Home & School > FAQs

For more information about a Lower Salford Home & School, please e-mail LSHomeSchool@soudertonsd.org.

Below are frequently asked questions with accompanying answers.

1. Who belongs to the Home & School Association? (often referred to as Home & School)
   All parents or guardians of children attending Lower Salford Elementary School and all teachers/ staff members of Lower Salford Elementary School

2. What is the purpose of Home & School Association?
   The Home & School Association's objectives are:

   1. to promote the welfare of the children in the home, school, and community;
   2. to improve the quality of the elementary school experience for the children;
   3. to inform the parents of educational methods and standards and to support the educational programs in the school;
   4. to promote cooperation and fellowship among parents and staff in order to develop such united efforts as will secure for every child the highest advantages in academic, emotional, and social education.

3. When does the Home & School meet?
   Home & School generally meets every second Monday of the month at 7:00p.m. The meetings are held at school. A full list of dates is available at the Meetings link.

4. What activities does the Home & School organize and/or fund? (Note: Some activities are self-funded)
   The Home & School currently organizes and/or funds the following activities/events:

   • Field Trips: H&S subsidizes the field trips to lower the cost to each child. This year, H&S hopes to increase the amount of the subsidy from $8/child to $12/child. That means the field trips should cost each family less this year.
   • Assemblies: H&S pay for 3-4 assemblies per year.
   • Assignment Books for Grades 3, 4, & 5: We purchase the assignment books used by the 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students.
   • Emergency Caller: Volunteers make phone calls to parents whenever there is an emergency school closing, such as due to snow. That way no chilled goes home to an empty house. s
   • Homeroom Parents: Volunteers plan socials in the classrooms 3 times a year.
   • LipSync: Any student may participate in an on-stage "lip sync" performance of their favorite songs. H&S funds this activity.
   • Back to School Bash: Back to School Bash - All Lower Salford families are invited to the playground to celebrate the new school year. Food is served and music is played. It is a great chance to come out and meet other families; teachers, and staff of Lower Salford. This is a self-funded activity. H&S charges each family $10.00.
   • Prime time: Prime Time Night - This is a reading-centered night out at school. We hope to instill in the children a love of reading. H&S funds this event.
   • Spring Carnival
   • Spirit Wear Sale: This is a fundraising event.
   • Yearbook: H&S hopes to make this a self-funded program for this year.
   • Hospitality: H&S provides a teacher luncheon during the last week of August as the teachers prepare their classrooms for the arrival of the children. We also provide dinner to the teacher's one evening in November during the week of parent/ teacher conferences since the teachers do not get too go home for dinner. At the beginning of the school year, we give each teacher money to help them get ready for school as we know they spend a great deal of their own money doing that. This year, H&S gave $50.00 to the fill time teacher and $25.00 to the part-time teachers.
   • Contact: 4-5 times a year H&S publishes a newsletter reporting on school activities.

5. How much money does the Home & School spend per student annually?
   The Home & School currently spends $50 per student annually to fund the activities/events and pay for other expenses.

6. Where do the Home and School funds come from?
   The Home & School runs the following fundraisers to raise money:

   • Lump sum donation request
   • Coin Drive: Every February Lower Salford classrooms collect coins for a worthy cause. Last year we actually used the money to purchase a basketball backboard for our own playground that needed replacement. Classrooms compete for top billing and a pizza party.
   • Craft/Vendor Fair
   • Market Day: H&S sells catalog food products, which are distributed one Wednesday each month.
   • Box Tops for Education
   • Kohl's/ Henning's cards
   • Card Art
   • Spirit Wear Sales

7. Why do we need additional funds even though I already pay school taxes?
   Home & School sponsors activities and funds programs, which supplement those provided by the School District. These activities enrich the experience of all the students at Lower Salford. The Home & School currently spends $50 per student for all the activities it organizes/funds for each school year.

8. I don't like the current sales-based fundraisers. Can I make a, tax deductible, cash donation to Home & School?
   Yes, you can make a cash donation to the Home & School for any amount. This year we are suggesting a $45.00 donation per student.