5 Ways to Abuse the Principal- All for a Good Cause!
Posted by Jim Berigan on 20 Feb 2008 in: Fun Fundraisers
You might think that since I once served as a elementary school principal, I would be protective of my comrades in arms. You might assume that I would do nothing to put these fine men and women in harm’s way. And you might guess that I would only write about ways to glorify this esteemed position.
If you were thinking any of these things, you would be wrong.
Hah! Today I am going to lay out a five point plan to raise money for your school at the expense and peril of your school principal.
These fundraisers are not complicated. In fact, they fall just this side of a ransom note. Bring in the money or the principal gets it! Let’s see what we’ve got:
Shave Him.
Pick a cause. Set a financial goal. Give the incentive- if the school exceeds the goal, the principal will shave his head at a school assembly. Rake in the dough.
Dunk Him.
Pick a cause. Rent a dunk tank. Put the principal up on the dunk platform. Sell three throws for five dollars. Rake in the dough.
Jail Him.
Pick a cause. Set a financial goal for him to raise. Lock him in his office until he meets the goal. He can use the phone, email, or letters home to request “bail” from school families and community supporters. (Be kind, allow food, water, and bathroom breaks.) Rake in the dough.
Grade Him.
Pick a cause. Set a financial goal for each classroom. The winning classroom gets to have the principal spend a day as a “student” in that class. He has to do the same homework, tests, pop quizzes, and projects as everyone else. Of course, I’m sure the class would LOVE to gang up on him, maybe just a little.
Be Him.
Great as a school action item. “Principal for the Day” The winning bidder (usually the child of the winning adult) gets to “work” as the principal for one day. The new principal can change rules (four recesses), talk on the PA, get out of any homework, visit any classroom, greet parents at the beginning and end of the day, and get two desserts at lunch. Sounds like a typical day in the life of a principal!
3 Responses to “5 Ways to Abuse the Principal- All for a Good Cause!”
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Thanks for these great, fun ideas! I’m curious which of these you might have done yourself as a principal?
Those are really fun ideas! For our office’s annual United Way fundraiser, we did a President’s Chair raffle as well – the highest bidder got to sit in the President’s chair for a day, sort of like Principal for a Day, but a bit less responsibility (or privilege)!
James,
I enjoyed all of your articles on Ezine Articles.com . You are a talented writer. As a former assistant principal at the elementary level, I identified with just about everything you wrote.
Now, I speak to schools, families and students on College Scholarship Planning.
One objection I consistently hear is, “We don’t have any money for you to come.”
Thanks for your fundraising ideas. You’ve done a great job.
Dale