I've got three kids in the same school now and a few weeks ago, they all came home whining about the stupid "Big Blast Party" that they have for that stupid fundraiser.

I felt guilty about telling them no because the older ones had seen this party and their friends got to go in the past. My niece also goes to school there, so my mother was asking me about the fundraiser, so she could make her obligatory purchases. I thought about caving in, but stuck to my guns.

I'm so glad I did. In the past they always held the party during school hours and the kids who didn't go got to sit in class and watch movies and play games. This year they are holding the party after school. Kids with names in the first half of the alphabet go from 5-6 and the second half go from 6:15-7:15. How many parents will have to take off early to get their kids to this thing at 5? My kids have extra curricular activities that evening anyway and wouldn't be able to go anyway. Aw shucks. :rolleyes:

I didn't do the school fundraisers either. It's Yankee Candles products only. I'm not a fan of Yankee candles....

We do the thing w/ the Big Blast but it is during school. The kids that do not do it do games and movies and such. The party is actually done by the Fundraiser people not the school which is why we(the school) do somethign else for the other kids. A fun time is had by all. It seem like lots of schools to the same fundraiser now.

I need some candle though....hmm maybe we should do that one.

We do the thing w/ the Big Blast but it is during school. The kids that do not do it do games and movies and such. The party is actually done by the Fundraiser people not the school which is why we(the school) do somethign else for the other kids. A fun time is had by all. It seem like lots of schools to the same fundraiser now.

I need some candle though....hmm maybe we should do that one.

I have WAY too many candles. I was the PartyLite Consultant, and I still have BIG box full of candles waiting to be use.

I'd much rather give the teacher $20.00 worth of supplies than buy some stupid piece of crap for $20.00 so the school can get $5.00. I told all 3 teachers that and that if they need anything for school to send a note home with my kid and I'll get it for them.

I said, "NO" long ago.

My son doesn't even bring the packets home. He throws them away in a school trashcan.

I said, "NO" long ago.

My son doesn't even bring the packets home. He throws them away in a school trashcan.

:yeahthat: When Boy was younger and they had the Big Blast Party I went to school and got him and took him to lunch at McDonalds, then took him back.

I said, "NO" long ago.

My son doesn't even bring the packets home. He throws them away in a school trashcan.

:yeahthat:

Girl Scout cookies once a year is good enough for us!

I hate them too. I have to tell my daughter every time that the people I work with also have kids in school and they will be buying from their own kids. They don't waste time anymore either. Its ridiculus to have a fundraiser packet in with the first day of school papers. I remember we use to sell candy bars when I was in school........mmmmmmmmmm. Do they still do that?

I hate them too. I have to tell my daughter every time that the people I work with also have kids in school and they will be buying from their own kids. They don't waste time anymore either. Its ridiculus to have a fundraiser packet in with the first day of school papers. I remember we use to sell candy bars when I was in school........mmmmmmmmmm. Do they still do that?
I don't think so, but Cub Scouts sell Chocolate Covered Popcorn. It's :yum: :drool:. Want some?

I don't think so, but Cub Scouts sell Chocolate Covered Popcorn. It's :yum: :drool:. Want some?

I did my civic duty and bought some from :gossip:

I didn't do it this year either... I did notice that the paper mentioned that if one child sold 10 or more items, all children got to attend... WTF, I mean come on.. and why is it only this year that "ALL" children can attend because Johnny sold 10 items. Yet, they have the party "After School".
Anyhow, I too inform the teachers that I will be glad to purchase any supplies needed throughout the year if they just let me know what is needed...

I rather collect boxtops and donate them to school. I have whole bunch of boxtop labels all ready to be donate to my son's school.

We do the thing w/ the Big Blast but it is during school. The kids that do not do it do games and movies and such. The party is actually done by the Fundraiser people not the school which is why we(the school) do somethign else for the other kids. A fun time is had by all. It seem like lots of schools to the same fundraiser now.

I need some candle though....hmm maybe we should do that one.Note from school says that St. Mary's BOE says all the Big Blast parties have to be after hours this year.

Note from school says that St. Mary's BOE says all the Big Blast parties have to be after hours this year.
Way to get around the background check of volunteers perhaps?

Way to get around the background check of volunteers perhaps?

Probably so.

Way to get around the background check of volunteers perhaps?The fundraiser company runs the party, I don't think any volunteers are involved. And even if you mean that the fundraiser people would need to be checked out, for a one time thing, I'm sure that isn't really an issue.

I think it has to do with the fact that even if only a few kids sold enough to qualify for the party, the whole class gets to blow off classwork because it's not like the teacher can teach anything with a bunch of kids missing for a school sanctioned event. This way it won't cut into instructional time.

Note from school says that St. Mary's BOE says all the Big Blast parties have to be after hours this year.

Im not in St. Mary's County. But I do know a few schools that last year raised over 15,000 off of their one fundraiser. I know it is a pain, but it really does help support the school. Most of the school's newest technology and stuff are from fundraiser monies. Also trying to off set the cost of field trips since this year they are costing so much, a lot of kids can not afford it.

But I do understand the reasons for not doing it too.

I don't think so, but Cub Scouts sell Chocolate Covered Popcorn. It's :yum: :drool:. Want some?

Chocolate covered popcorn? Never heard of it, but it sounds good!

:drool: Butter Braids:drool:

I'm really surprised my kids haven't brought home any fundraisers yet. We're in St. Mary's. Do all the schools do the same ones or is it individualized by the school?

I hate them too. I have to tell my daughter every time that the people I work with also have kids in school and they will be buying from their own kids. They don't waste time anymore either. Its ridiculus to have a fundraiser packet in with the first day of school papers. I remember we use to sell candy bars when I was in school........mmmmmmmmmm. Do they still do that?

Yes my daughters school does. They just did the yankee fundraiser but they aren't having an kind of party. My daughter is in Daisy's for the first time and will be selling cokies so that is the last thing I have to purchase from.

I'm really surprised my kids haven't brought home any fundraisers yet. We're in St. Mary's. Do all the schools do the same ones or is it individualized by the school?

My nephew and kids I babysitte all go to different public elementary schools and they all had that cherryfield fundraiser at the same time.

Chocolate covered popcorn? Never heard of it, but it sounds good!
He misspoke, it's actually chocolate caramel popcorn and it is beyond good. :drool:

I'm really surprised my kids haven't brought home any fundraisers yet. We're in St. Mary's. Do all the schools do the same ones or is it individualized by the school?Each school does one fundraiser of their choice. Many of them choose Cherrydale (that's where the big blast party thing comes from) because they have a higher profit margin than some others, but it's up to the principal.

Then you have the PTA, which may or may not do fundraisers of different sorts.

Where is all my tax money going? You are telling me that I have to give more money to the school every year and they still need fundraisers? I think the school should live like everyone else and if they can't afford something then they don't have it.

So you would rather your child not have a computer or a new text book because they have to pay more for gas like everyone else????

So you would rather your child not have a computer or a new text book because they have to pay more for gas like everyone else????

I would rather have all the taxes I have been paying (which have been increasing every year) pay for what is needed in the schools. Where is all my money going to? You can't tell me that the schools are runned so efficiently that they can not save money anywhere to pay for what is needed. Its amazing to me all the supplies that parents need to buy at the beginning of the year. When I went to school you bought your own notebook, pencils and paper and everything else was supplied for you.

The middle school here in Lusby is giving the kids who sell a set amount of items a hummer limo ride out to lunch. They also offer an option of just donating $6 and that counts as an item.

I have never participated in these fundraisers and additionally, I have complained to the school every year about them. The products are all overpriced nic-knacks that nobody really needs and I will not allow my kids to peddle the stuff, and really, the younger kids cannot possibly do these sales so who does it fall on? The parents of course. I am not a salesman, I have a full time job already thank you very much. Maybe the schools finally listened to my yearly complaints. My kid(s) repeatedly came home crying about that stupid big blast party that they did not get to go to or the ever popular "smencil", etc. In previous years, not only did the kids "eligible" get to go to the party during school hours but they had the audacity to call those kids up during class, in front of those kids not "eligible" for their tickets or whatever they passed out! You can bet I sent a scathing letter about that.
It's rather interesting that this year, I received "permission" slips about whether or not I wanted my kids to attend the fundraiser kick-off meeting (not) and that the party will now be after school hours. It's about time!

I realize schools need fund raisers but I really dislike the Cherrydale theme.

I would rather have all the taxes I have been paying (which have been increasing every year) pay for what is needed in the schools. Where is all my money going to? You can't tell me that the schools are runned so efficiently that they can not save money anywhere to pay for what is needed. Its amazing to me all the supplies that parents need to buy at the beginning of the year. When I went to school you bought your own notebook, pencils and paper and everything else was supplied for you.



If you think things are run so badly why not do something about it instead of just sitting on your computer b****ing. I don't like the fundraisers that they do either. It's either overpriced gift wrap, expensive nic-knacks, or food that could put someone in diabetic shock. I try to do them but I don't always have time. I know the schools need money and that for the most part the people running things are looking out for my child's best interest. If I believed differently I would get involved in a way to make things better.

If you think things are run so badly why not do something about it instead of just sitting on your computer b****ing. I don't like the fundraisers that they do either. It's either overpriced gift wrap, expensive nic-knacks, or food that could put someone in diabetic shock. I try to do them but I don't always have time. I know the schools need money and that for the most part the people running things are looking out for my child's best interest. If I believed differently I would get involved in a way to make things better.

How about demanding that the funding "promised" to schools under No Child Left Behind actually be delivered to the schools. Now, that's a novel idea.

How about demanding that the funding "promised" to schools under No Child Left Behind actually be delivered to the schools. Now, that's a novel idea.

Again isn't that something that should be addressed to someone that could do something about it?? Still not doing any good discussing it here.

Again isn't that something that should be addressed to someone that could do something about it?? Still not doing any good discussing it here.

Of course we can do something about it by electing those to office that will follow through.

I'm really surprised my kids haven't brought home any fundraisers yet. We're in St. Mary's. Do all the schools do the same ones or is it individualized by the school?

The neighbor kid who goes to Lettie Dent was selling Cherrydale in the first week or 2 of school starting. My kids go to Margaret Brent and they are selling Readers Digest (basically the same as Cherrydale) right now. They brought the books home last week.

If you think things are run so badly why not do something about it instead of just sitting on your computer b****ing. I don't like the fundraisers that they do either. It's either overpriced gift wrap, expensive nic-knacks, or food that could put someone in diabetic shock. I try to do them but I don't always have time. I know the schools need money and that for the most part the people running things are looking out for my child's best interest. If I believed differently I would get involved in a way to make things better.

I have done something, I homeschool my children. I can complain because I pay taxes for the schools just like everyone else and get nothing for it. My children can't even participate in any of the school activitives whether they are acedemic or extra-curricular.

Ive got a friend here who has 3 kids. Her 13 yr old boy comes homes with one of those school trips to DC that costs $500.00. She says he cant go , they cant afford it. The school then says he shouldnt have to miss it if the only reason is money, and the school will pay for it. they didnt seem to care what the parent said. I would of just said NO. Now her 10 yr old has the same thing going on, only it cost 100.00 and the school wont let up. I say they have no right to interfere and make her feel bad because she cant give her 13 yr old 500.00. Do they lay those guilt trips on other parents.

Ive got a friend here who has 3 kids. Her 13 yr old boy comes homes with one of those school trips to DC that costs $500.00. She says he cant go , they cant afford it. The school then says he shouldnt have to miss it if the only reason is money, and the school will pay for it. they didnt seem to care what the parent said. I would of just said NO. Now her 10 yr old has the same thing going on, only it cost 100.00 and the school wont let up. I say they have no right to interfere and make her feel bad because she cant give her 13 yr old 500.00. Do they lay those guilt trips on other parents.A $500 trip to DC? What? school buses not available so they have to take limos?

I live in Bumfked Ohio

I live in Bumfked Ohio
ah, I see.