Staff and students in all RCPS schools are participating in a wide variety of ways to raise money to assist local agencies in their efforts to help families in and around Rockingham County. Following is a sampling of events in our schools.
From Dewie Arey at John Wayland Elementary School:
Several Rockingham County schools are working with the United Way organization to help make senior citizens’ holiday seasons a little brighter. Brandy Strickler, Assistant Principal of Mountain View Elementary, coordinated the project getting gift bags out to several schools to decorate. These bags are filled with presents and distributed to senior citizens in our community as a part of the United Way Volunteer Council December project called “Be a Santa to a Senior!”
John Wayland Elementary decorated approximately 250 bags this year. Pictured above is Bridget White, a third grade student at John Wayland Elementary. She decorated her bag with a wintry scene. She put much time, effort, and care into her work. And it shows. On the opposite side of her bag, she included the message,
“I wish you much joy and love.
Love, Santa”
How fitting for the occasion! Thank you to Bridget and students of Rockingham County for “Being a Santa to Seniors.” Holiday Blessings to all.
From Sally Brown at Elkton Elementary School:
Pictured above (left to right) are EES students Danny Lam, McKenzie Lewis, and Hallie Merica.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way……
Oh what fun it is to help…our local United Way!!!
At Elkton Elementary School we are supporting our local Elkton Area United Services agency with coins that our children are collecting. Our staff and children are very excited to be giving to our community!
From Jennifer Stroop at Elkton Middle School:
EMS is already very close to reaching our goal. Faculty & staff are paying to wear jeans which always proves to be a successful way to raise money. We took orders for “Elks Live United” T-Shirts for faculty & staff with the proceeds benefiting the United Way campaign. With the purchase of a T-Shirt faculty & staff were granted an additional JEANS DAY!
On Thursday, December 8th we are having a United Way dance for the students to help with the collection.
Students will rock out to today’s music while helping raise money for a great cause!
On Wednesday, December 14th we will have a HAT DAY where students & teachers can pay $1.00 to wear their favorite hat to school for the day.
Every student who pays $1.00 to wear a hat will have their name entered in a drawing to win an East Rock hat donated by the ERHS Athletic Booster Club!
As an added incentive to get our faculty & staff involved we are offering FREE catered lunch if we have 100% participation (donation of $5.00 or more) by all members of our faculty & staff!
Thanks to all RCPS Employees who are supporting the United Way Campaign – with all of us working together we can make a HUGE difference in the lives of many!
Happy Holidays from EMS!!
From Lisa Bailey at Wilbur Pence Middle School:
Each person who donates will have his name entered into a drawing for a United Way t-shirt. Also, staff have the extra incentive to donate by receiving United Way Casual Fridays. Our students are going to participate in a United Way Hat Day on Thursday, Dec. 8. Also, our Amigos Unidos club will be baking cookies to sell to the staff. The proceeds will be donated to our United Way fund.
Like all Rockingham County Public Schools, Wilbur Pence is glad to give back to our community to help those in need. Our staff wishes much success to the United Way campaign and wishes each Rockingham County employee a meaningful and blessed holiday.
From Therese Warner at McGaheysville Elementary School:
In November we had our big United Way Fund Raiser. We held our 2nd annual Volleyball game against Riverbend Elementary. This event is always great fun for staff, students and their families, and is a way to raise money for a great cause.
A new fund raiser this year is “Win the Principal For the Day.” For every $10 donation, participants get one chance in a drawing to have Mrs. Roadcap substitute in their classroom during one of the early release days in January. Thanks Mrs. Roadcap!
From Julie Harris at Cub Run Elementary School:
At Cub Run Elementary, we’ve got some exciting things planned for the United Way Campaign. We’ve had faculty and staff start to turn in pledges. We’re getting ready for our 4th annual silent auction to benefit United Way with donations from faculty, staff, and the community. To involve the students, Snowman Grams will be sold so they can send their friends a note with a goody attached. We’ll also be holding a Coins for Kids coin drive where the winning class will get a pizza party.
From Jenise Crouch at Peak View Elementary School:
We are off to a great start here at Peak View. Mr. J’s Bagel donated bagels for us to enjoy with coffee one morning and the staff made donations to enjoy coffee and bagels. The staff has been enjoying set days to wear jeans for donations, and we had staff members volunteer to fix lunch for us and then the rest of the staff donated money to participate. We also have been letting the staff sign up to wear a Untied Way T-shirt and Jeans for donations.
The students gave donations to watch our 5th grade intramural soccer games in the mornings before school.
Live United.
From Jackie Dunsmore at South River Elementary School:
At South River Elementary, faculty and staff witness the wonderful benefits of supporting United Way as we observe the positive influence of our Boys and Girls Club. Folks are generously contributing and being rewarded with casual days.
Our students will be able to practice “caring” for others by contributing $1 and participating in our “United Way Hat Day” on December 13.
From Debra Mason at Mountain View Elementary School:
Faculty and staff at Mountain View Elementary “Live United and Give” to United Way by donating for casual days and raffle items. The first person to donate $50.00 wins a United Way T-shirt.
Our students will have 2 United Way Hat Days. Students who donate $1.00 can wear their favorite hat and have their name entered into a drawing for a TA hat. A BIG THANK YOU to TA Booster Club for donating hats for this activity.
From Tammy Mundy at Ottobine Elementary School:
Ottobine Elementary School is celebrating the United Way campaign in fashion…..denim fashion that is!!! Employees are always excited about having a jeans day during the week and they are DEFINITELY excited here at OES about giving to the United Way. Donations have been steadily coming in. As a matter of fact, someone just turned in another one!
We wish you you and your family a wonderful Holiday season.
From Amy Harris at John Wayland Elementary School:
The faculty at John Wayland are in the spirit of giving and are contributing generously to United Way! For every $10.00 a staff member donates, they receive a “Jeans Day.” And, for each person who gives to United Way, his/her name is put in for a drawing to win a special T-Shirt!
From Teresa Good at River Bend Elementary:
Staff members enjoy their "Hats to Help the United Way" event.
Our River Bend students and faculty are supporting the United Way with their generous giving! On December 6, we had a “Hats to Help United Way Day” for the school. We also had a “Jeans Day” for faculty and staff on the same day. We had a lot of students to participate by wearing their unique hats. There are still some Pledge forms to be turned in to be counted. We are anxious to give back to our community through the United Way.
We also had a very successful fundraiser in November, when we played volleyball against McGaheysville Elementary. Everyone seemed to have a GREAT time! Thanks to all who came out and helped to support the United Way that night!
**Happy Holidays from the River Bend Cardinals*
From Gayle Joiner at Lacey Spring Elementary School:
Lacey Spring Elementary School is very busy with several events planned to raise money for the United Way Campaign. Staff members are excited about a chili and baked potato bar luncheon on Monday. A holiday bake sale will be held next Friday with faculty members and parents donating baked goods. All proceeds from both events will go to United Way. Staff members are also enjoying “Jeans Days” for every $10.00 donation.
Happy Holidays from Lacey Spring Elementary School!
From Tammy Shearer at John C. Myers Elementary School:
Staff at John C. Myers Elementary
From November 14 through December 16, staff members can spend “United Way dollars.” For every $5 donated, staff members can wear either sneakers, jeans, or fitness clothes.
Thanks so much for your support of the United Way!!!!!!!
From Donna Miller at the RCPS Central Office:
The Central Office is holding a raffle for the 12 Days of United Way. Raffle items include a Barnes & Noble Gift Card and sets of themed books. For every $10 of giving, you receive one raffle ticket to put at the item of your choice.
From Jackie Miller at Pleasant Valley Elementary School:
“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.”
– Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh
We will have a Blue Christmas this year, “Blue Jean” that is, at PVES. We have lots of donations coming in for teacher jeans days. Also, take a look at some of our students on “Hats for Helpers” day. Students donated a $1.00 to wear these great fashions! We are so thankful to live in such a “United” community.
Pleasant Valley Elementary students
From Kaye Cline at Montevideo Middle School:
The staff at Montevideo loves to wear jeans, so we’re encouraging United Way giving with extra jeans days. As an incentive for team competition, our own Dawn Woodrum has generously offered to prepare lunch for the first three teams who have 100% participation by the end of the campaign. There will also be a drawing for some restaurant coupons. On Dec. 14, our students will have the privilege of wearing a Santa hat or reindeer antlers by giving a dollar to United Way. We appreciate everyone’s generosity!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from MMS!
From Gina Roth at Spotswood High School:
SHS is having a change drive for the United Way at our International Dinner as well as a coin drive competition in our 5th period classes. Faculty and staff are also challenged to donate money for jeans days, culminating with a raffle for a free “Live United” t-shirt.
From Yates Hall at Broadway High School:
Please Click to View Readable Version
From Maria Blair at Plains Elementary School:
Twelve Days of the United Way
Twas the 12 days of the United Way
And all through Plains
All you could hear was a cha-ching, cha-ching
As students collected coins for a cause,
And waited to see which teachers would win
A chance to pie the admin!
Teachers were happy
Because for a small fee
Jeans could be worn daily
Along with a smile of glee.
We have all settled in
And cannot wait to see
What happens Friday
At our Holiday Sing!
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a successful United Way Campaign,
Plains Elementary School
From Charity Short at Fulks Run Elementary School:
Happy Holidays from FRES
We are doing our part to help the United Way by having a contest to see which class can bring in the most money. The prizes are free ice cream for first place, a 30 minute recess period for second place, and a 15 minute recess period for third place .
Our staff is really stepping up this year to receive jeans days, chances to win prizes through a raffle, and/or for an extra planning period!!!
From Terry Grogg at Linville-Edom Elementary School:
Merry Christmas from Linville-Edom Elementary School !
The little school with a big heart is doing it again. We are working together to raise money for the United Way with “Jean Days” and a school wide change collection.
From Steve Walk at Turner Ashby High School:
TAHS is enjoying another great year of fund-raising for the United Way. Our incentive is for every $100.00 raised for UW, there is one denim day for faculty and staff.
On Monday, there was a TA Tacky Christmas Sweater day and by donating $5.00, you could wear jeans with your festive attire. Can you believe $265.00 was raised for just this one idea – thanks Gina Troyer!
I am proud to say we are well over our 2010 total. Looks like a lot of denim for TA folks this spring.
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