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PARENT TO PARENT
INFORMATION AND FAQS ABOUT ANN ARBOR OPEN

ANN ARBOR OPEN (AAO) AT MACK
920 Miller Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-994-1910
http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/home
Principal: Kit Flynn (Flynn@aaps.k12.mi.us)

LOGISTICS
How do I get my child to and from school?
How long is the school day?
What happens if we’re late?
What happens if we’re early?
How do I report absences?
What if my family needs care after school?
What if my child is going home with someone else?
What is the "Wednesday Packet?
Is there a school directory?
Where’s the school’s lost and found?
What are some of the highlights of the AAO year?

DURING THE DAY
How do I sign my child out in the middle of the day?
How can I contact my child’s teacher?
Can I sit in on my child's class?
When is recess?
What if my child needs to take medicine during the day?
Is breakfast available at the school?
What about lunch?
What about snacks?
What about allergies?
What are the school’s emergency procedures?

IN THE CLASSROOM
What does the open philosophy look like in the classroom?
What are “specials”?
What are Focus Studies?
Do AAO students go on field trips?
What extracurricular activities are available to students at AAO?
Is there instrumental music at AAO?
What is unique about AAO’s middle school culture?
How are the middle school grades structured at AAO?
Are grades given in middle school at AAO?
Is there homework in middle school at AAO?
Are students allowed to use electronic devices in middle school?
What about the use of electronic devices in the lower grades?
What about students’ use of computers in middle school?
Where can I get more information about the school?
What is the Open School Conference?

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AT AAO
What role are parents expected to play at AAO?
What do “classroom parents” do?
What do “classroom liaisons” do?
Is there a PTO at AAO?
What happens to all that AAOCC money?
Are there any procedures to assist families with temporary financial problems?
What do I do if I have a great idea for something new the AAOCC could spend money on?
How can I help support the AAOCC financially?
Why do I need to make a field trip contribution? This is a public school, so why doesn’t the school system pay for field trips?
Tell me more about “scrip”!
I would like to volunteer to help with a fundraiser. How do I do that?
What if I have a great idea for a new fundraiser?
I want to help decide how the AAOCC’s money is spent! What do I do?

MORE QUESTIONS?
Who should I ask questions that aren’t answered here?

LOGISTICS

How do I get my child to and from school?
If your child bikes to school, bike racks are located outside the school’s entrance facing Miller, close to the pool; students may also lock their scooters there. A crossing guard is stationed at the intersection of Seventh and Miller every day, before and after school.

Bus transportation is provided through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Information is available through the AAO office or through Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS). The AAPS website is http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/home.

If you drive your child to or from school, please note that the marked lane outside the entrance in the Red Oak parking lot is for drop-off and pick-up only. At drop-off, parents who wish to get out of their car to say goodbye to their child or walk him or her into the school must park in the Red Oak lot or on the street. Similarly, parents who need to come into the school for any reason at pick-up should park their car first, not leave it in the marked lane. Do not park in handicap spots unless you have a properly marked/identified vehicle.

Please note that the Brooks Street loop is for buses only.

How long is the school day?
The school day at AAO runs from 8:08 a.m. (with the first bell at 8:05 a.m.) until 2:54 p.m. Morning kindergarten is from 8:08 to 11:11 a.m., and afternoon kindergarten is from 11:51 a.m. to 2:54 p.m.

What happens if we’re late?
The first bell rings at 8:05 a.m., and children are expected to be in their classroom by the second bell, at 8:08 a.m. Tardy records are kept in all grades, including kindergarten. Children who arrive after 8:08 a.m. should go to the office and sign in. If they arrive on a late bus, they can proceed directly to their classroom.

AAO asks that parents make getting their children to school on time a high priority for their family. The first fifteen to twenty minutes of each school day are crucial to setting the day’s mood and direction. Tardy students miss key connections their teachers are working hard to make, and their late arrival disrupts the classroom for those students who have arrived on time.

What happens if we’re early?
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., all families and students may either wait outside until the first bell rings or enter the building and proceed directly to the auditorium (or to the cafeteria, if they’re eating breakfast). The school’s lunchroom coordinator, Bonnie Dean, will also be in the auditorium beginning at 7:30, providing supervision, quiet morning activities, and a safe gathering place for students and parents who prefer an inside waiting area.

The library, hallways, and front lobby will no longer be available for students and families waiting for the school day to begin.

How do I report absences?
To report an absence, please call the school office at 734-994-1910.

What if my family needs care after school?
Kindergartners who are not enrolled in the EDO (Extended Day Option) class can be enrolled in K-Care through Community Rec & Ed. K-Care allows families to opt for afternoon care only on certain days of the week. The YMCA also provides afternoon care for kindergartners, and it typically sends a bus to the school to pick up students.

If you need care for your child after school hours, Ann Arbor Rec & Ed also provides care that runs from 2:54 until 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Ann Arbor Rec & Ed (734-994-2300 (ext. 238); http://www.aareced.com/reced.home/rec___ed_home) or the Ann Arbor YMCA (http://www.annarborymca.org/).

To speak to childcare staff within our building, call 734-994-8998.

What if my child is going home with someone else?
In general, particularly for younger students, if there is any change from your child’s normal dismissal routine, please send a note to his or her teacher.

All arrangements for playdates and other after-school plans should be made from home, not after the school day begins.

If someone who is not a custodial parent and not on your emergency card will be picking up your child from school, please send written permission for that person to do so.

If your child will be riding a different bus home than usual, please send a signed and dated note to school with your child. He or she will need to bring the note to the office to be signed before the school day ends.

Please also remember that if your child will not be attending childcare on a day he or she is usually scheduled to do so, you need to call childcare (734-994-8998) to let them know.

What is the “Wednesday Packet”?
The Wednesday Packet is one of the central means of communication for Ann Arbor Open School families. It typically includes a note from the principal, along with details about upcoming school events, policy details, forms that families need to fill out, etc. It is published on Wednesdays, approximately every two weeks. If you have an announcement to be included in the packet, please contact Karen Davis in the office. The school office regularly emails a link to the most recent Wednesday Packet; hard copies of Wednesday Packets are available to families who need or prefer them.

Archived Wednesday Packets can also be accessed online: http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/wednesday_packet_archives.

Is there a school directory?
Yes! Every year, the school’s office staff compiles a directory of all the students in the school, which usually comes out some time in the fall. The directory includes contact information for all families who have chosen to provide it, on a class-by-class basis. Recently, in the interest of saving costs and paper, the school has started using an electronic version of the directory that families can download, rather than distributing hard copies to every student. Hard copies are available to families who need or prefer them.

Where’s the school’s lost and found?
Please prevent any of your child’s items finding their way to the lost and found. Label all personal items and clothing that come to school! The lost and found is in the hallway to the left as you’re facing the office, outside the teachers’ lounge. Every year, dozens of items are never picked up; the school donates these items to the PTO Thrift Shop. This only happens with plenty of warning, usually in the Wednesday Packet.

What are some of the highlights of the AAO year?
See the school’s home page for access to the building calendar and a link to the district calendar: http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/home.

The AAOCC website includes a list and description of regularly scheduled AAO events: http://www.aaopencc.org/Events.html.

Remember too that AAPS typically schedules three lengthy breaks for students every year: one at winter break, one early in the spring semester, and one later in the spring semester.

DURING THE DAY

How do I sign my child out in the middle of the day?
When your child needs to leave the building during school hours, you should go to the office to sign him/her out. You’ll be asked to include the time, the date, and your signature. Be sure to sign your child back in at the office if he or she returns before the end of the school day.

How can I contact my child’s teacher?
The staff email addresses are provided on the AAO website (http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/aaos_staff). If you need to get hold of your child’s teacher immediately, in case of an emergency, please call the school office (734-994-1910).

Can I sit in on my child’s class?
Yes! You are welcome in your child’s classroom. Please contact the teacher to learn the best times for visits and volunteer opportunities. Visits to classrooms other than your child’s are covered under the AAEA Master Agreement and may only be made with permission of the principal.

When is recess?
All students have lunch recess, at regularly scheduled hours that vary by grade level. Most classes also go out for shorter recesses one or two times a day, at the teacher’s discretion.

What if my child needs to take medicine during the day?
If your child takes prescription or over-the-counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Students may not carry their own medications without permission from parents, their doctor, and the principal.

Is breakfast available at the school?
Yes! Children who eat breakfast at school may go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast any time after 7:45 a.m. Once students are in the cafeteria, they must remain there until they’ve finished eating: all breakfast must be eaten in the cafeteria and may not be carried to the auditorium or to classrooms. When they’re finished, they can go to the auditorium until the first bell rings. Food service ends at 8:05.

Breakfast costs $1.00. Families can pay for breakfast by cash or check (made payable to AAPS Food Service) or by setting up an account through “Meal Pay Plus”: https://www01.mealpayplus.com/default.aspx.

What about lunch?
Students may either bring their lunch from home or get lunch in the school cafeteria.

Lunch at school costs $2.50, and milk costs $.40. If your child will be getting lunch at school, you can pay by cash or check (made payable to AAPS Food Service) or set up a school lunch account through “Meal Pay Plus”: https://www01.mealpayplus.com/default.aspx.

Applications for free and reduced-price lunches are available from the lunchroom staff, outside the school office, or on the district website: http://ww.a2schools.org/aaps/home. Families must submit a new application every year, even if they have qualified in the past. The application process is strictly confidential.

Students in the lower grades (including EDO kindergarten students) can eat either in the cafeteria or (in some cases) in the auditorium, which recently gained some new round lunch tables to relieve the increasingly crowded lunchroom. The auditorium is intended to be a “quiet space” for students who need less noise and stimulation.

The auditorium is also a designated nut-free space, so students who eat there must either have a school lunch or a lunch from home that is free of nuts or any contact with nut products. Lunchroom staff will check any lunch brought from home before a student brings it into the auditorium. There is also a designated nut-free table in the cafeteria.

What about snacks?
Some classroom teachers organize snacks for their own rooms, often by setting up a schedule that asks parents to bring in snacks on a rotating basis. In other classes, students may bring their own snacks.

When organizing snacks, teachers take into account any allergies their students might have.

What about allergies?
The auditorium and all common areas of the school (main office, hallways, special area classrooms, the media center, etc.) are designated nut-free zones. One table in the cafeteria is also nut-free.

Snacks are regulated on a classroom-by-classroom basis. Please be sure that AAO staff and your child’s teacher know about any allergies your child may have.

What are the school’s emergency procedures?
AAPS and AAO have comprehensive “all hazard” emergency plans, with procedures in place for severe weather, fire, violent threats inside and outside the building, chemical spills, and other scenarios.

As required by state law, AAO practices six times a year for fire procedures, twice a year for severe weather, and twice a year for lockdowns. All students participate in these drills.

In the event of early dismissal, a lockdown that affects dismissal procedures, or any other emergency that requires parents’ attention, parents will be notified via automated phone call and/or email.

In the event of severe weather or any other emergency, please don’t call the office: AAO staff must dedicate their full attention to students’ safety. Please don’t come to school to pick up your child if doing so is dangerous (e.g., when there are hazardous road conditions); someone on the staff will always wait with your child until he or she can be picked up, and students are very safe in the school building under almost all circumstances.

IN THE CLASSROOM

What does the open philosophy look like in the classroom?
Classes at AAO run on a continuum. Each class (other than kindergarten) has two or more grades, and students remain in the same class for more than one year.

Each class’s curriculum is developed by the teacher in concert with the children. The emphasis is on learning through experience, and academic goals are achieved through an integrated approach linked with students’ interests and needs.

The teachers at AAO support the learning environment, as well as the learning style of each student. Attention is paid to the variable ways in which children learn. The idea is not what children should do at a given age or time, but what the child needs to help them develop to their full potential.

Democracy is practiced in the classroom by the students with the teachers and extends throughout the school.

What are “specials”?
“Specials” at AAO include visual arts, vocal music, instrumental music, media education and technology, and physical education/swimming. Specials classes are worked into classrooms’ regular curriculum and typically occur one or two times a week.

What are Focus Studies?
In addition to their regular classes, students at AAO also take Focus Studies twice a year. They are hour-long daily classes that meet for two weeks. Focus studies offer an opportunity to concentrate on a specific interest that might not be covered in regular classroom curriculum. Students and the adult leader might, for example, learn about opera, study the flora and fauna around the school, take up knitting, improve their basketball skills, write poetry about Harry Potter, or distribute awards for the best picture book published in the past year. Focus Studies typically fall into one of two categories: either they provide an integrated study of a topic of high interest (e.g., a class on horses that combines math, art, science, reading, and writing), or they focus on a specific skill (e.g., a foreign language).

There are two sessions of Focus Studies each year, although kindergartners typically only participate in one. All Focus Studies offer students the opportunity to get to know students outside their classroom and at different grade levels.

Focus Studies are taught by teachers and by parents with a particular area of interest or expertise. If you'd like to teach a Focus Study, please let us know! We can provide lesson planning assistance and materials to help get you started.

Do AAO students go on field trips?
Field trips at AAO are viewed as key to the students’ education, a complement to the classroom curriculum. Field trips are largely up to the classroom teacher, in discussion with parents and students, although some are standard across the school or district: students might attend a play, go to the Leslie Science Center, or take a walk around the neighborhood to examine the architecture. Some classes go on overnight field trips; others have trips that last through the evening hours. Teachers will communicate all field trip information for their room as the trips are scheduled. Parents must sign permission slips as needed for their child to go on field trips, and they are often invited to come along as chaperones.

Field Trip Pledges: No fees are assessed in relation to individual field trips, and teachers are not required to raise funds to pay for their class trips. Instead the AAOCC asks that parents contribute a given amount based on the historical annual cost of field trips at their child’s grade level. Families who are able to contribute an additional amount to the Field Trip Scholarship Fund provide needed support for families who are unable to contribute the full amount during any given year.

In middle school, as field trips morph into “big trips” and become more elaborate and ambitious (e.g., a trip to Chicago), students often run class fundraisers.

Is there instrumental music at AAO?
Yes! Instrumental music is mandatory in fifth grade across the district and becomes an elective in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade.

What is unique about AAO’s middle school culture?
Middle school students are in transition from being closely supervised and supported by adults (as elementary students) to having significant independence and freedom (as high school students). Middle school teachers at AAO typically try to solve problems directly with students. Parents are usually contacted when there is a persistent problem that has not been resolved or when the problem is more serious. Parents can count on hearing from teachers if their student is regularly missing assignments or frequently falling below expectations.
While AAO’s middle school teachers value a comfortable environment at school, a culture of respect and responsibility is also upheld. Students need to arrive at school in the morning on time, be attentive in class, honor break times, behave in the hallways, and respect classroom procedures. The benefits of AAO’s middle school culture include no bells, students being on a first-name basis with their teachers, and no hall passes. Within these parameters, AAO’s middle school teachers are able to form closer relationships with students, which foster increased trust.

How are the middle school grades structured at AAO?
Each seventh- and eighth-grader at AAO is assigned to an “advisory.” An advisory is similar to “homeroom”: it provides a physical home base for the student and a single teacher as the main point of contact for any individual needs and concerns. The advisory also functions as a group and has an identity within the larger middle school program. Advisory sessions are used for school business and a curriculum focused on character development (such as anti-bullying and using electronics wisely).
As with the lower grades, all absences and tardies should be reported to the main office. The office staff will inform teachers as needed. If you have an issue with a particular class, start by contacting the teacher of that class (by email or phone). If you have an individual need or are having trouble getting through to another teacher, contact your child’s advisor.
If you wish to have a conference regarding your middle-schooler, you may want to see the Humanities, Science, and Math teachers in three separate conferences. If you feel comfortable with your child’s performance and don’t need to raise other issues with all teachers, you could choose any one teacher for a conference. If you’re not sure what to do, schedule a conference with your student’s advisor, and you can talk together about which other teachers to contact from there. Note that some parents do not schedule middle school conferences at all, particularly if there are no concerns with student performance or behavior.

Are grades given in middle school at AAO?
The A to E letter grade system was rejected by open school pioneers for a variety of reasons. First, a grade is not a descriptive assessment. Open education strives to consider each student as an individual, with different strengths and talents. One student’s best work may not look the same for another. Also, AAO teachers strive for a non-competitive environment. When students compare themselves on the same scale, they start to categorize themselves. AAO’s teachers want every student to be intrinsically motivated to work at his or her highest level.
Thus, following the Open School philosophy, there are no grades given in middle school at AAO, with the exceptions of eight- grade Math, Spanish, and Health, which are mandated by the school district.
Math, Spanish, and all electives send report cards each nine weeks. Humanities and Science send report cards three times a year.  Because of these different schedules, you may receive a report card with only Math, Spanish, and electives; or with only Humanities and Science.

Is there homework in middle school at AAO?
There is daily work in Math, though assignments are often completed in class. If a student is working well in class they might have homework only two times per week. There are also periodic math quizzes and tests for which students should study! There is a weekly “Monday News” assignment in Humanities, along with a requirement of thirty minutes of novel reading at home each night, as well as occasional projects. There is rarely homework in Science, but students will need to study for quizzes and prepare a science fair project. Parents should expect a communication from teachers by email each time there is an additional homework assignment and for tests/quizzes.

Are students allowed to use electronic devices in middle school?
Yes, seventh- and eighth-grade students may use electronic devices at AAO under certain very clear circumstances. The belief of the staff at AAO is that rather than imposing a complete ban on personal electronics (which would certainly be simpler), teachers have the opportunity to help students use devices appropriately. Students this age have a lot to learn about how to avoid trouble in social networking and how to communicate with friends and family in a respectful, appropriate manner.
            The following are permitted uses of electronic devices during the school day (during passing time and lunch, or during class time only with the teacher’s permission): as educational tools, for age-appropriate games (never during class time), for music, and for necessary family communications.
            The following are not permitted during the school day: non-family communication (email, text, phone, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and any inappropriate, offensive, or harmful content. There are additional restrictions during field trips.
            Students are expected not to loan their device to others, not to share passwords, to sign off from their accounts and/or lock their device when it’s not in use, and to carry their device whenever possible. Any instance of cyberbullying (using electronic media to bully, intimidate, harass, threaten, or demean) will result in a loss of student privileges and disciplinary action.
No seventh- or eighth-grade students may use personal electronics at school without a signed contract! This contract (available from AAO staff) will be monitored by parents and students. Any violation must be reported to school staff. If a student knows of a violation and does not report it, he or she may also be in violation of the contract.

What about the use of electronic devices in the lower grades?
Decisions about the use of electronic devices in the lower grades are made on a class-by-class basis.

What about students’ use of computers in middle school?
Middle school students at AAO are also expected to sign a contract (available from AAO staff) regarding appropriate use of the school’s computers. The contract makes clear the circumstances under which a student may use a school computer and the consequences of any misuse.

What extracurricular activities are available to students at AAO?
There are many clubs for AAO students, most of which meet after school. Examples include a theater club, a scrapbooking club, and Girls on the Run. Details on how to participate in various groups are typically published in the Wednesday Packet as the year progresses.

Students may participate in sports and other activities with their classmates through Community Rec & Ed: http://www.aareced.com/reced.home/rec___ed_home.

Intramural sports for students in the middle school grades are organized by teacher Chad Downs: downsc@aaps.k12.mi.us. Team Panda sports include soccer, field hockey, cross-country, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and swimming. For more information, see http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/aaopen.athletics/athletics_information.

Where can I get more information about the school?
Both the AAO website (http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/home) and the AAOCC website (http://www.aaopencc.org/) are good sources of general information about the school. The school’s media center site (http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaopen.flynn/home) is an excellent resource that can guide families toward age-appropriate enrichment and research material. In addition, several classrooms have websites that provide both information about classroom activities and occasionally more general information (http://aaopen.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/class_sites).

Families can learn more about open education online and by attending the annual Open School Conference.

What is the Open School Conference?
The Open School Conference is a Friday-Saturday conference held each spring, often within an hour of Ann Arbor. Parents, teachers, and administrators, as well as other educators and community members interested in the open philosophy, can attend this retreat, either staying overnight or simply participating in the Saturday sessions. The conference allows all the various members of our community to spend time with each other, enjoying guest speakers, camaraderie, and informal conversation in a relaxed and engaging setting.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AT AAO

What role are parents expected to play at AAO?
One important principle of open education is that parents and guardians are active participants in their children’s education and are integral to the Ann Arbor Open environment. AAO thus asks that each family give at least ten hours of volunteer time to the school—during school hours, at an after-school activity, or at home.

The volunteering choices are many. Take a look at the AAOCC’s volunteer information page, which includes a link to the current comprehensive Volunteer Guide, for specific suggestions: http://www.aaopencc.org/Volunteer.html. In addition, you can ask your child’s teacher for suggestions on how you can help in the classroom. It’s a great way to get to know teachers, other parents and their children, and school staff!

What do “classroom parents” do?
It depends on the teacher, but classroom parents typically help organize classroom events and parties and coordinate families in thanking the teacher toward the end of the year.

What do “classroom liaisons” do?
Classroom liaisons attend AAOCC meetings on a regular basis, relaying parental concerns and questions if necessary and communicating with parents about what is discussed at the meetings.

Is there a PTO at AAO?
Yes! It’s the AAOCC! Ann Arbor Open’s parent-teacher-student organization (the Ann Arbor Open Coordinating Council) was founded with the intention of including students, parents, and teachers in the decision-making process and giving families a significant voice in the school’s operations.

The purpose of the AAOCC is to provide support for and further the educational goals of Ann Arbor Open School; to encourage cooperation and communication among all people connected with the school—students, parents, staff, administrators, and the community; and to assure shared decision-making on the formation and implementation of program policy.

The AAOCC holds community meetings (“round tables”) on a monthly basis, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. These meetings, which take place in the auditorium, are open to all staff, parents, and students. Usually the meetings begin with a Q&A with the principal, allowing those present to address any questions and concerns, and then move on to a topic of general interest. All present can vote on items raised at the meetings, and participation is never required for attendance. (It’s fine to just come and listen!)

The AAOCC is also a key fundraising organization for the school, raising over $90,000 to support Ann Arbor Open programs. The major sources of our funds are field trip contributions, scrip, all-school fundraisers, and classroom fundraisers. Few if any other Ann Arbor public schools have as much money raised by their supporting community.

See the AAOCC website for more information about the organization and the school in general: http://www.aaopencc.org/.

What happens to all that AAOCC money?
The biggest use of AAOCC funds is field trips. We also spend money on classroom materials, library books, Focus Study supplies, hospitality events (e.g., eighth-grade graduation, the Open House, greeting new parents, etc.), art and music programs, the Science Fair and Science Olympiad, the Open School Conference, teacher continuing education, parent education programs, and intramural sports. A small amount is used for AAOCC administrative costs (insurance, supplies, etc.).

Are there any procedures to assist families with temporary financial problems?
The AAOCC budget includes a sum of money that can assist AAOCC families in temporary economic crisis—for example, an overdue utility bill and utilities about to be cut off. These funds are available through the school social worker. A family in crisis can approach the social worker directly or initially apply through the principal or school secretary. The social worker will review the family’s situation and consider what potential sources are the best to use for the family’s situation. If it is determined that the AAOCC funds are an appropriate source, application can be made by the social worker to the AAOCC treasurer. The treasurer will review the request according to procedures in the Finance Guidelines. If funds are approved, often a check is issued directly to a third party, such as a utility company.

What do I do if I have a great idea for something new the AAOCC could spend money on?
The school budget process starts each year in the spring, when a call is put out for school needs: that’s the best time to let us know your idea. There are a few steps in the process of reviewing ideas, and ultimately a preliminary budget is approved toward the end of the school year. The final budget is approved in September, after the books have been closed on the prior school year.

If your idea can’t wait until next year, there’s some discretionary funding in the budget every year. Contact the treasurer.

How can I help support the AAOCC financially?
There are lots of ways you can help:

  • First, if you can, make a field trip contribution.
  • If you can, give more than the requested amount for field trips. Many families do so. About 15 percent of the money we receive for the Field Trip Scholarship Fund is from families giving more than the suggested amount. These extra contributions support families that are not able to contribute.
  • Buy loads of scrip. It costs you nothing, and the school gets about 3–5 percent of every dollar you spend. All it takes is a little advance planning, so you have scrip in your wallet for the stores you go to regularly.
  • Join in the fun by attending school fundraisers—the Ice Cream Social, the Multicultural Fair, the Silent Auction, musical events, the Halloween Dance, etc.
  • Volunteer to help at fundraisers. Most require only a half-hour or so of your time, and you may be there anyway chaperoning your kids. It’s also pretty fun!
  • Join the Finance and Fundraising Committee. This group meets every month (as posted in the school calendar) to talk about the best ways to raise money and the highest priorities for spending it. We discuss fundraisers, plan the budget, consider requests for funds, etc.
  • If you are a seventh- or eighth-grade parent, make a contribution to the “big trip” fund.

Why do I need to make a field trip contribution? This is a public school, so why doesn’t the school system pay for field trips?
Open education places a high value on learning by doing, which is why we have long had a very extensive field trip program at AAO. The Ann Arbor public school system pays for a small percentage of school field trips. At many other schools, teachers organize classroom fundraisers, or parents are asked to pay for each field trip individually, and children might not be able to go if their parents do not pay. The AAOCC’s field trip fund pays for field trips for all the school’s students, whether or not their parents are able to contribute.

The school does get money in other ways, of course, but it’s not enough to cover field trip expenses. For example, the profit the school receives for scrip is 5 percent on average for all merchants, and 3 percent for most reloadable cards (such as supermarkets). To equal the $60–85 field trip contribution that is requested for each student (depending on grade), a family would have to use thousands of dollars’ worth of scrip each year for each child. Some families do this, but not many.

The profit made from fundraisers like the Ice Cream Social is larger, but there are expenses in running these events, along with many volunteer hours. For the Ice Cream Social, for example, the net profit to the school is less than 50 percent, after expenses are covered.

Thus, while other kinds of fundraising help with field trips, a dedicated fund ensures the participation of all the students—a key value of open education.

Tell me more about “scrip”!
The scrip program allows families and community members to contribute money to the school without taking it out of family finances. Individuals purchase scrip gift cards at a “shop” that is set up outside the office (usually on Fridays, after school); the school then receives a percentage of the amount spent from the given retail company.

For example, if you buy a $25 scrip card for a restaurant or store, we buy that card from the merchant for probably $23 or $24. You get a $25 card for $25; the AAOCC gets to keep the $1–2 profit. On some cards we make more than that, but the average is about 5 percent.

Scrip is a major fundraiser for the school, and it’s a very low-impact way for families to help out. Participating retailers include national companies like Land’s End and iTunes and local companies like Nicola’s and Arbor Farms.

Families can choose which classrooms, programs, and projects the money they raise will benefit. Many direct a portion to their child’s or children’s classroom(s) and some to the AAOCC General Fund. Families can also direct their contributions to funds including music, art, outdoor space, etc. If you need to change your scrip allocation, just let the scrip coordinator know.

For more information, see http://www.aaopencc.org/Scrip.html.

I would like to volunteer to help with a fundraiser. How do I do that?
You can contact the chair of that fundraiser directly, or you can fill out a volunteer form, either in hard copy or online, to indicate what types of volunteering you would like to do. The volunteer coordinator will take it from there.

If you’re not sure exactly what activity to volunteer for, you can state on the form the type of volunteering you enjoy—such as fundraising, helping at an event, contacting people by email, etc. When someone has a need that matches your interest, you will be contacted.

Go here for more information, including a link to the online Volunteer Form: http://www.aaopencc.org/Volunteer.html.

What if I have a great idea for a new fundraiser?
Contact the fundraising coordinator or the treasurer! He or she will probably ask you a few questions and help you work out some details. If your idea seems promising, you may be invited to discuss it at the next meeting of the Finance and Fundraising Committee.

I want to help decide how the AAOCC’s money is spent! What do I do?
Join the Finance and Fundraising Committee! Meetings are open to anyone, and meeting times are posted in the school calendar. You can also contact the treasurer.

If it’s hard for you to make it to the committee’s scheduled meetings, let the treasurer know! There are lots of ways to help.

MORE QUESTIONS?
Who should I ask questions that aren’t answered here?
We realize that this isn’t a comprehensive document; think of it as a work in progress! If you have a question that isn’t answered here, the following folks are great sources of information:

(C S-G, last modified 10/10/11)