HOW TO GET
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WELL AN FAMILIE S GE T INVOLVED. A few years ago at an All-School Curriculum Night, a Parent Association (PA) leader asked parents to stand if they ever participated in the following ways: • • • •
Volunteered in a classroom Helped with Staff Appreciation Week Gave to the Annual Fund Attended a community service event
The list went on... and before long, every parent in the room was standing. There are opportunities in all shapes and sizes, to fit any schedule. The question is: which opportunities are right for you? Browse through the following pages and decide which opportunities feel like the best fit.
At A Gla nce: Community Events for Families Community Events for Adults Classroom Volunteer Opportunities School-Wide Volunteer Opportunities Giving to the Annual Fund Other Opportunities to Give Represent Wellan
WELL AN FAMILIE S VALUE COMMUNIT Y.
Com muni t y Eve n t s For Fa milies Throughout the year, there are many opportunities to socialize with other parents, caregivers, and kids at Wellan. Parent volunteers organize age-specific events and classroom playdates throughout the year. Plus: here are some opportunities the whole school community can enjoy together. Fall Festival Each September, Wellan hosts a Fall Festival at Kimball Farm in Westford. Enjoy lunch, mini-golf, bumper boat rides, and a host of outdoor activities for all ages while getting to know other families.
Drive-In Movie Event Our ever-popular Drive-In Movie events are held in the fall and spring in Wellan’s parking lot. Families come prepared with blankets and some snacks, as we provide a hassle-free movie night for the whole family! Hands-On Activities Engage your brain with design thinking, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), and crafting during these creative activities! Past events include the Family Cardboard Challenge, making fleece blankets during a PA-sponsored community service project, and much more! End of Year Picnic On the last day of school each year, our tradition is to dismiss students at noon so that all families can join us for an all-school picnic. We always enjoy the fresh air, outdoor games, and the chance to wish friends a fun summer!
Com muni t y Eve n t s For Adul t s Wellan offers opportunities for adults to socialize and learn while the kids are at home. Call the sitter and don’t miss out! Back to School Night This event in the fall is a “must,” providing vital information to both new and returning families about the coming school year. You will meet teachers, learn about the school’s priorities, and get information about classroom routines and curriculum. Community Dinners You won’t want to miss this fun night out in the fall. Parents are invited to a progressive-style dinner hosted in Wellan family homes, starting with appetizers, then moving on to dinner, and lastly, dessert and fun. It’s a great opportunity to meet and mingle with new and returning families!
Annual Gala Each year in March we host a fun gala for our adult community. Past venues have included the New England Aquarium and Brae Burn Country Club. Most recently, parents, staff, and friends of the school joined together for an evening of casino games and raised money to fund capital improvements. Supporting the school and socializing at the same time is always a win-win!
Parent Education Events Education at Wellan doesn’t just stop at 8th grade... it extends to adults, too! Some examples of past events include a Montessori in the Home workshop and guest speakers on topics ranging from sex education to kids and technology.
WELL AN FAMILIES VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. Cla s s room Volu n te e r O ppor tu ni ties Talk with your child’s classroom teachers about ways you can support student learning. Ways to be engaged vary by division based on the ages of students and their schedules. These are a few of the opportunities that may be available: Class Parent Support teachers’ efforts to build a strong community by welcoming new families and coordinating volunteer efforts for class projects and celebrations. Each classroom has two Class Parent volunteers per year.
Mystery Reader (Primary Division) Schedule a time to read a book to the class. Primary children will be surprised and delighted to see you as the week’s “mystery” guest! Field Trip Chaperone Watch for requests from teachers seeking parents who are willing to supervise students on off-site trips. Culture Sharer Give a short presentation about one of your family’s cultural traditions. Parents, grandparents, nannies, or extended family members can talk to teachers about this opportunity. Guest Expert Whether you know a lot about a topic because it’s your profession or a favorite hobby, ask your child’s teachers about sharing a brief presentation or activity with the class.
Sc hool -W id e Volu n te e r O ppor tu ni ties All Wellan parents are automatically members of the Parent Association, and are invited to get involved at PA meetings. What does the PA do? The PA organizes social and community-building events and demonstrates appreciation for Wellan’s talented staff. Who organzies PA events? Every year, the leaders of the PA seek volunteers to chair event planning committees. This approach divides the workload into manageable tasks for multiple groups of skilled parents, making the many tasks easy and efficient. It also offers a chance to socialize, have a good time, and forge new friendships.
What are some examples of past PA initiatives? School Day Events • Thanksgiving Feast for Students • Staff Appreciation Week • Scholastic Book Fair • Spirit Week • Parent Coffees Weekend Events • Paddy’s Road Race Team • Winter Family Event • Community Service Days How can I learn more? Attend the first PA meeting in September, or reach out to PA leaders any time by emailing PA@wellan.org.
WELL AN FAMILIE S CONTRIBUTE. Giving to the A nnual Fu nd The majority of Wellan families make a tax-deductible contribution to the Annual Fund to support school operations. Wellan is a non-profit 501c3 educational institution. Why does Wellan solicit donations? The school’s annual operating budget is primarily funded by tuition. Voluntary donations from parents, extended family members, and alumni allow the school to expand and enrich educational offerings for students, offer financial assistance to eligible students, improve school facilities, and provide professional growth opportunities for faculty.
Will we be asked to contribute? Yes. Our expectation is that all Wellan families will make a contribution to the Annual Fund at a level appropriate to their financial situation. This expectation is the norm in independent schools, and the funds raised are necessary to meet the annual budget. How will our Annual Fund gift be acknowledged? All Annual Fund donors are listed in our annual Year in Review publication. Gifts of $5,000 and higher are acknowledged on a plaque in our Main Office. Gifts from alumni families are acknowledged on a colorful plaque on our playground. Larger transformational gifts may be acknowledged in other ways. Gifts can also remain anonymous. Does Wellan accept Corporate Matching donations? Many employers match employees’ charitable gifts. It’s a great way to double your impact. We welcome Corporate Matching contributions and acknowledge these in our Year in Review publication as well. When should we make our Annual Fund donation? Our official launch of the Annual Fund begins each fall and our general goal is to secure full participation by the end of December. However, Annual Fund gifts are welcome at any time of year. Gifts can be made online through a secure form at wellan.org/annual-fund.
O th e r O ppor tuni ties to Give Gifts outside of the Annual Fund can range from making a pledge at our annual gala to sponsoring a special project. The school is open to ideas! Major Gifts Gifts of more than $10,000 are most welcome and are transformational for a small school like Wellan. Please share your ideas and intentions with the Head of School, who can help you identify ways your contribution could impact the school’s future. As an example of one major gift: an alumni family sponsored an annual Faculty Travel Fellowship. Through this program, Wellan teachers can apply for a grant to travel over the summer and bring new knowledge back to our classrooms in the fall. Grant recipients have expanded their knowledge through U.S. trips to National Parks and the Civil Rights Trail. Others have traveled to Peru, Iceland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Japan.
Alumni Giving Families whose students graduate or transition to another school are invited to maintain a strong connection with the school, including through Alumni donations and participation in school events. Annual Gala Already mentioned as an adult community building event, the gala is a special event at which parents and teachers enjoy one another’s company in a social setting. There are typically opportunities to donate to specific upcoming initiatives for the coming year. Past initiatives supported by the annual gala have included a renovation of the playground, the purchase of new technical equipment for the Drama program, and a full renovation of the Wellan Arts Wing.
WELL AN FAMILIE S SHOW SCHOOL SPIRIT. Re prese n t Wella n From Spirit Week in the spring to simple gestures that help spread the word about Wellan, there are many ways to show school pride!
Dress Up for Spirit Week The Voyager students organize a Spirit Week every spring, during which students enjoy wearing school colors, fashioning wacky hair, and demonstrating school values.
Post a Yard Sign at Home Each fall we create yard signs to advertise our admissions events. Posting a sign at home is a quick and easy way to spread the word to neighbors and passersby. For next-level school spirit, share a photo of the sign on social media!
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Wear School Gear Our Spirit Wear line is another way to show school pride and spark conversation about Wellan. Clothing and accessories make great gifts for children and adults alike. Visit our online school store to browse for items! Display a Car Magnet Do you drive? Take Wellan on the road! Each family receives a free car magnet upon joining the school. Post a School Review We value feedback from families as a way to maintain the highest quality school experience possible. Prospective families also find reviews helpful as they seek the best-fit school for their child. We invite you to review us on GreatSchools, Yelp, Google, Social Media, Niche, and Private School Review.
Ready to ge t I N V O LV E D ? For Giving Opportunities: Email development@wellan.org.
For Classroom Volunteer Opportunities: Contact your child’s teachers. For School-Wide Volunteer Opportunities: Email PA@wellan.org. For Community Events: Save the Dates at wellan.org/calendar.
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