Flash Dash

Flash Dash is here – our 2024 Outer Space-Themed Fun Run and Fundraiser

Information should have come home in Friday Folders, but you can also find everything you need on this page. The event date for the outer space fun run is May 24, 2024, but the last day to donate is May 10, 2024 in order to give time to coordinate and organize the goal incentives that were met, so please consider getting your donations in early if you intend to donate!

GETTING STARTED

  1. CHECK OUT OUR FUNDRAISING SITE! Make a donation and / or create a customized personal page to direct donors to at http://tinyurl.com/flashdash2024
    • This year we are trying something a little different, so if you are not new this year to OPM, the fundraiser site may look different, but we assure you, it’s super simple!
    • We’re trying this new fundraising site, called Zeffy, because it has NO FEES! That means more money (all of it!) comes directly back to us.
    • Unlike previous years, registration is not required. You can give a donation or you can create a customized personal page to direct donors to.
  2. TELL family and friends you are participating in the Flash Dash event to raise money for your school.
  3. SPREAD the word to family, friends, or neighbors via text, email, and social media. On average, 50% of donations come from sharing on Facebook! You can create a personalized page on Zeffy, or you can share the general donation page.
  4. THREE WAYS TO DONATE – The last day to donate is May 10, 2024.
    • Checks made payable to OPM PTO
    • MSUFCU Member2Member to opmcentralpto@gmail.com
    • Credit Card (NO FEES!) via our Zeffy Fundraising Website –
      • You can use the general donation page.
      • You can create a personalized page on Zeffy off of the general donation page.

FLASH DASH HANDOUT

This handout went home in Friday folders. All information from the handout is on this webpage, but you can also click on the image to see the whole PDF:

WHAT IS FLASH DASH?

Flash Dash is a fun run – a friendly run around the school’s outdoor track to raise funds for our school. This year’s theme is outer space! With the solar eclipse falling on Monday, April 8th, we have decided it is the perfect time to kick off the fundraiser and give the students the opportunity to safely view the eclipse. On Monday, April 8th each child will receive a pair of eclipse viewing glasses in class and most of the teachers will take the students out to view the eclipse.

Flash Dash and Field Day will be during school on the same day. Field Day is a morning devoted to sport activities and games put on by the school. Flash Dash will be held in the afternoon.

Although Flash Dash is a single day event, April 5th is the kick-off of our school-wide fundraiser and will run until May 10th, with Flash Dash being the final event to celebrate our fundraiser.

All students participate in Flash Dash, and join in on other activities with their classmates!  We will gather at our track to cheer on students as each grade participates in the fun run together.

SETTING YOUR GOAL

We are focusing on everyone working together at OPM to meet our overall school fundraising goal.

We have several fun rewards planned as we reach various achievement milestones. So get a jump start on your goal!!!

If every student raised $80, we could nearly hit our goal! This is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about setting goals and breaking them into smaller goals first.  Will you ask 10 people to donate $8? Four to donate $20?  You have the option to set your goal! If you decide to create a personalized funding page, you can set a target goal for yourself!

Some information that may help when thinking about your individual goal:

  • It would be AMAZING to have every student register and raise ANY dollar amount towards our fundraising goal. No donation is too small and helps us get to the goal. In the past, students raised from $5 to $650 each.
  • There are about 360 students in our school. Historically, about 30% of students raised at least $100, 10% of students raised at least $250, and 5% of students raised $500.

WHERE DO THE FUNDS RAISED GO?

Average annual operating budget for the PTO is over $30,000. Majority of funds come from this annual fundraiser.

  • The largest portion of our budget, roughly $12,900, goes to classroom support each year. This budget includes stipends for every teacher so they have some flexible funds to purchase materials for their classrooms. A larger pool of money is used for additional classroom requests from furniture improvements for individual classrooms (motion/ wiggle stools, tiered seating, floor tables) to additional Montessori materials (place value whiteboards, fraction cutouts, language materials, stamp games, and more). Support is also provided for other items, like printing PTO updates in the Friday Folders, educational magazines for the classrooms, and special Montessori Conference fees for teachers to attend.
  • $8,000 is budgeted to support field trips each year. Field trips are expensive! This lowers the cost for families to $20 or less. Field trips have included local nature centers, Wharton Center, Potter Park Zoo, Michigan Historical Museum, Safeties Appreciation and more.
  • Over $5,000 of the PTO budget goes towards supporting school events, such as the Back to School Popsicle Party, Impression 5 night, and 4th Grade Graduation.
  • Over $2,000 each year is allocated to support our dedicated teachers, including staff appreciation week, staff spirit wear, recognizing a teacher through OEF (at the school district level), and end of the year recognitions.
  • In addition to all of these reoccurring annual costs, the PTO also takes on special projects if we raise enough money. In the past we spent $10,000 for new soccer goals and to put the track in and last year we purchased new basketball hoops on the playground.

THANK YOU!

OPM is in the top .05% of schools NATIONWIDE! There are so many factors that go into an achievement like this and FAMILIES are a big part of the equation. THANK YOU for supporting our school community in TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE. It takes ALL 3 to build the culture we have at our school.

HUGE Shout Out to the volunteers that poured their energy into making this program a reality: There is a lot of planning that goes into putting this important fundraiser together and we need to thank the parents who take time out of their schedules to make sure it all comes together! Please thank them and our school teachers and staff too!

We need more volunteers for the many fun incentive activities as well as with the Flash Dash Super Hero Fun Run. We could NOT hold events without our parent volunteers. You are making a difference! Please sign up to volunteer!

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS who support our school community. We could not put on this fundraiser and event without their support.

Platinum Sponsors:

  • Green Concepts Landscaping
    Based in Okemos Michigan, Green Concepts is your source for complete home landscape construction — from design to installation and finally maintenance.
  • Discover Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
    Discover Smiles has been in Okemos for many years, but they just moved to a new location off of Jolly Road, near Okemos Road. Their goal is to provide every child with a positive dental experience right from the start! Positive dental experience helps to establish trust and confidence that will last a lifetime in your child. Pediatric dentists and their staff have been specially trained to help young, apprehensive children feel good about seeing the dentist and taking care of their teeth. Friendly, compassionate professionals and bright, cheerful office surroundings are all there to help your child feel comfortable and at ease with visiting the dentist.
  • Launch Trampoline Park
    Endless indoor entertainment for kids and adults – the premier family entertainment park in Mid-Michigan. With over 30 K sq ft of attractions, including trampolines, dodgeball, ninja course, arcade, laser tag, an escape room, and the Krave Cafe. Located in the Meridian Mall.
  • City Limits Bowling Center and Sports Grill
    There’s never a dull moment at City Limits! Bowling, arcade, food, and entertainment.
  • Zaytoon – Lansing
    Zaytoon – Lansing at 940 Elmwood Rd, Lansing, MI 48917 does a modern take on authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine and is home of Lansing’s Best Shawarma. You can also see them on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Season 27, Episode 3 called, “A Passport of Flavor” where they show Guy Fieri how to make their chicken shawarma, Zaytoon garlic sauce, and lamb-stuffed grape leaves. Guy Fieri returned a second time to feature them as one of his favorites in his show Triple D Nation on Season 1, Episode 14 called “Poultry, Lamb and Jam” where they made chicken gallaya and fried kibbeh.

Community Partners:

  • Maisch Family Dental
    Maisch Family Dental provides high quality and friendly dental care to the Perry/Morrice and surrounding areas for the entire family, age 1 and up. We strive to maintain a positive atmosphere where patients are treated like family.
  • Moonsail North
    As a creative agency offering a full spectrum of marketing communications and branding services, the Moonsail North team believes that successful communication starts with a story.
  • Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy
    Team Rehab’s Lansing location has the mission to provide the best outpatient physical and occupational therapy. They want their patients to enjoy therapy and experience clear improvements in their health.

Community Supporters:

  • Christopher Nowak Photography
    Creative photographer exposing the beautiful, playful, humorous and spontaneous moments of real life, and love.
  • Woodworth Commercial
    Woodworth Commercial boasts the only professionals in the area that solely deal with commercial properties. With that kind of specialization, dedication, and networking, it’s no wonder more businesses and owners choose to work with Woodworth Commercial than anyone else. They have an office conveniently located in Okemos!
  • Graff Chevrolet – Okemos
    Graff Chevrolet is a car dealership in Okemos with a full selection of new Chevrolet vehicles and reliable pre-owned models. Their service department also offers quality auto maintenance and repairs.