WE CAN DO IT!

DAY OF READING HELP PAGE

What is Day of Reading?

Day of Reading 2025 launches on Tuesday, February 4 with a fun parade and rally, and culminates on Friday, February 14 when Oak Grove students celebrate a Day of Reading by coming to school in pajamas, along with a favorite stuffed toy and a treasured book or two. The day is spent exploring the magic of words and pictures.

Connecting with Extended Family & Friends

Day of Reading is an opportunity for our students to raise money to support their school. Students request that their aunts, uncles, grandparents, family friends, and neighbors sponsor them to read (or be read to) on the Day of Reading. Students explain what they are raising money for: classroom teaching tools with 20% of proceeds going to a local nonprofit. Support can be given online or directly with envelopes students take home.

What Does Fundraising Support?

Funding Teaching Tools

Teaching Tools is a fund that directly supports students and teachers by fulfilling special classroom requests for one-time asks. Examples of Teaching Tools include expanding classroom libraries, new cameras for Photography classes, playground equipment, classroom technology, and special field trips.

20% to a Local Nonprofit

Students also voted to give 20% of funds to Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio (OYES), a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging, inspiring, educating & entertaining children and families in the Ojai Valley through the experience of quality theatre, dance and music. Countless Oak Grove students have participated in OYES’s amazing after-school theater programs, and there has been an outpouring of support since October 2024 when OYES lost access to the beloved space it has occupied for over seven years, as described in a recent student article published in the latest edition of the OGS Inquirer.

How it Works

Fundraising officially begins on Tuesday, February 4, and continues until February 14. Students (and parenting-adults) get sponsors in two ways:

The sponsorship webpage: oakgroveschool.org/reading/
Click on a students grade level and fill out the form
Directly, with one-on-one requests (like we did with candy sales or walkathons when we were kids). Each student will be given a blue-colored sponsorship envelope after the Day of Reading Launch.

DONATE HERE: oakgroveschool.org/reading/

Day of Reading Email Appeal Suggestions

Have the text or email be from your student (in first person) if possible
Use humor to make it fun
Video your child speaking, singing, dancing their request
Include a photo or art (of the student’s) in the letter
Include the information (top of page) about Day of Reading
Remind donors they can use a credit card through our website
Remind donors to direct funds to the student’s name and grade
Include your student/child’s name in the subject line, so it catches the eye of the receiver

Example of 6th grade email appeal …

Subject: Max has a message for you.

Dear Grandma,

Please sponsor me to read at my school’s Day of Reading on February 14th. We are raising funds to purchase new teaching tools and supplies. We also voted to give 20% of funds to Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio (OYES), a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging, inspiring, educating & entertaining children and families in the Ojai Valley through the experience of quality theatre, dance, and music. Day of Reading is a significant student fundraiser we have each year at Oak Grove School, so your donation really means a lot. Won’t you please click on the link below to learn more and make a credit card donation today? Don’t forget to select my grade (I’m in 5th grade now), so you can see my class photo and there’s a place to leave a message for me!

Go to: oakgroveschool.org/day-of-reading

Thanks so much, I love you!!
Max

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