H-B WOODLAWN SECONDARY PROGRAM

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NO-SWEAT FUNDRAISER

Dear H-B Woodlawn Parent, May 2011

The HBW PAC doesn't ask you to buy wrapping paper, magazine subscriptions, candy bars, or host school fairs or car washes. Instead, once a year we ask you to write a check to H-B Woodlawn. That's it!

Why does HBW need to raise additional funds? The School Board's budget doesn't cover all the needs and wants of the faculty and staff of H-B Woodlawn. Check out some of the items that the No-Sweat Fundraiser helped to finance with the $41,000 that you donated:

• SMARTboards and LCD Projectors for the classrooms that do not yet have them
• Upgraded auditorium lighting
• Cameras and supplies for the photography department
• Calculators for 6th and 7th grade math classes
• Entry fees for academic enrichment programs
• Materials for substance abuse presentations
• New games and equipment to supplement Health & Physical Education Deparment
• Activity fee "scholarships" for some YHB Ultimate Frisbee players
• Many small dollar purchases in support of our programs and activities

Kris Kappmeyer and Mark Dickson, Mark Dodge, Theresa Flynn, Bill Podolski and several teachers who have received SMARTboards have written testimonials that describe how No-Sweat funds helped their students. You can see all the testimonials below.

Our goal is to have some contribution from every family. We recommend every family consider a $60 donation. If you can give more than that, thank you very much! Larger donations are gratefully accepted and appreciated. All donations received will be put to good use! In the Fall of 2011, all available donations will be allocated among the many worthy requests we receive from staff, faculty and students.

Unlike traditional fundraisers, there is no overhead and no expenses so 100% of your donation is used. And, every penny of your contribution is tax deductible, so save the bottom half of the form for your records. Consistent with National PTA Guidelines, the PAC endeavors to spend donations in the school year for which the funds are contributed and to maintain minimal carry-over from year to year.

You should have received an envelope with this letter in the mail. Is so, please use the return envelope to send your contribution. If you do not have the envelope, please send your check to:

H-B Woodlawn Program

4100 Vacation Lane

Arlington, VA 22207

Attn: Kathy Funes, Treasurer

Please make your check payable to H-B Woodlawn, and write "No-Sweat" on the memo line.

Frank Haltiwanger, Principal	Richard, Haske PAC Chair

You can download a copy of the form and this letter here.

No-Sweat Testimonials

Mark Dickson and Kris Kappmeyer - American Mathematics Competition (AMC) Team

In multiplying two positive integers a and b, Ron reversed the digits of the two-digit number a. His erroneous product was 161. What is the correct value of the product of a and b?

a) 116 b) 161 c) 204 d) 214 e) 224

HBW’s AMC math team tackled this and other fun questions on February 23, 2011. The 25 question, 75 minute test, is a national competition offered annually and is the first step toward forming the USA Mathematical Olympiad Team. Our team consisted of 11 students, grades 9-12, who regularly attended lunch sessions to prepare for the contest. They performed very well on this difficult contest and we are proud of them. They also participated in the Virginia Math League (VML) Contests offered once a month. H-B Woodlawn was ranked second in the county for cumulative VML score. These contests provide a great opportunity for students to stretch their problem-solving abilities by looking at non-traditional problems. Thanks, PAC, for the money we used to purchase the exam packets. (The answer is E!) Mark Dickson and Kris Kappmeyer, 2011

Mark Dodge - Physics Festival

I've been using No-Sweat money for the Physics Festival for many years now. Those $200 a year allow my students to buy the lumber, PVC pipe, and other supplies necessary for the festival. Without the No-Sweat funds, students would have to buy materials themselves, and I think that would greatly diminish the projects. As it is, the Physics students at H-B put on a great show - not just at H-B, but we also take the show to an elementary school in Arlington each year to introduce younger students to science and H-B. It is not only fun for my students, but they learn a lot by teaching physics to younger students, and they motivate younger students to continue their studies in science. Thank you, No-Sweat! Mark Dodge, 2011

Theresa Flynn - Life Skills

Thanks so much for the No Sweat $ for the food for the Life Skills class. This quasi-cooking class is fun for students, as they explore stove-top meals they can make quickly -- and helps them to eat in a more healthy way. Many students remark that they get to try foods they have never had before, or end up liking foods they had previously dismissed, because of the course. One of our "graduates" is now studying cooking at the Career Center! It wouldn't be possible to teach this class without the generous monies provided for our weekly grocery trips. Thank you. Theresa Flynn, Librarian, 2011

Peggy Gaines and Mila Vascones-Gatski - Needlework Arts

THE H-B WOODLAWN NEEDLEWORK ARTS CLUB is going strong with many new members. We meet two times each week at lunchtime. We have made blankets, hats and scarves for the needy. Some of the donations stay within our own community, and some of the donations are forwarded to a National program for the needy. Needless to say, the members of the Club are proud of the completed projects. We all feel good that we can help make a difference in lives of others. Peggy Gaines,School Health Aide & Mila Vascones-Gatski, School Counselor, 2011

Bill Podolski - Vocal Music

Teri Doxsee - Technology Enhanced Classrooms at H-B

The No Sweat fundraiser has generously contributed to our technology enhanced classroom initiative at H-B for the past three years. Three years ago, in the Fall of 2008, we only had two classrooms with mounted LCD projectors and SMARTboards. Now almost 90% of our classrooms have them!

Check out what Thomas' room looked like before his SMARTboard and projector were mounted, and what it looks like today.

Before the board and projector were mounted, wires were strung all over the room.	Using the SMARTboard after mounting - No wires!

The smart board allows for abstract concepts to be presented to students in a visual and interactive fashion. Notes taken during class can be saved for later retrieval, printed, or e-mailed allowing for greater organization and continuity of instruction. Thomas Sweet, 2011

I depend on and use my SmartBoard and projector every day! They allow us to look at and interact with images, videos, and historical information in a way that is accessible and viewable for everyone. I like to think it brings history to life!, Carolyn Crumpler, 2011

Having a SMARTboard in my classroom opens up a whole new realm of interactive possibilities. Jacob Nuxoll, 2011

The smart board has become an invaluable asset in my classroom and is used almost daily. Thank you no sweat!, Kathy Molina, 2011

Bulbs for LCD projectors just aren't sexy. But they are critical in keeping our large number of LCDs working. And the county budget just doesn't cover them. So thank you to PAC, not only for buying the LCDs in the first place, but helping to keep this growing technology in good working order! Theresa Flynn, 2010

Thank you PAC for our mounted projectors! I cannot tell you how much simpler my day is since getting rid of the excess cords and carts that used to hold my overhead projector and LCD. I use the projector almost on a daily basis and the new, more streamlined integration of LCD and DVD with my computer has saved me (and my students who use it for presentations and projects) a lot of time and hassle. I have also had a chance to use the SmartBoards, and I am so grateful for your generosity and help bringing more of these to HB. Thanks for all you do to support the learning in HB classrooms! Jennifer Goen, 2009

Laurie and Neal want to express their profound appreciation for the mounted projector and SmartBoard we now have to use in Room 309. This technology transforms what can be presented during Algebra and Geometry classes at H-B and we both feel fortunate to have the parental and staff support we enjoy at H-B. We would also like to acknowledge one of our custodians, Lou, who did a great job of helping to reconfigure the room. Lou's carpentry skill made it possible to use the SmartBoard along with the old standby in math classrooms everywhere, the overhead projector. Thanks again for all you to help the staff and students of H-B Woodlawn. Laurie Lewis & Neal Payne, 2009

I am so grateful to the No Sweat Committee for supporting the funding of SmartBoards and their mounting. Before HB, I came from a school that was an all-SmartBoard school. While teaching there I experienced how teaching with the SmartBoard can help to reach students who have become accustom to the digital age. Now that I have one at HB, I have been able to transform my teaching, and enable my students learning. Sight reading has become interesting, graphic and has fostered better readers faster. Music theory classes are now able to use the best software available to teach the intricate art of composing. No matter what a teacher is teaching, the lesson is only successful if the teacher can be efficient, organized and access materials quickly. Not only does the SmartBoard help to achieve these goals, but mounting the SmartBoard has made its use convenient. The mount allows me to teach without interrupting the lesson and maximizing our classroom time. Again, many thanks for offering the students of HB a state of the art education! Bill Podolski 2009

You can download a copy of the No-Sweat letter and form here.