PTA

Fundraising allows the PTA to provide grants that provide important supplies/resources for the school, bolster the LHCS community, and enrich student experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.

Most of the funds raised by the PTA come from three fundraising activities:

1. Dragon Dash fall fundraiser (September/October) - our primary focus for fundraising
2. Read-A-Thon (February)
3. Dragon Fest carnival (April)

We accept donations all year round and invite anyone to give directly to the LHCS PTA: donate here!

Grants funded by the PTA vary from year to year. LHCS community members are invited to attend PTA meetings and add their voice to grant approval discussions. Areas of funding that are generally consistent across school years are educational resources such as books, magazines, or online tools; field trips; teacher appreciation events/activities; and stipends for classroom and office supplies.

Please send questions to fundraising@lhcs-pta.info.

Thank you for considering employer matching!

The Lake Harriet Community School PTA is a 501(c)(3) organization, officially named "PTA Minnesota Congress" with EIN 41-1399811

When you request employer matching, please email treasurerlh@gmail.com so we can make sure it is received.

Giving directly to the LCHS PTA is the most impactful way you can support student enrichment inside and outside the classroom.  Most PTA fundraising events have to cover expenses before the funds can be allocated as grants, but direct giving minimizes or eliminates those expenses.

There are three ways to give directly to the LHCS PTA:

• Make a pledge at GiveBacks
• Mail a check to LHCS PTA, 4912 Vincent Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55410
• Drop off a check (to LHCS PTA) in the PTA mailbox at either campus

Volunteering your time and talents is another impactful way you can help the PTA support your students!

Send questions to fundraising@lhcs-pta.info

Welcome to the 2024 Lake Harriet Community School Read-a-thon! Students will keep track of all the minutes they read - or minutes read to them - outside of school time. There are prizes for all students who participate, as well as a fun reward for the class in each grade with the most minutes read. Our annual Read-a-Thon has two goals: inspire kids to read and raise money to support student experiences.

Fundraising for LHCS

From Media Center support to classroom enrichment funds, your gifts make vibrant student experiences possible. Every gift – regardless of size – makes an impact. Thank you for your generosity! You can donate here to help us reach our goal of $20,000. Please share the link with family and friends who want to support your student!

Your donations help pay for:

• Our great media centers and media center specialists
• Critical classroom supplies
• Enrichment activities for all students

Enter your minutes

From February 1 through February 29, students will keep track of ALL the minutes they read - or minutes read to them - outside of school time. Teachers sent home a paper calendar on January 31. Please make notes of your minutes read on that, and then you can submit your weekly tallies at the links below. The top three winners for each grade may be asked to submit their paper calendars, so please do not discard them.

Parents will need to take an active role in helping their student(s) keep track of the minutes. All minutes read by students (or minutes the students were read to) should be written on the calendar. ALL minutes read must be submitted online by parents by midnight on Friday, March 3rd using the links below. Minutes read in class do not count towards Read-a-Thon goals (unless a teacher holds a "Read-In" event and shares it with the Read-a-Thon coordinator).

This year’s event includes an optional mid-way submission of minutes read. We hope this encourages friendly competition between classrooms. At the end of the month, the class with the most minutes read per grade level will earn a donut party. The links of where to enter your totals are below.

Optional mid-way tally report due Feb 17:  

https://bit.ly/4aRwQMg

Read-a-Thon monthly total:

(this is the one that counts for prizes and should include total minutes for the entire month):

https://bit.ly/3SdpWd1

Prizes

• Students earn a raffle entry when they participate and submit minute totals (regardless of minutes read) via the Read-a-Thon Google Form (linked to above)
• Students earn an additional raffle entry when they complete a bingo on their card (which parents keep track of and enter with the final minute tally)
• Students earn five additional raffle entries when they earn a bingo blackout (which is also entered by the parents with the final tally)
• The raffle prizes are $25 gift cards to Wild Rumpus
• The class in each grade with the most minutes read will win a popsicle party
• The student in each grade with the highest number of minutes read will win a brand new bike and helmet!

The bikes and helmets are donated by the Minnesota Masonic Charities/Lake Harriet Lodge Bikes For Books Program. We are so very grateful for their support.

DragonFest 2024 Carnival & Silent Auction

Hosted in the spring, watch for more info then. 

Funds raised by the PTA are used to support a variety of classroom enrichment activities, field trips, community events, teacher appreciation and more.  We encourage teachers, school staff, and community members who have ideas for projects or resources that would benefit the school community to submit a PTA grant application!

GRANT APPLICATION & GUIDELINES

• All grant applications must be submitted electronically using this Google Form

• Grant requests must be used to support programs or events that enhance the students' education and encourage community building

• Applications can be completed by LHCS staff, a parent/guardian, or community member

  • All requests must have the support of at least one LHCS staff person unless the project lead is a staff person

• Minimum request: $100.00

• All grants will be screened by LHCS administration and voted on by the PTA

• Receipts for expenditures are required and must be submitted by the end of the first week of June to receive reimbursement

GRANT TIMELINE

Below is an approximate timeline for the grant application and approval process (subject to change):

• Grant application deadline is April 17th, 2026

• A recommended slate of grant applications will be announced and discussed at the May 6th PTA meeting

• All PTA members will vote on grant approvals at the May 28th PTA meeting

QUESTIONS

If questions remain after reviewing all above documentation, please contact:

PTA President: lhcspta@gmail.com

PTA Treasurer: treasurerlh@gmail.com

Thank you for supporting the school! To receive reimbursement for your purchases made on behalf of LHCS/PTA, please:

1. Complete this online form
   AND
2. Send receipts/invoices associated with the request to the PTA Treasurer at treasurerlh@gmail.com (strongly preferred) or drop them off in the PTA Treasurer's mailbox at Lower or Upper Campus.

Important: forms and receipts must be submitted by the end of the first week of June to receive reimbursement.