Going once, going twice...
My son's preschool had their annual auction this weekend. Being that our son is only 3, and this is a preschool, not a K-8 or anything, we had no idea this was such a big deal. There were many, many packages -- travel, fine art, sports events, legal services -- for $2000, $3000, even $4000.
"Who are these people we go to school with?" I asked my husband when we got the catalog, for clearly, they were out of our league. I was hoping to score a weekend in the mountains for, like, $100 or something.
Then we heard that some folks in our neighborhood actually make a sport out of auction season, and they do score some great deals. Catholic schools, rumor has it, get the best items.
The first auction I went to was ten years ago, in San Francisco. It was a benefit for the Bridge School -- a school for disabled children -- and my boyfriend bid on a huge oil painting. The artist was in Neil Young's band. He won the painting, and with it we got dinner with Neil Young. That was pretty cool.
Ah, how times have changed.
We drank way too much (cheap, donated) wine and bid pretty much stated value on an estate plan.
And won it.
Woohoo.
For sure, it's something we need. Something everyone with kids needs. (More on estate planning soon, we have an expert Stapleton resident to tell us all about it...) Just not very... exciting. For an auction, I mean.
I guess we have many more auctions to look forward to.
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I heard the principal of Westerly Creek said "plan on donating as much money to W.C. as you would if you sent your kids to a private school.."
That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. What balls that lady has.
That's the sad state of our city's public schools. Pitiful begging is not very pretty.
-Stapleton Resident
I'm so glad you commented on this! I was shocked to discover that full day kindergarten at Swigert (or WC or BR) will cost me nearly as much as putting my son into the highly rated kindergarten program at Montview.
Knowing the principal at WCE very well, I find that quote very difficult to believe and yes, we do have to pay for full-day kindergarten. I ask you to consider this....Think about what you would have to pay annually for your child to receive a private education. Generally that is a number in the many thousands of dollars. Making a generous donation of even $500-$1,000 per year for your child that attends a distinguished public elementary school seems like a bargain in comparison. Additionally, the schools in our neighborhood have to endure bigger budget cuts every year, while still having to meet the academic expectations of a very demanding group of parents who all want the very best for their children.