Family School Association
The Family School Association (FSA) is the equivalent of the PTA in the public schools. It consists of parents, teachers, and administrators. All school parents are automatically members of the FSA and are invited to become involved in the many projects and events it sponsors. These include opportunities for families and parents to socialize, such as the Grandparents luncheon and Open House during Catholic Schools Week.
The FSA provides special programs for the children, such as the Santa Workshop, money for field trips, underwriting a cultural enrichment program to bring cultural events into the school, and funding the after school athletic program. The FSA also provides volunteers to the many extra school events and raises funds for extra school supplies the budget does not cover, such as computer hardware and software, audiovisual and science equipment, and library and classroom needs.
The FSA meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are usually held in Meeting Room 2 in the school building.
STV School Board
The St. Thomas of Villanova School Board is the policy making and advisory body of the school. The School Board members are elected for a three-year term and provide counsel and advice to the pastor and the principal in the operation of the school. The St. Thomas of Villanova School Board consists of nine elected members, as well as the Principal and the Pastor.
Board members serve on several subcommittees, including Finance, Technology, Marketing, Fundraising, Alumni Communication, Grants/Scholarships and Long-Range Planning.
St. Thomas of Villanova School Board meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are usually held in Meeting Room 2 in the school building. Parents are welcome to attend any school board meetings.
If you would like to add any items to the agenda for the next school board meeting, contact the school office at 847-358-2110.
Any interested parishioner can serve as a member of the School Board. Those interested in serving are invited to attend monthly meetings during the school year to observe how these meetings are conducted. Candidates need not have children attending St. Thomas of Villanova School, but they must be registered parishioners and have a working knowledge of the school’s activities, mission and structure.
School Board members serve for a three-year term and elections are held every Spring. For further information about the School Board, please contact the school office.
Major Fundraisers
Track-A-Thon
Track-A-Thon is one of St. Thomas of Villanova School’s largest fundraisers of the year. It brings together the efforts of students, parents and teachers as children walk or run laps in the school parking lot to raise money for the school through pledges. All children from St. Thomas of Villanova School participate in this fundraiser. The children enjoy contributing to this great event.
Track-A-Thon is an annual event held in the early Fall, usually in September, during regular school hours. After all money is collected a prize rally and pizza lunch is held in October. The Track-A-Thon money goes directly towards offsetting the school’s budget. It is a great opportunity to empower the students with the responsibility of making a significant contribution towards their own education.
Each child is sponsored by relatives and friends to pledge an amount per lap or by giving a total amount. Many employers and corporations match donations dollar for dollar. Parents are encouraged to check if their employer has this type of matching program. Contact the school office for more information on matching grants. All money a student raises goes toward the family’s fundraising requirement.
All are invited to help in this great fundraiser. Please contact the school office for more information.
Dollar Shopping Power
This shopping program, called “STV’s Dollar Shopping Power,” is a great opportunity for St. Thomas of Villanova School to raise money to finance any school need or to assist a family with tuition. All one needs to do is purchase store certificates and use them for anything that the store sells; such as groceries, prescriptions, gas, books, clothes, home improvements, store credit card payments, gifts, or dining out at restaurants.
Each week, familes of St. Thomas of Villanova School are given the opportunity to purchase gift certificates for a variety of food and specialty stores at their face value. In return, St. Thomas School receives 2% – 30% profit for each certificate sold. The certificates are as good as cash, and both the school and family benefit from the purchase.
For all parents with children attending St. Thomas of Villanova School, the order form for store certificates is included in the weekly family envelope. Fill out the order form for the certificates you wish to purchase, include your check made payable to St. Thomas of Villanova School, and return it back to school in the family envelope. The order will be filled and delivered back to you in the next family envelope or you can pick them up at the school office.
Other methods for purchasing these certificates can be done by ordering:
- Directly through the Parish Office between 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday.
- In the Gathering Area after all Masses on Saturdays and Sundays through representatives from the Family School Association.
- Send the form in the mail. Simply fill it out, and mail it to the school or parish office along with your check. For families with children currently enrolled at St. Thomas of Villanova School, your store certificates will be delivered to you through the weekly family envelope.
Orders are placed on Mondays and then made available in the school or Parish Office on Tuesday or Wednesday. If you do not have a child enrolled at St. Thomas of Villanova School, you can pick up your order from the Parish Office.
When school is not in session, store certificates are still available at the parish office or in the Gathering Area after all the Masses on Saturdays and Sundays.
Market Day
Market Day, the original fundraising food co-op program, serves as a primary fundraising source for over 5,000 schools within the United States. Market Day offers a wide selection of high-quality foods at a value, and a portion of every purchase goes back to St. Thomas of Villanova School. Market Day gives back 10% to our school when you order through the school or at the Market Day store in Wood Dale.
Ordering is easy and the food is high-quality, brand-names, absolutely delicious products your whole family will love! There are specials every month and items you can pick that earn extra money for St. Thomas of Villanova School. There are also lots of products that are designated low fat and all the products taste great.
Order forms are sent home once a month with your student. Orders can be placed by completing this form and returning it to St. Thomas of Villanova School by the date indicated on the form. Order forms are also available at the exit doors of our Church. Orders can also be placed online at marketday.com.
Orders are then shipped to St. Thomas of Villanova parish and available for pick-up on the first Thursday of each month at the gathering area of the new Parish Center.
Market Day has teamed with Sara Lee to offer quality Market Day products through the Sara Lee stores located in Palatine, Schaumburg, Downers Grove, and Bloomingdale. The Sara Lee Food Store on Rand Road here in Palatine carries a large selection of Market Day products. When you make your purchase at Sara Lee, please let the clerk know that you are supporting our school. The Sara Lee store will give us 5% for all Market Day products and another 5% on any of the Sara Lee products as well.
Lottery
The St. Thomas of Villanova School Lottery raises money to help with the school budget operating expenses. Each month of the year, winners are drawn to receive monetary prizes. It is a fundraiser organized through the Family School Association. Tickets are sold to the parish community and neighborhood businesses.
Lottery tickets are sold during the first part of February. Parishioners will be informed through the parish bulletin or other means of communication as to what weekend tickets will be available for purchase at all the exits after Mass. Tickets can also be purchased through any school family, any representative from the Family School Association or by contacting the school office.
Families with children enrolled at St. Thomas of Villanova School are expected to sell twenty tickets to benefit the Family School Association. Additional tickets can be sold to fulfill fundraising requirements.
