ODC Families,

We are looking forward to an exciting year at Old Donation. Our PTA is busy planning activities for the students, staff, and families. Throughout the year we will present programs to the ODC students. This year we will have performances by the Armed Forces Band, folk singer Adam Miller, the Bright Star Theatre, Peter Nestler the Rope Master, and grade specific story telling from Lynn Rhuelmann. We also have several family events planned including the Fall Festival, Bingo Night, and the Family Dance. During the year we recognize ODC student achievement through the tag program and the Principal’s Breakfast. We also recognize our faculty and staff during special appreciation events. Not only do we host events, but we provide funding toward the science lab expenses, field trips, and computer subscriptions. The expenses for our activities total approximately $32,000.

Our PTA is able to provide these services through careful administration of our financial resources. Our revenue is achieved through four main activities: the membership drive (40%), the Fall Festival (40%), spirit wear sales (10%), and the coupon book sale (10%). As we return to school our membership drive begins. Historically, ODC has the highest membership rate of any elementary school in Virginia Beach. Our goal is to have two members for every student. We are very proud of our member numbers, but basic membership alone only provides a portion of the membership revenue. Two years ago ODC began offering Golden Eagle Memberships. This program is a voluntary donation fundraiser targeted towards donating dollars in lieu of participating in additional fundraisers throughout the year. The certainty of achieving our fundraising goal in the beginning of the year allows us to direct our focus to proactively plan the many activities and programs for our students. The success of the Golden Eagle Program has eliminated the need for additional fundraisers like the dreaded catalog sales. The only way we continue to operate at this level is to have a successful Golden Eagle Program.

We hope you have a wonderful year at ODC. As you plan for the year ahead, think of the benefits the PTA provides to the ODC community. Please join the PTA and consider becoming a Golden Eagle Member. If you join now, you will receive an extra page of tickets for the Fall Festival. This includes raffle tickets for a Nintendo DSi and an iPod Shuffle!

Thank you,

The ODC PTA