I found this the other day - reflections I wrote in 1998 on how the parents banded together at Cambridge Heights Elementary in Citrus Heights, CA, to improve the playgrounds, purchase tech equipment, and even bought a building back in the 1990's. It's awe inspiring for me to remember these days.
Many kids went on to Del Campo High School, retaining their friendships and bonds through the years, as you can see by the photo below of the Del Campo class of 2005 Cambridge Kids.
Here is the article I wrote for the Cougar News, Spring 1998, at Cambridge heights Elementary School.
Reflecting Over The Years, by Sally Dunbar, PTA/PFC Historian
When I became involved in Cambridge Heights PTA the kindergarten playground had a collection of 20 year old antiquated steel gizmos and a dilapidated log house to play on. The main playground was grass, grass, grass, and a barren sandpit with a collection of 20 year old antiquated steel gizmos to play on. Technological equipment was nonexistent, and teachers drew from their own wallets for classroom supplies. Our kids brought their own balls for recess.
Principal Dale Pingree, parents and teachers shared a vision of one day building a computer lab in the area between Pod D and the office... yet our task force got nowhere.
My first year on the PTA Board, I believe our budget was $10K - $20K. By the next year Tania Lush brought a daring idea to Cambridge of holding a fundraising auction. The results were spectacular, unimaginable and totally unplanned for. We made $12K more than anticipated, enough to fund the kindergarten play structure and, I believe, our first purchase of computer stuff. Wow! This was our first vision of the PTA as a powerful provider of support materials and equipment for our kids.
I remember my shock the next year as Tania and I became co-fundraising chairs, and the budget committee presented a $35K budget for us to raise! Incredible. But we did it, and more! (This year our income will cap $60K!)
Soon our school began transforming. The long-dreamed-of sand box was built, our new ball wall was erected and two soccer fields were built. A slew of metal tables and benches were purchased and installed. Thousands of dollars in P.E. equipment and playground equipment were purchased (balls, jump ropes and such). Assemblies were funded at a rate of 3 to 5 per year - Wild Things, Author Day, Theater and Dance groups, and a fabulous evening Star Lab for children and their families.
Financial contributions directly to our Pids grew to more than $14K per year! This has provided tremendous support in the way of microscopes, books, teaching materials, kindergarten manipulatives ... whatever the teachers need. When our copier showed signs of giving up the ghost, PTA funded a 5 year contract to provide a new one. We even bought a new curtain between the lunch room and the library.
And technology ... what an achievement! Our PTA/PFC, in conjunction with SIP funds, has not only purchased all the dozens of computers, CD roms, monitors, laser discs and TVs we now have, but re-wired our school thanks to Mike Sheridan's electrifying talents! We now have a mounted TV, laser disc, and computer in each Pod plus the library, in addition to our fully equipped computer lab!
At last nights PFC meeting we allocated the funds to have the second of three phases of the long-dreamed-of play structure for the main playground installed by the time school starts next year. This is more than $24K spent this year alone! We have a commitment to fund the last phase next year.
But our crowning achievement is in having reached the most unbelievable goal imaginable. When I tell friends from other schools, they can't believe it. But we did it! We bought our own building! With thousands of hours peddling coupon books, buying wrapping paper, donating haircuts and vacations to the auction, shooting hoops at the Ghostly Gala, paying for laps run, selling fireworks, eating crab, buying scrip, even buying cereal-by-mail, we were able to bank $75K in matching funds to buy our own building. Truly unbelievable.
In retrospect, I am awed by the power of our parent body and teaching staff, to have accomplished this. It is truly remarkable. The level of talent volunteering through the years, is unsusrpassed. I hesitate to name names, as I know I would leave out many, but do feel we each owe our gratitude to those who were willing to preside over our PTA each year. Presidents Kathy Purcell and Lolly Gunter were before my time, then Linda Tomlinson, Tania Lush, Rosalie Gallagher, and Rebecca Blythe. Thank you all. We have a fabulous school, with a dedicated and talented teaching staff, and I know our children and those to come will be able to learn in an environment enriched by the contributions of our PTA and PFC. It has been an honor to have worked with all of you. Now go buy scrip!
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