Fundraising

Kaufman PTO fundraises to provide supplies to the staff, specials teachers and grade level teachers, equipment for the school, library books, field trips, playground equipment, teacher and staff appreciation events, and funds for school wide special events. The major fundraising goal for the 2007-2008 school year is an additional playscape. Specific dates for events can be found on the Calendar of Events. It would be extremely helpful if all checks written to Kaufman PTO included your child's name and their teacher name.

Membership Drive

The membership drive will be held at the beginning of the school year. The cost is $5.00 per family. All paid members are encouraged to attend monthly PTO meetings and fill out a Volunteer Interest Form to help with school events. The PTO rewards the classroom with the highest membership number by the deadline with an ice cream party.

Fall Cookie Dough Fundraiser

The Cookie Dough Fundraiser is the primary fundraiser for the school year. For school year 2006-2007, Kaufman Elementary made approximately $45,000. Students are rewarded with prizes at different selling levels. In the past, prizes have included toys stuffed with money, Pump It Up parties, money booth grabs, limo rides and more! Important dates are:
* Sales kickoff – early September
* Orders due back by – late September
* Cookie dough pick-up – one day in late October

There is only one day for cookie dough pick-up because the cookie dough is delivered in a frozen state. The dough is delivered to the school and must be picked up by the closing time because the PTO does not have freezer storage. The pick-up time is between 3:30pm and 7:00pm. No cookie dough may be picked up during school hours so that we do not interfere with dismissal. If you cannot pick up the cookie dough yourself, please arrange pick-up with friends. The PTO has limited influence with the dates chosen for delivery because this is often based on the amount of cookie dough sold.

Volunteers are needed to help with cookie dough pick-up.

Fall Craft Fair

The PTO organizes a yearly Craft Fair, called Little Canton, with many different vendors that bring various items for you to purchase. Hamburgers, hotdogs and children's entertainment are also available. The date for the 2007 Craft Fair is November 3, 2007 and will be held rain or shine. The Craft Fair will be held on school grounds at Kaufman Elementary from 9:00am – 4:00pm. Booth space will be available inside as well as outside in the teacher parking lot.

The PTO is currently seeking Vendors for the 2nd Annual Craft Show. Vendor information including booth requirements and application can be found at Little Canton application. The Little Canton Craft Show has its own email address: kaufmanslittlecanton@charter.net.

Breakfast with Santa

This event is held on a Saturday morning in early December and includes a simple breakfast, an option for pictures with Santa and a raffle for baskets created by the classes at Kaufman. Breakfast with Santa reservation forms will be sent home in late November and forms and payment are due one week before the event. Reservations are required so that the PTO has a head count and can provide enough food. At the event, a breakfast of donuts, bagels, juice, coffee, and milk is provided.

Each class is asked to sponsor a theme basket to raffle at the event and the Room Parent gathers the donated items for the baskets. In the past the themes have included Family Fun Night, Baking, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Legos, Cash Tree, Gift Cards, Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Texas Longhorns, Aggies, Game Night, Movie Night, etc. Teachers will be notified of their class theme in November and items for the baskets are due in late November. Volunteers and Room Parents assemble the baskets for the event. Baskets are displayed in the library a few days prior to the event for viewing and advance raffle ticket purchase. You do not have to be present to win a basket.

Children may get their picture taken with Santa for $5. Raffle tickets will be on sale ($1.00 each or 6 for $5.00) for the gift baskets. At the end of the event, the raffle drawing is held, the winning names are announced, and the winners notified. Pictures are usually delivered to the children in their class the following Monday.

Spring Fun Run

This event is the main springtime fundraiser and is a 5K walk/run from Kaufman Elementary to the front of Imperial Oaks Subdivision and back to the school. Families are asked to register before the event and special t-shirts are ordered. Each child participating gets a raffle ticket for a special prize drawing.

Sk8 Town Nights

Mitch Tate, the owner of Sk8 Town, an indoor skating rink located on Rayford Road near the railroad tracks, has generously agreed to continue his support of area schools with his Sk8 Night program. This program is when specific week nights are designated for an area school and ½ of the $5.00 admission price is donated back to the school. There are 5 nights scheduled for Kaufman Elementary. For each Kaufman night at Sk8 Town, the PTO rewards the classroom with the largest skating attendance with an ice cream party. Parents, teachers and friends are encouraged to come out for a night of good, family fun!

Spirit Sales

The PTO has purchased many items with the emblem and/or name of Kaufman Elementary. Items available for parents to purchase are:
* coffee mugs - $10.00
* water bottles $4.00
* string backpacks $5.00
* pencils $1.00
* pens $2.00
* car decals $5.00
* coozies $6.00.
These items are sold at the beginning of the school year and at the front desk during the year. The order form can also be downloaded by clicking on the Spirit Items Order Form.

Kaufman School shirts are sold by the school administration at the beginning of the school year and are not organized by the PTO. For information on school shirts, contact Kaufman administration.

Tax deductible donations

Kaufman PTO is a registered 501c3 organization and any donations are tax deductible. Tax law requires receipts for donations of $250.00 or more. If you would like to make a donation, please contact us at kaufmanpto@charter.net and put “donation” in the Subject line.

Special Deals with Businesses

* Donnelly's Deal - Donnelly's Pizza, located at the intersection of Imperial Oaks Blvd and Rayford Road has graciously arranged a special reimbursement program for Kaufman Elementary families. If you place an order Monday – Thursday and identify yourself as a Kaufman Cougar, they will donate 10% of your order to Kaufman PTO. Please remember, when you place your order to tell them you are a Kaufman Cougar. This special program will be in effect during the summer. Donnelly's Pizza can be reached at 832-585-0500.

* Kroger Cards – Kroger grocery stores has a percentage reward program also. You need to obtain a special card, sent out through the Tuesday folder system at the beginning of the school year or available at the front desk, shop at Kroger's and they will return 1% of your purchase to Kaufman Elementary.

Last update on September 26, 2007