The Junior Class’s Valentine Gram fundraiser has become an SMCA tradition. Juniors are always eager to raise money at Family Fun Night, during Drama programs, and around Valentine’s Day to raise funds for the banquet they host to honor the seniors in April and for their senior class trip. Typically Valentine Grams have included roses and Hershey’s Kisses; two years ago excitement was in the air when the class tried Chick-fil-A cookies with flowers, and this year so many kudos from teachers were received when the class opted for beautiful chocolate covered pretzels with Hershey’s Kisses. The move away from flowers, which require extra care to keep them fresh, made this year’s assembly so much easier–especially when snow shut school down on the days when juniors were planning to assemble!

Speaking of assembly, the key to a smooth–and fun(!)–assembly is collecting orders regularly from homeroom teachers without interrupting their instruction (achieved by using a distinguished large envelope), proofing the card slips so that there’s no question of which Savannah is to receive the Valentine Gram during assembly when most people have left campus, and sorting them into delivery tins. While SMCA aims to only collect payment electronically, we’ve stuck with cash for Grams so that students can easily order. It’s delightful to see a young child’s writing on a card slip or a colorful slip with stickers! Students give to teachers, students give to friends, students give to parents–and even other relatives (Juniors deliver to the student to take home and deliver)–, parents give to kids, Mrs. Thompson & Mrs. Crawford give to all of their secondary teachers, Mrs. Gaines gives to all employees, and even some kids give to themselves! One of the most touching gifts was from one parent who gave $16 with direction “to bless some students who you see fit–primarily secondary students.”

-Jennifer George, Events Coordinator

(This video was created by our media club and used as a fun way to advertise the fundraiser.)