💙💛 How Your PTCO Dollars Support West Middle School 🐾
Dear West Middle School Families,
Have you ever wondered where your PTCO dollars go—or what the difference is between the Wildcat Community Fund and the Wildcat Challenge?
We want to make it easy to understand how West PTCO is funded and how your support directly benefits our students, teachers, and entire school community. 💙💛
💰 How Is West PTCO Funded? 💰
West PTCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and eligible donations are tax-deductible. Our Tax ID (EIN) is 84-1246263.
Our funding comes from several sources throughout the school year:
- 💙 Wildcat Community Fund — Donations made during school check-in
- 📚 School Supply Sales — A percentage of each school supply kit goes back to us
- 🐾 Wildcat Challenge — Our primary annual fundraiser, held in October
- 💛 Family Giving Campaign — An additional one-week giving opportunity held as needed in the spring
Together, these fundraising efforts allow PTCO to provide programs, resources, and experiences that benefit EVERY WEST STUDENT.
🐾 What Does West PTCO Fund?🐾
Your support makes a difference throughout our school—from the classroom to the library, from student activities to teacher appreciation.
🌟 Character Development
PTCO helps fund an annual experience or program for each grade level designed to support students' growth beyond the classroom.
- 6th Grade: Mix It Up lunches, guest speakers
- 7th Grade: Junior Achievement financial literacy programming
- 8th Grade: Fort Logan visit and the 8th grade service project
📖 Library Media Assistant
PTCO funds a Library Media Assistant position that is not funded by the school district but is essential to student success. This position supports literacy, research instruction, and innovative library programs that equip students with the critical thinking, research, and information-literacy skills they need to succeed.
📚 Student Programming & Enrichment
PTCO supports a wide variety of programs and resources that enhance the student experience, including:
- 🤝 Support through the counseling office for families who may need a little extra help
- 📖 Funding for the library media assistant position and new books
- 💃 School Dance
- 🐾 Student Council
- 🏆 Honor Roll recognition
- 🧠 Wildcat Wellness
- 💻 Technology licenses
- 📓 6th Grade planners
- 🔤 Spelling Bee
- ➗ Math competitions
- 💛 Kindness Awards
- 🎓 National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
- 🏅 Recognition Night
- ...and more!
💡 PTCO Grants
Teachers and staff can apply for PTCO grants to support off-campus activities, science projects, assemblies, supplemental supplies and equipment, and other educational opportunities across all grade levels and subject areas.
Past grants have helped provide:
- 🎨 Specialized art supplies
- 🧮 Class sets of calculators
- 🪑 Flexible seating
- 🏀 Games and balls for free time after lunch
- ❤️ Heart rate monitors for PE classes
- 🔧 Soldering kits
- 🚌 Additional field trips
- 📚 New novels for Language Arts classes
- 🎵 Sheet music for band and orchestra
- ...and more!
These grants give teachers the flexibility to bring new ideas and additional resources into their classrooms, that otherwise would be impossible due to lack of funds.
☕ Teacher Appreciation & Hospitality
We love supporting the educators and staff who make West such a special place!
PTCO provides:
- ☕ Coffee carts
- 🍽️ Meals during conferences
- 🇺🇸 Lunch for visiting guests on Veterans Day
- 🍪 Holiday treats
- 💙 Supplies and activities for Teacher Appreciation Week
🧾 Dues & Subscriptions
A portion of PTCO funds supports the basic operations that allow us to serve our school community, including:
- Parent Council and PIN dues
- 💻 PTCO website
- 📊 Accounting fees
- 🖨️ Printing
- 🙌 Volunteer appreciation
- 🛡️ PTCO insurance
❓ Frequently Asked Questions❓
🐾 Does the Wildcat Community Fund count toward the Wildcat Challenge?
No. The Wildcat Community Fund and Wildcat Challenge are separate fundraising efforts and serve different purposes.
💙 What is the Wildcat Community Fund?
The Wildcat Community Fund is a contribution made directly by West families during school check-in at the beginning of the school year.
One of its primary purposes is helping PTCO fund technology licenses, allowing students to have access to important digital resources from the very beginning of the school year.
🐾 What is the Wildcat Challenge?
The Wildcat Challenge, held in October, is our primary annual fundraiser.
It is designed as a community-wide effort where students connect with friends, extended family, neighbors, businesses, and others to raise money for West.
The funds raised help PTCO provide the programs, grants, resources, and experiences that aren't fully covered through traditional school funding.
💛 What is the Family Giving Campaign?
The Family Giving Campaign is a one-week opportunity held as needed for families who are able and willing to provide additional support to West.
There may be small drawings or prizes for families who participate, regardless of donation amount.
🙌 How Can I Get Involved? 🙌
There are lots of ways to be part of the West Wildcat community! 🐾💙💛
🤝 Volunteer
- The PTCO Board welcomes volunteers for committees, events, and activities throughout the school year.
- Visit westptco.com/volunteer to learn about current volunteer opportunities.
📧 Stay Connected
- Make sure your Membership Toolkit account is up to date so you receive important PTCO emails and announcements.
📱 Follow Us
- Stay up to date with everything happening at West:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/westptco/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/westptco/
💙💛 Thank You, Wildcats! 🐾
Every donation, volunteer hour, and act of support helps make West Middle School a stronger community.
Thank you for supporting West Middle School and helping PTCO provide opportunities, resources, and experiences that benefit all of our students!
Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat! 🐾💙💛🤍
