SUPPORITNG THE BELLS MILL PTA

The Bells Mill PTA is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to making a difference in the education and quality of life for our children.

In order to help our children and our teachers, the Bells Mill PTA sponsors programs in the areas of academic improvement, administration, educational enhancement, facilities, school events, staff appreciation and student affairs.

We would not be able to accomplish our mission without financial and volunteer support from our families and local businesses.  Below is a list of ways to help our PTA and our school:

  • Volunteer your time – Parent volunteers are the backbone of the PTA. We need your help whether you can give a lot of time or only a little; at school during the day or a project at home; share a special talent or just have fun and work with some great people.  Consider joining one of our committees and getting involved at Bells Mill.
  • Join the PTA – Membership ensures that your voice is heard on issues affecting your child and supports our efforts to provide valuable programs and activities for our school throughout the year.  Bells Mill PTA Membership Form (pdf)
  • Make a donation to the PTA - Direct financial contributions are always welcome.  Checks can be made payable to the Bells Mill PTA. As the BMES PTA is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, donations are tax-deductible and 100% of your donations go to help our children and our school. Contribution information will be kept confidential.
  • Participate in our Fall Read-A-Thon – This is our major capital campaign at Bells Mill.  Having your child participate not only provides financial support for the PTA, but also develops a love of reading.
  • PTA Bake Sales – When you purchase treats from our bake sales you are directly supporting the PTA.  100% of all funds collected at bake sales support the PTA.
  • Collect Boxtops – Collect Boxtops for Education labels and bring them into our collection box in the front hall of the school.

Purchase goods and services from vendors who support the PTA
The following businesses provide financial support to the PTA when you patronize their establishments.

  • Discount Card - NEW Bells Mill Discount Cards will be sold in the fall as a PTA fundraiser. The card works all year and offers discounts to you, your friends, family and neighbors for one year. Buy one for yourself. Sell them to your friends. Click here to download and print the pre-order form.
  • Ledo’s Nights - Ledo’s donates 20% of the revenue back to the PTA.  Dine-in or take-out.  Check the Bells Mill PTA calendar or website for specific dates.
  • Baskin Robbins – Baskin Robbins donates 20% of all revenues during the fall Celebrity Scoop night and spring Baskin Robbins night, as well as all Bells Mill PTA events where they sell ice cream.
  • Sally Foster –Sally Foster provides 50% of each purchase back to the PTA.  Visit www.sallyfoster.com and use our school number 498958.
  • Amazon.com – Enter the following link in your browser to access Amazon.com and they will provide 6% of each purchase directly to the Bells Mill PTA: http://astore.amazon.com/bemipt-20.
  • Cartridge World – Purchase ink cartridges from their location on Nicholson Lane and they will provide a % of all purchases back to the PTA.  Just fill in your name and school information on the school clipboard when you check out.  They also provide $1.00 for each empty ink cartridge, so please bring in your empties to the box in the front hall of the school.
  • Kajeet - Kajeet, a Safe, Affordable and Contract-Free Cell phone service for kids, will donate $50 to the Bells Mill PTA for each phone that is activated. Visit Kajeet.com/bellsmillpta for details!
  • Giant Food - visit www.giantfood.com/aplus and click “register your card”.
  • Harris Teeter – Simply give the cashier our code, 8216, and your VIC card when you check out and your card will be linked for the entire school year. Once your card is linked, Bells Mill will receive 5% of your Harris Teeter brand purchases.
  • Target - Register your Target Red Card by visiting www.target.com and click on “Red Cards”.

WHY FUNDRAISING IS IMPORTANT

OUR MISSION: The mission of the BMES PTA is to achieve educational excellence by encouraging parental involvement, building strong teacher-parent relationships, enabling academic enrichment programs, and providing academic, fun, and family-oriented activities which promote learning and strengthen our community.

Today, the PTA is spending $30k per year on our students, teachers and community as outlined below. At this time our estimates show that next years' fundraisers will take in approximately $21k.

For full details about how our fundraising money is spent, please click here.

If you would like a copy of the full 2010 - 2011 preliminary budget, please contact Amy Stolker.

Your input is important. If you have ideas for incremental fundraisers for the school, or how to curb expenses, please contact Ali Weitzman or Haylie Iseman.

 

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