A key responsibility of the Blessed Sacrament Parent Council (CSPC) is to coordinate school fundraising initiatives and ensure that each fundraising dollar is invested prudently, for the benefit of all students at Blessed Sacrament. Many important activities and resources the students are able to enjoy are not covered by the School Board and must be paid for through parent-raised dollars. These include curriculum resources such as JUMP Math workbooks, technology in the classroom such as laptops, iPads and smartboards, programs such as Scientists in the School, athletic equipment and uniforms, facilities such as filtered water stations, outdoor recreational structures, and a variety of extracurricular activities. We are very fortunate to have a generous parent community that supports these important fundraising efforts.

The CSPC budget is divided into three main categories:

• Annual Operating Expenses – ongoing expenses CSPC funds each year

• Additional Investments Over Operating Expenses – onetime expense over and above annual operating expenses

• Commitments and Reserves – funds reserved for large, multi-year capital projects (such as new playgrounds) and the annual “rainy” day fund

In ongoing consultation with the parent community and in close alignment with the school Principal, every year CSPC establishes an annual operating budget to fund ongoing expenses, as well as additional investments over and above the ongoing expenses.

As part of planning our fundraising and investment priorities, CSPC sends out a parent survey every few years to gauge feedback on budget priorities and areas for future investments. We received valuable feedback from the survey we sent out in April 2022 and have implemented a number of changes based on parent feedback.

The survey revealed that:

• The vast majority of parents support broad-based programs and initiatives that benefit all students at the school

• Most parents strongly support investments in technology, STEM programs, literacy and reading programs, JUMP Math workbooks, and mental health initiatives

• Parents support the replacement of the aging upper playground for grades 1-2

Based on the parent survey results and the Principal’s annual wish list, CSPC’s current investment priorities are:

• Technology in the classroom

• Curriculum resources such as JUMP Math workbooks and the Raz Kids Reading program

• Scientists in the School/U of T STEM program

• Mental health and well being initiatives

To recap the key fundraising initiatives CSPC has coordinated with the parent community to improve the school’s outdoor recreational facilities, we have a new turf (2015), a new play structure for Grades 3-8 (2018), and the kindergarten playground (2014).  Our next priority is the playground for Grades 1 and 2.  This playground was built 19 years ago and is well beyond the 10-15 year average lifespan of school play structures.  It has been repaired numerous times, and requires ongoing maintenance and repairs.  The Board inspects all playgrounds annually and has approved all our playgrounds.  If the Board does deem a play structure unsafe, it will cordon off the structure and will not pay to replace it.  Our goal is to initiate a special fundraising initiative to support the building of a new playground.  Although we haven’t yet determined the exact timeline, we would like to be proactive and ensure a new playground is built before the existing one is deemed unsafe.