Project PLAY - Playground Landscape acquisition for our Youth
How can I help?
You can donate, come to an event, or volunteer at any event throughout the year! Check the school website for information, updates on upcoming events, and results from prior events! Please email cathyhall@mac.com, or call 760-634-2728 for questions, comments and concerns.
Project P.L.A.Y stands for Playground Landscape Acquisition for our Youth. It is a year-long effort to raise money to install a new playground over the summer of 2010.
How does Project P.L.A.Y. hope to raise the money?: The cost of installing the new playground is approximately $130,000-$140,000. When you look at the numbers, the cost of the playground divided by the number of families at the school, it is just over $250 per family. We are a diverse community. While this number may seem very achievable for some families, it might equally seem a burden to others who are already sacrificing to provide their children with a Catholic education. That's why we have tried to offer small fundraising events throughout the year in which, hopefully, everyone will feel they can participate.
What if I don't want to write small checks all year long? or what if I want to make a larger cash donation to the project? We have that option too! Be an All-Star at one of our 3 levels: $250+ (some events), $500+ (most events and recognition at the Auction), or $1000+ (all events and recognition at school and at Auction)
Does that include improvements to the field? Unfortunately, no. The field project is an additional $150,000-$160,000 (for grading, drainage, grass) or $400,000-$500,000 (for artificial turf).
Where did this bid come from?: The School Board Facilities Committee has been working a 3-phase plan (Phase1- Basketball courts, Phase 2- Playground, Phase 3- field) for two years. They sourced out a number of bids for the playground. The bids averaged between $130,000-$140,000. We will have a more exact number after we have raised enough money (hopefully early in the school year!) to feel confident that we can promise the installers a start date of June 2010 for construction to begin!
What happens if we don't raise enough money?: We would have the option of either installing a smaller playground, or waiting until enough money is raised to install the complete playground.
What happens if we install a smaller playground? Can we add to it later? or even add softscape to it later?: Unfortunately no. Because of the concrete foundation. Among other things, once the playground is installed, there can be no further alterations.
Auction Stats
Join us at our "FUN"Draising events
All of these events benefit Project PLAY
September - Mom's Nite Out at the Wine Loft Pre-K thru 3rd Sept. 21st, 4th thru 8th Sept. 23rd
October- Golf Tournament at the Crosby Oct 13th
November- Jamba for the Jungle Gym Friday November 6th
December- Santa' Village- Santa Photos and more Friday Dec 4th
January- Sports Raffle
February- Jog-a-thon Friday February 5th
March- Get ready for the Auction
April- Aucton, Fund-a-need Friday April 23rd
May- Handpainted Tiles for Legacy Wall
May- Spa Day for Mom at La Costa
All- Year- Family Dine Outs
All Year- Dramantiks and Christmas DVD's
All Year - Box Tops- Class with most wins free dress and Box Tops Breakfast Party in class. K-5 winner and 6-8 winner.
Twice a Year - Used Uniform Sale- August and January all proceeds benefit Project P.L.A.Y.
Twice a year- Scholastic Book Fair and Barnes&Noble Night
Current playground
Other FAQ's:
I thought we were raising more for a new middle school floor/library ceiling, what happened to that? While the school did raise $6,900 it was only about 12% of the needed funds. Based on that response, it was thought that the playground might have more general appeal. Project P.L.A.Y. committee will contact the 2 dozen people that donated money towards the ceiling to see if they would like to move their money over to this project or leave it in the Ceiling Account until the rest of the money can be raised.
What else is the school doing, besides asking for more cash donations?: In addition to new events coming this year, the following events, whose proceeds have traditionally been used for other purposes, will be given to Project P.L.A.Y.: Box Tops, a large portion of Jog-a-thon, a large portion of family Dine-out nights, Used Uniform Sale, and Dramantiks/Christmas DVD's sales.
Where does the money go from all of the other fundraising the school does ? Tuition does NOT cover ALL operating costs at the school. Programs like the Magazine/Cookie Dough/Gift Wrap Drive, Scrip, and the Auction Dinner all help to cover operating costs at the school. It is extremely important the we continue to support these events as well.
Will this type of fundraising be ongoing, with the school choosing a different capital improvement to support each year? Maybe. There are many areas of the school that need improvement: the lower grass field, the Middle school floor/library ceiling, and new computers for the computer lab, to name a few. Depending on the response from the school, it is our hope that someone from the Eagle Group might take the elements from Project P.L.A.Y. that worked well this year, and possibly use them towards different projects in the future.
Who is on the Project P.L.A.Y Committee? : In a way, we all are! Project P.L.A.Y. will be run by Cathy Hall and Tasia Blazevich, along with the help of many other talented parents at the school!
