The Dragon Dash is Dan Mills’ largest fundraiser, generating more than $60,000 last year to help with improvements to our school–including a teacher lounge upgrade, new swings on the front playground, curriculum investments and more. This year’s Dragon Dash is just around the corner, and on Thursday October 27 our Dragons will have the chance to run laps as a chance to earn funds for the school.
This year’s fundraising goal is $40,000, which will go towards safety improvements, a front office refresh, cafeteria sound panels, and much more. Here’s what you need to know to get your Dragon prepared for the big day!
2022 Dragon Dash Details and FAQs
Date: Thursday October 27
Times:
9:00-10:00–Pre-K and Kindergarten
10:10-11:10–4th and 5th graders
11:10-12:10–3rd graders
12: 50-2:15–2nd and 1st graders
How does my child participate? Your Dragon will receive a packet the week before Fall Break with all the information you need to set up a Dragon Dash fundraising page on getmovinfundhub.com. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle to our students and the community, so our Dragons will ask family and friends for donations in exchange for participating in the Dash on October 27. On Dragon Dash day, students will run as many laps as they can in the allotted time for their class. One “lap” is the distance from one end of the front driveway to the other. Volunteers will be at both ends of the driveway to track each student’s laps and prevent anyone from getting too close to the street.
Can I watch my child participate? Yes! Dragon Dash is open to our school community–and we would love your help while you watch your kid or any time throughout the event, if volunteering is your thing. The PTO will send out a volunteer sign up list soon with opportunities to help with snacks, water, lap counting, and more.
How much does my child have to raise? All students are encouraged to raise $65, but we understand that it’s not always possible! To make Dragon Dash more fun, the PTO offers several prizes and incentives. All Dragons who register and participate in the Dragon Dash will receive a t-shirt and a Dragon Dash tattoo. There are individual rewards for different donation levels, as well as class rewards for the classes who raise the most money–this is a team effort! Look in your Dragon Dash packets to learn more about the prizes and incentives.
What will the school do with the money? Our fundraising goal for the Dragon Dash this year is $40,000. You all may be wondering what exactly all the money we raise goes towards and why. Well, it varies year to year, but we want you to know that the PTO Board and school administration thoughtfully discuss all the needs (and wants) of the school at the beginning of each year. So below are some more details to give you a better understanding of where the money we raise this year will be going.
Front Office Improvements (~$2,000-4,000): Our front office is the backbone of Dan Mills, providing a space for our amazing administrative staff to work with students and parents, address teacher needs, and handle all of the everyday tasks that keep our school running in top shape. After years of constant use, we would love to update this space with fresh paint, updated furniture, organizational tools, and more.
Financial Support for Teachers (~$10,000): As you likely know, teachers spend a lot of their own money on special classroom projects or on classroom supplies. It’s also no secret that teachers are underpaid. So we can help them by providing each one of them with the funds and resources they need to help their students. They can purchase those items that will make a lesson come to life or they can buy that bookshelf and fill it with books. Whatever they choose, it ultimately benefits all of the students at Dan Mills!
Curriculum (~$10,000): Each year the PTO pays for all kinds of resources that support the teachers’ curriculum. This includes online platforms like IXL and Raz Kids as well as Reading A-to-Z. It doesn’t sound fancy or that exciting, but it’s a resource we’ve provided for years that the teachers have come to rely on because the expense of these supporting curriculum can be prohibitive. This year, we will also be purchasing LiveSchool which is a tool for both students and parents. We are proud that we can consistently provide these resources to the grade-level teams to support the students and families at Dan Mills.
Safety Improvements (~$10,000): Our school staff is always looking for ways to keep all of our Dragons safe during the school day. In the coming months, Mr. Yates and other district employees will be looking for ways to further improve drop-off and pick-up procedures, including new walkways, updated concrete, and updated security features within the building.
Cafeteria Sound Panels (~$2,000-5,000). If you’ve ever spent time in the cafeteria, you know that hundreds of students talking at once can get loud. To reduce the volume and minimize distractions to classrooms near the cafeteria, Dan Mills will invest in new sound panels.
Additional Funding Support: Paying for Professional Development for teachers, supplementing field trips, providing additional equipment for classrooms and the school, teacher appreciation efforts (such as the Happy Cart and teacher appreciation week), and providing supplies for our social-emotional curriculum are just some examples of the types of things that the PTO is also able to provide with these funds.
Your donations are intentionally and thoughtfully used to the benefit of the Dan Mills students and are always much appreciated!