April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
OUTSIDE CLASS

Fundraisers and clubs float school's boat


By CASEY [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Faith, family, and academics may be some of the things St. Clement's teaches to its students, but they certainly have much more to offer. 

In order to keep the students active, the school offers a number of clubs. In order to keep those clubs and the school strong, families help run events and fundraisers that help bring in money. 

The best example is the annual St. Clement's Saratoga Horse Show. This year it will be the 50th time for the event, one of the largest all-volunteer horse shows in the country. 

At the rail
St. Clement's is located only blocks away from the historic Saratoga Racecourse.
The show, held in late April and early May, brings in hunters, jumpers and other horses. Riders compete in hurdles and other equestrian events.

The signature event of the show is the Dave Wood Cup, named after a parent who was killed at the track. The event itself brings in over $60,000 for the school.
St. Clement's also features a Race for Education, where students are trained in gym class and take part in a day-long marathon. This event generates approximately $25,000. But there's more.

The school's Alumni Associa-tion hosts an Equestrian Festival which includes live and silent auctions before the horse shows, and they also purchase gifts such as laptops and other things for the classrooms that kids put on a "wish list."

Early and late
The various events support numerous activities and programs at St. Clement's. The school offers an early childhood development program, an extended day program and speech lessons for children. The school has drama clubs, a jump rope club and even piano lessons after school. 

During Thanksgiving, the school comunity partakes in a dinner with the entire school and parish staff. 

"The children dress like Indians and pilgrims," said Jane Kromm, principal. "It's a great time. Parents literally take the day off to help cook for Thanksgiving."

There is even a Pajama Day, when students and teachers come to school dressed in their sleepwear and bring a blanket to donate to homeless shelters.

"The kids love it for obvious reasons but it's also for a really great cause," said the school secretary, Barbara Toth. 

And just when it seemed they thought of everything St. Clement's offers, Mrs. Toth was reminded of one more event from an incoming parent.

"The father-daughter dance," she exclaimed. "How could I forget that?"[[In-content Ad]]

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