Painted Rock Elementary School Foundation

Auction Items Still Available!
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on March 30, 2012

Thank you to everyone who attended the Auction Event last week. It was a great night of fun and fundraising! A special thanks to the many volunteers who contributed time and talent to making it a successful event.

Opportunities to bid and purchase are still available until tonight, Friday, March 30 at 8 pm. Check out www.biddingforgood.com/prf to secure last minute items at GREAT PRICES including:

Cocktails & Cupcakes Party tickets from Batter Up! Cupcakes and The Barrel Room
Family Photo Package from Mel & Tim Photography
Books: Easy Green Living and Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves
Booty Belt (www.mybootybelt.com) - various sizes available
Sprint Motorola i886 Mobile Phone
Cygnet Theater Performance Tickets
Frames and Toys
Academic Tutoring Sessions from College Bound Consulting
Brainy Learning Center Tutoring
Dance Lessons from 4S Ballet Academy
Estate Planning Services from Merrilee Boyack
Glamour Shots Certificates
Pediatric Dental Package from Gordon Dixon DDS
Haircuts from SportClips
Facial, makeup or waxing from Monique's Skin Care
Lipolaser treatment at New Body Medical
Laser Hair Treatment from All About Me Medical Day Spa
We Love Kempo classes
Rancho Arbolitos Swim & Tennis Club membership
Abbie & TJ Children's Entertainment certificates
Floaties Swim School Birthday Party for 15 kids
Build Your Own Clubhouse Party for 14 kids
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater passes
Guest Report for Kid News Live
Legoland passes
Painted Rock Morning Drop-Off Permit
Various Oil Paintings

Reminder: Classroom projects are available for purchase through Friday, April 13th. Order forms were sent home this week to pay by cash or check for $25 OR you can order online for $30 at www.biddingforgood.com/prf using a credit card.

WHY ATTEND THE AUCTION?
By Heather Skale (President, Painted Rock Foundation) on March 9, 2012

I'm taking over the blog this week since due to the low number of auction ticket sales the Foundation's budget is in dire circumstance. I love the auction. I spend a lot of time collecting donations and co-chairing the event, as well as being the president for the Foundation. It very much pains me to tell you that the Foundation will probably not be able to continue all of its current programs if more auction tickets are not sold. Also likely is that this will be the last Foundation auction dinner if ticket sales do not increase.

We need you to come to the auction and I promise you won't regret attending. A relaxed atmosphere of bowling, great food and drink is sure to make this year’s event ROCK! Plus two dozen teachers and staff will be attending as they understand how important these funds are to our classrooms. Expenses for the auction, dinner, happy hour drinks, venue rental for an entire Friday night, auction software, bowling, etc. cost $65 a person (more actually if our attendance drops below 150), which is why the ticket price is what it is. The key to remember when considering the price is that this is a FUNDRAISER and coming together as a group to support programs we feel are important at our school. Having a great time together is a bonus. Watch for the catalog to come next week, we have more than 300 items so there is something for everyone. Please click here to buy your ticket.

The profits of this event pay for part of physical education, teacher supplies, a reading specialist, office and student support services, and technology at the Rock. The Foundation’s budget is about $90,000 a year. We only have four fundraisers that support this budget (Auction, Time with Teacher, 252 and Jog-A-Thon split profits with the PTA). The Foundation has had exciting discussions about bringing more technology into the classroom, such as iPads. Existing programs are in danger and additional programs will not be possible if our goals for the Auction are not met.

If you can’t make it to the event, please consider buying raffle tickets. Raffle tickets for the opportunity to win two United Airlines tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. are now on sale. Print out the flyer and return it to school to buy tickets.

I look forward to spending March 23 with you. Thank you for your support of the Foundation.

Heather Skale

Beer, Bowling and Bidding
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on February 28, 2012

We hope you will join us at this year's Foundation Auction event on March 23rd at the North County Tavern Bowl. Here are some details on what is included in your ticket purchase and what you can expect from the evening. Buy your ticket now, don't miss out on a great night out and an opportunity to support vital programs at Painted Rock.

6:00 - 8:30 pm
COCKTAILS - hosted (a.k.a. FREE) wine/beer/sodas from 6-7:30 pm so arrive early to enjoy.
DINNER - delicious selection of pizzas, salads and chicken strips with specialty sauces. This is not typical bar food, but delicious fare.
BOWLING - bowling and shoe rental is included in your ticket purchase. Sign up here to reserve your spot. Starting times are 6:00, 6:50, or 7:40 pm.

6:00 - 9:00 pm
SILENT AUCTION - More than 200 silent auction items are available for bid, many valued at $20 or less. Watch out for new items such as a cupcake and cocktails party provided by Batter Up and the Barrel Room, go-kart racing certificates, opera tickets, Chick-Fil-A cows, and a cow bell signed by Will Ferrell. See our latest LOOK WHO'S SUPPORTING THE ROCK for all of our donors.

8:30 - 9:00 pm
LIVE AUCTION - Princeville, Kauai stay, BBQ Party for 20, rafting on the Lower Kern River, Beluga encounter, even a law enforcement ride-along, this year's auction has something for everyone.

9:00 - 11:00 pm
PARTY CONTINUES

9:30 - 10:30 pm
CHECK OUT
Check out for silent and live auction items will open at 9:30, 30 minutes following the end of the live auction. Don't forget to take home your special dessert treat.

9:45 pm
TOURNAMENT CHECK IN
Bowling tournament participants report to check in.

10:00 - 11:00 pm
BOWLING TOURNAMENT
Mr. Embry has his team, do you? The first 48 players to sign up will participate in the bowling tournament, no qualifying required! Special prizes to be awarded to top male/female/team and low male and female bowlers! Note: you may bowl in an early evening spot and bowl again in the tournament if you'd like to do so.

**Reminder** The deadline to return donation envelopes for classroom projects and staff tickets is this Friday, 3/2. Any donation is appreciated!

Art and Bowling
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on February 9, 2012

Panther Artwork
It is classroom project time! Remember the colorful ceramic buckets last year...the handprints, buzzing bees, thumbprint hearts? Well, only one lucky parent went home with each of those projects. This year your classroom project will be available to each and every one of you! We are thrilled to have partnered with the many talented and enthusiastic Cultural Arts volunteers who work with your kids every month. This year's classroom projects will highlight the PTA's Cultural Arts (CA) program, an incredible offering at our school in which students are introduced to a broad variety of artists and artistic styles from Western and Eastern art histories. For the projects we will use original works created by each student, based on a selected artist/style, to create art collage posters which will be available to everyone. Check out this sample!

The tradition of funding these projects through class support continues. Please watch out for an envelope coming home in which you can send in a small donation to help cover the printing costs of these items. We are very excited to see all the final pieces and glad to offer it to all of you. Thank you for your support and thank you to the PTA and the CA volunteers for collaborating on the projects. Projects will be on sale in March, more info to come.

Want to Bowl?
Don't miss out on your slot to bowl and compete against friends and Painted Rock staff at the Auction Party on March 23rd at the North County Tavern + Bowl! Tickets for this year's Foundation Auction party will go on sale this Monday, February 13th. You will receive an email on the 13th with information on how to purchase tickets and reserve a lane time. Purchase your tickets quickly to ensure the bowling spot you want, you MUST purchase a ticket prior to reserving your time. We hope to see you there for a great night out of food, fun, auctions and bowling to support literacy, physical education, technology, supplies and more at the ROCK.

Teachers want to bowl too! Remember those envelopes I mentioned in which you can send in donations for the classroom projects? Funds received within these envelopes will also be used to provide tickets for our teachers to attend the Auction. A great way to say thank you to them for all their hard work and to get a chance to compete with them in the lanes!

Hope to see you on the lanes on March 23rd!

The OTHER Auction!
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on January 26, 2012

As I am sure (I hope) you know, our annual Time with Teacher auction is going on right now! For those of you just realizing that you forgot to go in and purchase your child's opportunity to hang with their teacher, quick...go here, before you miss out! I've been fortunate to get daily reminders from my kids to take care of it, how about you?

This auction is an incredible gift from our teachers. A win all around for our school and our students. Students have a great time and we fund important programs at our school. The teachers offer up their personal time to go out and spend some time with their kids out of the classroom, just having fun. Thank you to ALL the staff for participating. Our kids are looking forward to jumping, hiking, cookie-making, racing, bowling, singing, climbing, and eating with you.

Maybe YOU want to have some fun with your teacher, spending some time with them outside of the conference setting? We are very excited to invite each and every parent, grandparent, caregiver to the first annual Parent-Teacher-Staff Happy Hour to be held just down the street at StoneRidge Country Club on Friday evening, February 10 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Take advantage of this night out to enjoy a beverage, good food and good conversation with our incredibly friendly and fun teachers! Who knew a Friday evening spent at happy hour could help your child's experience at school? That definitely sounds like a win-win to me. Don't miss out...go here to purchase your spot.

Bidding and purchasing for this year's Time With Teacher events will close at exactly 8:00 pm PST on Monday, January 30. Act quickly!

AUCTION PARTY UPDATE
We received a great item this week from within the school community! A 2-day guided rafting trip on the Lower Kern River. Your guide, Scooter Patterson, has over 10 years rafting experience and will take up to 6 people for a customized rafting experience, small rapids up to Class 4! All ages and experience welcome. Includes lodging at 3 bed / 2 bath house on Lake Isabella (up to 3 nights) and lunches on the river.

We still need items for the silent and live auction. Can you donate an item or ask someone you know for a donation? Looking for items such as:

gift certificates for things to do and eat (do you have any unused gift cards sitting in a drawer?)
golf equipment or golf play
jewelry and personal care items
wine/liquor (do you have any nice wine or beverage sitting collecting dust?)
kids activities and birthday party supplies/activites
sand, surf, skate equipment and activities
home items
pet items
and of course...special experiences like the rafting trip!

Look Who's Supporting The Rock...YOU!!
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on January 13, 2012

It is that time again when we really take notice of the tremendous support our community and families provide to Painted Rock. THANK YOU!!!

Donations are starting to come in for this year's Foundation Dinner Auction. That sounds like a stuffy, rubber chicken affair, doesn't it? Well, for those of you who haven't been to this event, it is a really fun night out with parents, staff and friends of Painted Rock; and we expect this year's event will take us to the next level of fun with bowling, pizza and a night at the Tavern...North County Tavern & Bowl! Maybe you want to think about pulling that bowling team together?

Back to the task at hand, donations! The success of this event and our ability as a Foundation to support important programs at our school relies upon the donations we receive for the silent and live auction. A large portion of these donations come from YOU! Many of you have access to some really interesting things and experiences that you may take for granted but another Painted Rock supporter would cherish. So think, think, think and let us know what you could provide (and contact hskale@yahoo.com). Here are some items that have come in:

Family Style - how about shoes for a family of four from Skechers?
Need a Vacation? - 7 nights in a deluxe resort condominium ocean view suite at Cliffs Club Resort in Princeville, Kauai (donated by the Miller family).
Summer Entertaining - catering for a private party for 20 from BBQ2U.
Spooner Boarding - the ultimate fun board for any surface and any space lets you replicate all your favorite board sports.
Stone Brewery - the uber-popular Painted Rock event of the year, an afternoon of beer and food sampling in the gardens at Stone Brewery with friends. Tickets always sell out within the first few minutes of the start of bidding (donated by the Wagner family).

We also have great gift certificates from local establishments you likely frequent on a regular basis (think In-n-Out, Chipotle, Reading Cinemas). If you know someone by name at any particular establishment in the area, make sure to ask them if they have already provided a donation, and if not, if they would do so. It never hurts to ask. A Painted Rock parent posed the question to her kids' tumbling instructor last night and ended up bringing in a party valued at $249!! Every donation, large or small, counts and will make a difference in your children's education at Painted Rock.

Stay tuned for more information on ticket sales in early February. This is a night out you won't want to miss!

Feeling Ready For A Turkey??
By Mary Hill (Painted Rock Foundation) on November 16, 2011

No, not a Thanksgiving turkey, although we are all excited about Thanksgiving just around the corner. For you non-bowlers a "turkey" is THREE STRIKES IN A ROW!

We are really excited about the new venue and format of this year's Painted Rock Foundation Auction! We hope you will join us for a fun night out at the North County Tavern + Bowl on March 23rd. Tickets will go on sale in January.

A little more relaxed than years prior, you can come check out the incredible selection of silent and live auction items, bowl a few games, hang out with friends and enjoy some great food and beverages.

Of course, the silent and live auction are key for our Foundation to continue to support important staffing and programs, as well as basic supplies, at the Rock. Many of our best items come directly from YOU. Take a moment to think of an item or experience you have access to that a guest at the Auction would love to win. Helping us secure these items or making a personal donation of an item or experience, is a way to make your impact on the success of the Auction. Contact Heather Skale if you can help.

I am also looking for some help with our Classroom Projects this year. We have something special planned, more info to come soon. It would be great to find one or more people with experience in graphic design to assist a few hours in this project. Anyone out there? Please email maryhitehill@mac.com and I can give you the scoop and you can decide if its the right fit for you.

So, take a moment to think of how you might be able to lend a hand to the Auction in time or talent or ACCESS. This is a big event for us and it takes lots of Painted Rock supporters to pull it off. And don't forget to bring your "A" game.

P.S.: The Foundation has a new donor this this year, Amazon.com. The Foundation receives a percentage of your purchases if you access Amazon.com through the link below. If you cannot view this link (a scrolling picture from Amazon), view this page on our web site and access the Amazon link from: http://www.powayusd.com/pusdpres/foundation/auction.html.