When you support B.F. Day via the PTSA, you are helping to ensure that our children are getting what they need to learn and the additions that help make school fun!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE TO THE DIRECT DRIVE
How Does PTSA Fundraising work?
Each spring, the PTSA Board projects revenue (donations) for the following school year, asks school staff about needs and priorities, prepares a budget of planned expenses based on those needs, and presents it at a general meeting for a vote.
Families have also been vocal about not being asked for money multiple times, so we have rolled holiday gifts and appreciation week activities for staff and teachers into the overall budget. The PTSA will work with room parents and appreciation volunteers to disburse funds at the appropriate time.
Fundraising Events
Every year there are events organized by the PTSA that work towards collecting the funds required to support the programs. Some of the major events are detailed below
- Direct Drive – 10/31-11/14/25: Largest fundraiser of the year and the only direct ask for financial support to families. Learn more about Direct Drive
- Move-A-Thon – 5/8/26: On event day, each grade gets a chance to run, walk, and be silly around a course, counting laps. Students ask friends, neighbors and extended family to sponsor them.
- Spring Fling – 3/7/2026: Same fun event with new name! This is a social event for adults, with a focus on community building.
How Are Donations Used?
Direct Staff Position Funding
- .60 of a full-time Interventionist focused on reading and math for students who need extra support.
- Keeping the School Counselor position full time.
- ·Adding .10 of a full-time Instrumental Music Instructor, doubling the number of students who can take lessons.
School Events, Social Enrichment & Family Assistance
- Offering “Transition into Kindergarten” (FKA Jump Start) to orientate kindergarteners.
- Dragon Dens, Village Day, Socials, Fifth Grade Graduation & Overnight Trip.
- Field trip subsidies and enrichment scholarships to remove financial barriers to attendance.
- Ensuring that the school counselor has resources to reach all students and support families furthest from educational justice, including clothing, emergency funds and home visits.
PTSA Admin & Fundraising Expenses
- Admin includes state and city PTSA dues, insurance, CPA, registrations, printing, web hosting.
- Spring Event venue & catering, Move-A-Thon supplies, printing, merchandise to be sold
Classroom Supplies & Materials, School-Wide Improvements
- Teachers receive stipends for classroom supplies and materials. Purchases include supplemental science kits, classroom books, smart board repairs, iPad charging stations, earmuffs, sensory manipulatives, balls for gym class, etc. (Note that this is different from the school supply funds collected at the beginning of the year by the school for student consumables like pencils and notebooks.)
- Improvements planned for this year include a new gym sound system, AV upgrades for the library and equipment for the sensory room.
Staff Gifts, Appreciation & Development
- Holiday Gifts and Appreciation week recognition for teachers and staff.
- Professional Development funds for educators to learn and innovate – a past example is training in the Orton-Gillingham methodology of reading instruction, considered “gold standard”, particularly for students with reading challenges.[JH4]
Academic Enrichment: Reading, Writing, Art, Music
- Art room supplies, 5th Grade Tile Project, music guest artists & special curriculum.
- Library Grant for books with diverse authors and portrayal of diverse characters, additional social-emotional literature to support classroom instruction & chapter books that support emerging readers’ interests.
- Writers in the Schools Curriculum to help students discover and develop their writing voice.