August 22 - September 1 
The Genevieve Shop4Schools event returns!  10% of each Genevieve sale will be donated to the local school of a customer's choosing from 8/22 to 9/1.  Be sure to mention Waters at checkout!  Genevieve will also match the donation to the school that raises the most, with another 10% of total proceeds raised for that school. Let's raise some money for Waters!

Monday, August 5 - Friday, August 30
Waters Elementary Office
It's time for school supplies! Lists came out at the end of July, and many of us have been out shopping already. With no bulk supply program to help us collect for Waters families in need this year, the Circle of Help put together a list of supply kits needed by grade. Please sign up on this Google doc, purchase, box up and label your supply kit with the relevant grade, and bring to the Waters office on Teacher Meet & Greet Day on Friday, August 30, 8:15-8:45 a.m. Thank you for your help – you will ease a lot of back-to-school stress for families in need. Any questions? Contact Karen Nevotti.

WatersToday would like to thank all of the 2018-2019 business sponsors for your generous support throughout the year! Your sponsorships, giveback programs and events have helped fund ecology, fine arts, science and technology programs, extracurricular opportunities, and much, much more for the students at Waters Elementary. Thank you for helping Waters grow!

Silver Sponsors
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Big Fork Brands  |  Brezicrew Partners Inc.  |  City Kids Dental  |  Gideon Welles
Jewell Animal Hospital  |  Lou Malnati's  |  Matt Tierney, Guaranteed Rate 
Scott Ray Designs  |  Yellow Spoke

Bronze Sponsors

Bistro Campagne  |  Bloom Yoga Studio  |  ​Borelli's 
John Byrne and Mike McCallum, Baird & Warner  |  Chicago Athletic Clubs  |  Galter Life Center  |  Half Acre  |  Kendra Scott  |  Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro
Roots Pizza ​|  Swedish Covenant Hospital  |  Timeless Toys

Additional Business Support
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Angeline’s Attic  |  Carbon Arc Bar  |  Chicago Primal Gym  |  ​Gather  |  Leah Rieger Photography
Merz Apothecary  |  ​Orangetheory Fitness  |  Sacred Art  | ​ Yümmallo

​Thanks to the outstanding efforts and generous contributions of Waters families, friends, community members, local businesses and volunteers, WatersToday raised more than $242,000 this school year to support programs in the 2019-2020 school year!

Fundraising Highlights

• The Waters Pledge Drive exceeded its $85,000 goal and raised more than $100,000 from a record-breaking 200 donors! To celebrate, Ms. Kipp and teachers participated in a water dump on a chilly November day.
• The Waters Craft Market raised more than $4,000 and showcased a number of talented local artists and makers.
• Waters' Big Night brought together 250 community members and raised nearly $80,000.
• The Wildcat Walk-a-thon encouraged our kids to get moving and raised more than $20,000 from more than 400 donors! 
• Local businesses contributed nearly $25,000 through WatersToday business sponsorships, Waters Dines Out and Pledge Drive giveback events. Thank you!

Where Your Donations Go
The Waters Local School Council (LSC), which is an elected body, determines the allocation of funds raised by WatersToday. Here are just a few of the items your donation helps fund:

• Waters' unique ecology program
• Support for our fine arts programs
• Half of a fine arts teacher position 
• Coach stipends and sports equipment
• After-school club stipends for teachers
• Technology equipment
• MakerSpace supplies
• Lunch and recess supervision

Learn more about WatersToday's fundraising activities.

Questions? Want to get involved? Contact us.

​WatersToday would like to thank Sara Byerly, Rick Bolliger, Vanessa Summer and Jessica Kaune for their contributions and dedication over the past few years on the WatersToday board. Under their leadership, we have had an amazing year of fundraising and community building!

We also welcome our new board members who will be serving a two-year term beginning July 1, 2019:

• Kortney Moore, vice president
• Sam Kaune, co-treasurer
• Maripa Davison, co-volunteer chair 
• Jaime Murphy, co-fundraising chair

As parents and community members, we are all part of WatersToday. Thank you to everyone who attended an event, volunteered time in any way, led a fundraising initiative, served as a business sponsor or donated to WatersToday.  

Our success is because of YOU! We wish you a safe and happy summer.

There are still tickets available to a few parent/student parties this summer. From Bad Moms to Yoga in the Park, there is something for everyone. ​Check out the descriptions and buy your ticket now!

Come meet other kindergarten families and start connecting to the Waters community.

Wednesday, July 17 – 5 to 6 p.m.
Join us for Garden Night to volunteer in the community gardens and learn about Waters’ one of a kind ecology program.

Sunday, August 25 – 3 to 4 p.m.
Join us for a playdate at Ravenswood Manor Park (4604 N Manor). Feel free to bring along balls, bubbles or other outdoor fun!

WatersToday will provide juice and a small snack for each event. Please reach out to Jesse Brannan if you have any questions. 

Saturday, June 15 – 7 p.m.
Rodam Club 
4923 N. Damen Ave. 
Waters' dads, there are still tickets available to your favorite party! Enjoy a night of poker, darts, cornhole, and plenty of other fun activities at the incomparable Rodam Club.
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There will be a no-limit hold 'em tournament with some fantastic prizes, so sign up now!

Saturday, June 8 – 5:45 p.m.
Murphy's Bleachers Rooftop
3655 N Sheffield Ave
Tickets are still available to the Cubs vs. Cardinals rooftop party at Murphy's Bleachers this weekend. Come hang out with Waters parents and enjoy the game! Tickets are $75/person with food and drinks included. 

Also, be sure to check out the other available parent parties for more summer fun!

Wednesday, June 5 – 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Online Pledge Form Closes June 5
Way to go Wildcats! We are very, very close to reaching the $20,000 walk-a-thon goal. How about $5,000 more? The online donation form will remain open through the walk-a-thon on June 5, so reach out to those family members, friends and neighbors, near and far, and let them know there's still time to make a pledge.

Wildcats: If we reach $25,000, WatersToday will throw one big end-of-year party! Stay tuned for details.

Thank you to all the students who submitted pledges by May 29 – you are eligible for some great prizes! 

And don't forget, we are still looking for walk-a-thon volunteers!

Wednesday, June 5 – 8:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The Wildcat Walk-a-thon is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle, to empower students to be active members of our community, and to raise money for our school. Proceeds help support and fund the Waters sports/academic teams, coach stipends, team uniforms, equipment for the school-wide physical education program, and much more.

Fundraising Goal: 
We hope to raise $20,000 through the walk-a-thon this year, and we'll meet our goal if each student raises at least $70!

How You Can Help:

• Encourage your child to identify 10 family/friends and ask each person for $5 to $10.
• Encourage donors to pledge online! You can promote online pledging by helping your child create a video to text/email to friends/family.
• Promote via social media.
• Volunteer during the walk-a-thon on June 5.

Prizes: 

• Every student that raises ANY amount of money will receive a Waters Wildcat bandana. 
• Those students who raise at least $70 will receive a Waters Wildcat stadium blanket. 
• The classroom who raises the most money will receive an EXTRA HOUR of recess and classroom fitness clinic with Mr. Kurz. 
• Check the walk-a-thon page to see more! 

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NOTE: Your child received a pledge sheet that includes details, including pledge rewards, timeline to raise pledges (all pledges are due 5/29; no cash please), and schedule so you can help cheer them on.

Thank you to Lincoln Square Athletic Club and Swedish Covenant Health for sponsoring the 2019 Wildcat Walk-a-Thon!