Month: February 2020

Auction Spotlight Question of the Week

Do both my spouse and I need to attend the event?

No! While many parents consider the auction to be a fun opportunity to get out of the house together, the auction is a community event first and foremost – you should absolutely feel free to come with a fellow parent, friend, or family member, especially if that simplifies childcare. In fact, we hope that everyone will encourage their friends to join them! When you purchase your ticket, there will be a place to specify friends that you’d like to sit with during dinner – name a friend or a group of friends, and we’ll do our best to sit you together!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ksenia Tsahhirov, Greg Smith and Amy Karlson
Your Cherry Crest World of Color 50th Anniversary Auction Chairs
auction@cherrycrest-ptsa.org

Auction Spotlight Question of the Week

What is a Silent Auction and Why Would I Want to Bid?

When you arrive you’ll see dozens of “bidding sheets” across several tables in a room near the entrance, each one describing an item or experience donated for auction. Each sheet will have blank lines with an escalating list of prices the item could sell for. If you want the item, you “bid” to win it by writing your name on the line corresponding to the price you’re willing to pay. The highest bid at the end of the auction wins the item!
 
So what is there to win? Some of the silent auction items are donated by local businesses: kids’ birthday party packages, spa/salon treatments, tickets to events, kids camps and much more. You may find a deal on something you already planned to purchase (a summer camp!), or an excuse to try a new activity (tickets to a baseball game!), or a new variety of something you love (a coffee or wine bundle!).
 
Other items are donated by Cherry Crest teachers and forge memories children hold dear beyond their elementary school years: a teacher’s favorite book with a personalized inscription or teacher/child experience outside of school for a few lucky students!
 
There will be opportunities for your child to feel special and recognized at school for a day, or even all year long: Lunch with the Principal, Librarian for a Day, or a prominent campus street sign or bike parking spot with your child’s name on it.
 
There’s something in the silent auction for every budget – starting from $10. The Silent Auction phase of the evening is casual, social, and fun – a time for mingling, chatting, and munching on tasty appetizers, maybe while keeping one eye on your favorite item to make sure you don’t get outbid 😉! But there is no obligation to buy or bid on items – just come and enjoy the party! Catch up with old friends, make some new ones, and see what’s up for offer this year. We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Check out our FAQ or reach out to us with any other questions!
 
Ksenia Tshahhirov, Greg Smith and Amy Karlson
Your Cherry Crest World of Color 50th Anniversary Auction Chairs

Auction Spotlight: Question of the Week

Why does the PTSA raise money and where does it go?

Did you know that the Cherry Crest PTSA pays for nearly every event you can think of that gives our school its unique personality and far-reaching reputation for its unwavering commitment to students and teachers? The majority of the budget goes to paying for teachers’ assistants to improve (lower) student/teacher ratios in all classrooms and to pay for assistants in the cafeteria and playground to support positive social interactions among the students. Just over 20% of the budget pays for school-wide curriculum enhancement, which includes off-site field trips (e.g., theater, nature spaces, museums, etc.) as well as on-site visits from children’s educators across a variety of specialties (e.g., toy maker, author visits, animal encounters, etc.). Check the PTSA website for more information about enrichment events planned for your child this year! Another 10% of funds pay for school-wide community-building events, such as movie nights, ice-cream socials, festival of cultures, and spelling bee, to name just a few. The remaining 8% provides grants for staff and supports  appreciation events and PTSA operating costs (such as our website, send out our newsletter and responsibly manage our finances). All these programs are organized and run by a team of over 50 committed Cherry Crest parents that offer their time and energy on a 100% volunteer (unpaid) basis.

Put this year’s auction on your calendar and help keep it all going!

Ksenia Tsahhirov, Greg Smith and Amy Karlson
Your Cherry Crest World of Color 50th Anniversary Auction Chairs
auction@cherrycrest-ptsa.org

Auction Spotlight: Question of the Week

Do I have to buy something at the auction?

While a ticket is required to attend the event, you are under no obligation to bid on or buy anything during the evening.  Everybody in the Cherry Crest community is encouraged to come out and show their support just by attending this entertaining evening of food, drink, and mingling – help build our community simply by meeting up with old friends or making some new ones!  Of course, many people find that once they are there, they see a teacher experience they are interested in, fall in love with their child’s classroom art piece, decide to try their luck at a gift certificate to one of the area’s top restaurants, join forces with their friends to upgrade the dessert at their table, or get excited to attend one of the themed community parties or sports events that have been donated by other parents. So if you do plan on bidding, keep in mind there is something for every budget – starting at as little as $10 among the silent auction items all the way up to a thousand dollars or more for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the live auction!  In any case, your level of commitment is entirely up to you – our main goal is for you to have FUN!

Check out our FAQ or ask us any other questions!

Ksenia Tsahhirov, Greg Smith and Amy Karlson
Your Cherry Crest World of Color 50th Anniversary Auction Chairs
auction@cherrycrest-ptsa.org