Kindergarten booster takes untraditional path toward landing scholarship money

Westwood Elementary School special eduation teacher Fran Watt isn’t planning a traditional Tupperware party to raise money for scholarships for the Enumclaw School District full-day kindergarten program.

Instead, Watt, who has been a Tupperware consultant for 36 years, has a special catalog she’s sharing with co-workers and their friends, family and anyone who is interested in ordering and giving 40 percent of all the sales to the kindergarten scholarship fund.

The Enumclaw School District started a free full-day kindergarten program for all students sixth years ago. The state funds half-day programs only, so the district used its voter-approved, state Initiative 728 money to fund the difference. That money, approximately $500,000, is on the chopping block so the district is restoring its half-day classes and creating a fee-based full-day option starting in 2009-10 school year.

Several fundraising efforts are under way, including Watts, to raise money to help those who cannot afford the $250 a month, $2,500 for the 10-month school year, but are in most-need of attending a full-day kindergarten.

Watt is offering a chance for people to look at a specific Tupperware catalog that is used to collect orders from friends and family, for the purpose to raise funds. Some people would call this a “book party.” She will be running the current fundraiser through April 30. She is also paying all shipping charges. All orders and their payments must be recevied by May 1.

Catalogs and more details will be given to anyone who contacts me at her e-mail: franwatt@my2.tupperware.com.

Watt, who has been with the Enumclaw School District for 11 years, most recently at Westwood, said using the Tupperware fundraiser program is a way that she can support the future kids of an all-day kindergarten program.

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