Volunteer organizations fill in where budget doesn’t
By:Donna Lukiw
Triangle Elementary School is sporting new shrubs and trees on the school grounds, as the school’s Home and School Association wraps up another of its projects.
Working in conjunction with Twin Oaks Landscaping, the group has collected donations from parents and the landscaping company to make the $400 project possible.
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Casino event to benefit HMS To help raise money for Hillsborough Middle School’s Home and School Association, parents and residents will be gambling during the school’s first casino night. Students will not be permitted at the event, but their parents can enjoy playing the "Big money wheel," craps, blackjack and roulette. Organized by members of the Home and School Association, the casino night, open to the public, will run from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hillsborough Middle School. While playing casino games at the event won’t pay in cash, players will be able to exchange their winning chips for chances to bid at a basket auction. "They convert chips to prizes," Home and School Association corresponding secretary Carol Kravette said. "They would gamble and after that they could look at the baskets. There will be 50 different basket themes." Ms. Kravette said each basket has a theme including winter wonderland filled with scarves, mittens and an ice scraper, a college survival kit and even basket themes for men like cars, sports and golf. "We pretty much try to cover all avenues," Ms. Kravette said. Although the organization doesn’t have a set monetary goal for the evening Home and School Association president Regina Ciambrone said the money will go toward renovating the middle school commons area, teacher grants and assemblies for the children. The Home and School Association has also been reaching out to local business owners for items to be included in the baskets including gift certificates. Local business owners are also sponsoring the gaming tables. Tickets bought before Oct. 20 will be $25 and will come with $50 worth of chips. Tickets bought at the door will be $25 with $25 worth of chips. For more information contact Ms. Ciambrone at [email protected] or Hillsborough Middle School at 874-3420. Donna Lukiw
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"We get a lot of traffic at the school so aesthetics is important," said Lorraine Sorson of the Home and School Association.
Throughout the Hillsborough public school system, every school has its own Home and School organization comprised of parents, teachers and staff who raise funds for the school, organize events, and purchase educational items not included in the regular district budget.
And school principals say the groups are a vital part of the district.
"We wouldn’t have these nice extensions to the curriculum if it weren’t for the Home and School," Triangle Principal Beth Godett said.
For Triangle School, the HSA collected $400 in donations for the plants while Central Jersey Nurseries donated six shrubs and groundcovers. Robert Jorgensen of Twin Oaks Landscaping donated his time to plant the 50 trees and shrubs.
"We are so appreciative of Robert (Jorgensen) coming in and doing this for us," Dr. Godett said.
The newly planted trees and shrubs along the front of the school will be used as a learning garden for the students where they can come outside and learn about the different plants.
"It’s a great way to show the township what we can do," Mr. Jorgensen said about donating his time to plant the trees.
Because of the variety of plants, students can enjoy the learning garden throughout the year since certain plants bloom during each of the four seasons, adding to the impact the project can have for the students.
"I really appreciate the care the Home and School Association took in picking bushes," Dr. Godett said. "They’ll be able to use the learning garden and learn about the cycles of plants."
Ms. Sorson said at Triangle the Home and School Association has a budget of about $20,000 all of which is raised or donated for various projects and activities.
The programs support the library, give grants to teachers and help with the family science program for the second-graders.
Through the HSA, Triangle School has received new curtains for the stage in the gym, a climbing wall in the gym, four televisions with DVDs and VCRs, digital voice recorders and 20 digital cameras for the teachers to use.
"We have a thriving Home and School Association here," Dr. Godett said.
Hillsborough Middle School HSA is also in the process of organizing a fundraising project by holding a casino night for Hillsborough residents on Oct. 28 (see sidebar).
"We just couldn’t do everything we’re doing if it weren’t for the parents," Joe Trybulski, principal of Hillsborough Middle School said. "When we have our Home and School meetings, it’s when I could get feedback on issues in the community and the school."
Mr. Trybulski said parents might bring up issues like the dangers of the Internet and then organize an event for middle school parents to learn about Internet safety.
The middle school’s Home and School Association also has a budget of about $20,000.
Another upcoming fundraising event has been planned by Hillsborough Elementary School HSA.
The group will hold a Fall Clothing Drive from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Oct. 21 in the school parking lot.
The following items will be accepted: clothing, shoes, handbags, belts, hats, bedding, curtains, towels and stuffed animals.
Items should be dropped off at Hillsborough Elementary School and tax receipts will be given.
The HAS at Amsterdam Elementary School designates funds to hold a Young Author’s Day, when children’s authors visit the school, class trips, teacher appreciation days and assemblies with their $22,000 budget.
According to its Web site, the HSA spends about $40 per student.
The various Home and School Associations also buy art supplies for the students, renovate the interior of the schools and purchase extra items for the classrooms.

