed to bake or buy cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and other sweets; as well as sales help during the post performance rush!
2009-2010 Chairperson: OPEN
