PTC 5K Nearing Finish Line

Our "Keep Cedar Park Awesome" 5K continues to gain momentum as we approach the finish line.  As a community, we have achieved 90% of our goal and only need another $5000 to make all our 5K dreams come true.

Students are on the verge of earning a school-wide ice cream party if the fundraising goal of $50,000 is met.  Get those donations in this weekend so we can begin the celebration!

You have until Thursday, 10/12, to add your contribution to this worthy, tax-deductible cause. Team and individual competitions will also close on 10/12. The top-earning team from each grade will enjoy a class party, while the school's top earner will also take home a prize.

You can still be a hero in two easy ways:
1. Go to https://www.firstgiving.com/411287/cedar-park-5k and donate to the cause.
2. Return your cash/check to the school in the 5K envelope (or any envelope clearly marked 5K). Students can drop them off in the office. 

Unsure of where the money goes?  Still need some inspiration? Check out these incredibly educational links to get yourself excited:

Five Awesome Reasons to Donate to the PTC 5K

5K FAQ-- All Your Burning Questions Answered

CPMS to Power Beaverton Clothes Closet on Wed, 10/25

Each year, CPMS is assigned one Wednesday to manage and run the Beaverton Clothes Closet. This is a unique and gratifying experience to give back and serve our community.  This fall, Cedar Park will be operating the Clothes Closet on Wed., 10/25.  We need 4-5 people per shift to properly staff the store. Shift times are as follows: 

• 9:15-11:45 am
• 11:30-1:45 pm
• 1:30-4:15 pm

Sign up here to volunteer at the Clothes Closet.

The Beaverton Clothes Closet is a volunteer service organization that provides new and gently used clothing to BSD students (K-12). Beaverton School District parent groups and community volunteers staff the Clothes Closet every Wednesday throughout the year. Students can find necessities like jeans, shoes, t-shirts, sweatshirts, warm coats, new socks and underwear.  More info regarding this valuable BSD program can be found here.

When volunteering, community members assist families with their shopping needs and restock the store.  If ample support is available, some volunteers may also help in the donation sorting room.

The Clothes Closet is located at the Beaverton School District Administration Center, 16550 SW Merlo Road, Beaverton, OR 97006. 

Questions can be sent to Hannah Donohue, CPMS Clothes Closet Coordinator.

October Art Lit Date Postponed

The all-school Art Lit presentation and project of Ancient Egypt, scheduled for Wed, 10/11, has been postponed.  The new date will be communicated as soon as it is confirmed.

CPMS's Art Lit program is entirely funded and staffed by volunteers.  If you are interested in joining this team and having an opportunity to volunteer within a classroom, please mark your interests in mVP by clicking My Profile–> Interests, filtering by Cedar Park, and then clicking the Art Lit box.

CPMS Student Store Open for Business

The Student Store has been an early morning tradition for many years at Cedar Park.  Located smack dab in the front lobby, students are able to purchase school-supplies, limited snacks, and PE t-shirts between 8:50-9:15am, Monday through Friday.  

This valuable addition to CPMS is entirely run by PTC volunteers.  Check out myvolunteerpage and click on Opportunities, filter by Cedar Park, and scroll to Student Support to view the open Student Store shifts.  

Student Store lead, Carrie Fox, is happy to train any new parents who are curious about this unique opportunity to witness the CPMS student experience.

Five Awesome Reasons to Donate to the CPMS 5K

CPMS's PTC budget provides an incredible level of support for every student at CPMS.  In case you weren't aware of the positive contributions that your donation creates, we are counting down five awesome things provided by your 5K dollars.  

Every 6th grader gets it, but schools are on their own to fund it. Your donation dollars support an incredible science experience that creates LIFE-LONG MEMORIES for every 6th grader at CPMS.

 Last year our 7th graders embarked on a new adventure at CPMS– working with and experimenting in CPMS's first-ever engineering lab. The dollars you donate help improve and build upon that experience.

Last year our donations sent the entire 8th grade on a full-day field trip to OSU. For many, this was their first experience on a college campus. Let's keep inspiring our kids through tangible experiences that broaden their horizons and raise their expectations.

In a world full of budget cuts, our students are exposed less and less to the beauty and wonder of established artists. CPMS' Art Lit program offers three school-wide units that give historical background as well as a hands-on project.

We've got big dreams for our CPMS library that include updated furniture, technology-friendly tables, and glass-enclosed study areas.  With your help, we can reimagine this aging space into something that inspires even the most reluctant teen.

WAYS TO DONATE

Sufficiently inspired?  You still have two ways to donate:

1. Donate online at https://www.firstgiving.com/411287/cedar-park-5k
2. Return cash or check to the office via the 5K envelope.  Loose your envelope?  Any envelope will work– just include the pledge form and clearly mark the outside with "Cedar Park 5K."

Our fundraiser closes on Thursday, 10/12.  Donate now to be a part of positive change at CPMS.

5K FAQ-- All Your Burning Questions Answered

Why should I care about this fundraiser?

Great question.  The Cedar Park 5K is the PTC's only fundraiser of the year.  If the goal is not reached, than additional fundraisers will need to be added into the school year, which absolutely no parent wants EVER.  By raising all our money in the fall, parents can sit back and relax for the rest of year, and watch all our hard-earned donations be spent.

But seriously.  What does it fund?  Where does my money go?

The PTC provides a lot of awesome things for Cedar Park, many of which are invisible to the average parent who's just trying to survive middle school.  These donations touch all students, all year, through student programs such as the Art Literacy program and the PACK store.  The PTC also provides two student socials per year, per grade, as well as the 8th Grade Send-off and various Staff Appreciation events.

Last year, the PTC's budget introduced the addition of specific grade-level experiences.  Your donation dollars now support Outdoor School for every single 6th grader, an Engineering Lab for 7th grade, and a full-day collegiate experience for 8th graders.  

I want the gritty details.

Check out the PTC budget or a list of all our PTC programs and activities.

Any big aspirations for CPMS improvement?

Totally!  Our CPMS administration has identified two areas they'd like to attack:  bulking up the fledgling Engineering Lab and giving our Media Center (fancy name of the library) a facelift.  Every dollar you give helps support those improvements.

I have zero intention of setting up a fundraising page.  Can I still donate?

Absolutely.  Setting up a fundraising page is not required.  To donate online, head to our 5K Firstgiving site and click on "Donate."  You will then be prompted to select a team to support or simply to donate to the cause.  

If you'd prefer to pay by cash or check, you can return donations to the school via the envelope that went home as your 5K packet.  

I've lost the envelope that went home.  Apparently my pile system doesn't work.

Not a problem.  Return your donation in any envelope, but include the pledge form  and clearly mark the outside as "Cedar Park 5K."

Quite honestly, I never hear about the PTC or how this money is used.

Ugh.  We get it.  No one wants to throw money into a black hole.  Check out our brand-spanking new PTC website at www.cedarparkptc.org.  We've put some time into improving our communications.  Consider this new website your PTC HQ-- with lots of info regarding our budget, our events, our programs, and volunteering.  You can even subscribe to the blog emails, so you are always in the know.

Nice try.  I still have questions about the 5K.

Start at www.cedarparkptc.org/fundraising.  If you still have questions, email our 5K Team at cedarpark5k@gmail.com.

Okay, I'm in.  Where do I start? 

Join the cause at https://www.firstgiving.com/411287/cedar-park-5k.

5K Reaches 42% of Goal Prior to Friday's Run

With just three days left before Friday's "Keep Cedar Park Awesome" 5K,  student and sponsor fundraising have surpassed 42% of our goal, earning just over $20,000.  The Cedar Park 5K is the only major fundraiser for the PTC, and hopes to raise the entire annual budget of $50,000.

The PTC supports a substantial portion of student support, including Outdoor School, the newly constructed Engineering Lab, and 8th grade Collegiate visit.  This year, the CPMS administration hope to begin a revamp of our current Media Center to better invite student collaboration and innovation.

CURRENT STATS

• 97 students have created an online page.
• Zach W is in the lead with $775 as an individual.
• McGrew/Amazon is the top team at the moment.  Mason+Vandenhoof/Lotus is the top 7th team and Murchison/Endeavor the top 8th team.  

HOW TO JOIN THE CAUSE

Parents can start at https://www.firstgiving.com/411287/cedar-park-5k.  There are two options to donate online.  Either hit "Join Now" to create a fundraising page (which allows you to send request emails to family and friends) or simply click on "Donate" and give directly to a team.  All donations to Cedar Park PTC are tax-deductible and eligible for corporate Matching Funds.

Additional questions can be answered at www.cedarparkptc.org/fundraising.