SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5TH
Kia ora Parents
In November 2023 we will be running the Wadestown School House & Garden Walk. This is our major fundraiser, which happens every 3 years. The last House & Garden Walk, in November 2019, raised over $40,000 for the school.
Click here for the latest newsletter – May 2023
What is it?
The Wadestown School House & Garden Walk happens on a Sunday in early November, and around 15 local families will open their homes and/or gardens to ticket holders (last time we sold over 750 tickets).
There will be a real variety of houses and/or gardens. Two houses will offer continuous morning and afternoon teas (included in the ticket price), and there will also be refreshments available for purchase at other homes. There will be a deli stall selling goodies made by school families, and various other sponsor
stalls and information at some of the homes.
Why a House & Garden Walk?
The fundraiser has been happening for the last two decades; it started off as a fundraiser for the kindergarten, when they opened up a few gardens around Wadestown. The walk has continued to be successful because it happens only every three years, has a range of homes and gardens and, according to one of the original organisers “it inspires an amazing sense of community”.
Given the COVID disruption of the last few years the PTA feels this is a great opportunity to connect with our community again. The majority of the funds raised come from outside the school community so we are not constantly pulling on parents’ resources.
Our school is limited, largely due the geographical constraints of the school buildings and facilities, to running other major fundraisers i.e. a school fair. We appreciate that a fundraiser like a school fair provides a great opportunity for all children and families to be involved, however it is a big annual commitment and there are many other schools in Wellington offering similar fundraisers.
This fundraiser however is unique and highly successful. It requires your input once only every 3 years – please help us to make it a success again this year!
What is happening now?
A lot of work goes into organising the House & Garden Walk. A committee has started work to organise the homes that will feature in the Walk, sponsors to support the event and advertise in the ticket booklet, publicity, marketing, signage, printing the ticket booklets, rosters and more.
Closer to the time we will need all families to become involved to contribute baking for the deli stall and the morning and afternoon teas, helping on the day at the homes and at the morning tea houses.
What can you do now?
Right now, we need families who are prepared to open their homes and/or gardens for the event, so if you would like to be involved in this way please contact Andrea Davidson 021 246 9099 or Mark Crofskey on 027 644 6585.
We are looking for a variety of homes and gardens. People not only like seeing larger homes and gardens but recent renovations, and quirky, interesting homes and gardens with character, so please consider if your home might be suitable, or if you know of one that is.
We also need sponsorship – we have a range of sponsorship opportunities to choose from. Advertising is in the form of an advert in the ticket booklet along with social media shoutouts – please let us know if you think you might be able to support in this way too.
Will the children be involved?
Most of the children are not directly involved on the day – largely because we need all parents’ help on the day to run the event (and to attend it if they wish), therefore we don’t want to spread our resources too thinly by having children needing to be in other school related places on the day. There may be an opportunity for some children to have stalls and older students can also help with “gate duties”
What will the funds be used for?
The Board has indicated that the funds raised will most likely be used for the remodelling of the facilities in the Rata (middle) block at the main school – namely the Library. The school does not receive any Ministry of Education funding for any alterations, additions, upgrading to this well loved and utilised facility. The school is extremely lucky to have their own Library and Librarian and our children benefit from it daily! This fundraiser is only successful if our parents support it – please help in any way you can. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions then please, we want to hear about them! You can contact the committee either by phone, face to face or via the email below.
Ngā mihi nui
Andrea Davidson, Kris Mayo, Lauren Langford, Heidi Louden, Sarah Fullarton-Boyce, Mark Crofskey, Anya Zohrab, Sally Day, Lizzie Borowy for the Wadestown School House & Garden Walk Organising Committee
wadestownhouseandgarden@gmail.com
“Wadestown is a buzz with people all sharing the same experience taking their time to see some hidden gems and exploring streets they don’t usually get to”.