ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠWhen you think about whether you are going to attend or support the upcoming Parents' Association auction dinner on Saturday, February 9 at the Hyatt, think about all that the event makes possible for every one of our children. All of our assembly programs, all of our field trips, all of our outdoor education programs, all of our author and artist visits, and all of our physical education and athletics budget is made possible by the auction. Furthermore, proceeds from the auction allow us to have a band program, Twinkle in Ten(the third grade violin experience), a comprehensive school opening supply packet for each student, our holiday breakfast, The Cougar Literary Review, a prominent parent speaker, and the bookstore. The event also allows the CSPA to make substantial contributions to the library, the Upper School musical, the endowment fund, the financial aid budget, faculty summer professional development, our Dorothy Andrew Day picnic, and more. It's difficult to imagine a Country School without these special touches which impact every child in the school.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠBut the reality is that the auction raises approximately 80% of the Parents' Association annual budget. While auction tickets only cover the cost of the event itself, generous bids, item donations, the purchase of raffle tickets, underwriting, and advertising help support the programs and activities that provide many of the special hallmarks of a Country School education. Thus the event merits and needs each parent's strong support. If you can't be there, please check out the auction's website at www.countryschoolauction.org for ways you can still support the event.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠA tremendous amount of generosity (our Country School value for January), energy, planning, hard work, and creativity have been dedicated to ensuring the success of this year's event. I would like to thank in advance the following people for their extraordinary commitment (our Country School value for February) to the auction, our children, and our school:
- our incredible, unparalleled auction chair Kathy Dawkins, who is heading this event for the fourth (!) year in a row, and her husband Hugh who helps make everything possible;
- live auction chair Allison Satchell;
- silent auction chairs Emilie Joshi and Deirdre Bugg;
- and these committee chairs -- Wendy Denny (advertising); Audra Beane (raffle); Brad Hill, Melissa Judkins, and Richie Wheatley (sponsorship); Mickee Roser (ticket sales); Talli Oxnam (publicity); Michelle Corace (invitations); Jill Judd (decorating); Michelle Ewing (set up); Kim Kerrigan (program); Connie Lee (closing); Hugh Dawkins (tabulations and webmaster); Paige Bethke (thank yous); Connie Alderfer (dinner parties);
- and all of our dedicated committee members.
This year's theme, “Be True to Your School,” says it all. I thank you on behalf of your children for your strong support of this year's auction and all it makes possible.