It’s Toast Season!
If ever there was a time to celebrate teachers, this is it! Although the money raised each spring by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) can’t fund the gap in the school budget, it does go straight back to the classroom to support Montclair’s teachers.
And this spring, MFEE is doubling down on its festivities to honor educators. First, MFEE will extend the timing of its decades-long tradition of Toast to the Teacher parties. Between now and June 30th, families can host a toast – or party – to honor their favorite school staff members. Families choose a special teacher, para, coach, or other community member to honor and then host a small party to celebrate their commitment to Montclair’s kids. All funds raised by Teacher Toasts go right back to Montclair classrooms in Fall 2023 in the form of MFEE’s teacher grants.
“Toasts remain a signature MFEE event because they connect the key ingredients of our successful school community: supportive parents acknowledging incredible educators in joyous gatherings that raise funds to boost learning for all,” said Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of MFEE. “We are so excited for this longer Toast season!”
MFEE awards approximately $65,000 in Educational Excellence grants each year to support everything from engaging literature for classroom libraries to grade-level materials to enliven science and school-wide initiatives to inspire writers.
“The grants allow me to pilot projects that I wouldn’t ordinarily be able to do with the monies that the school district provides,” explains Watchung Elementary STEM teacher, Drury Thorp. “I’m able to be more innovative with the grants. I’m able to think big, think differently, and then enact my ideas in the classroom.”
This year, Thorp was awarded funding for an expansive school-wide project that teaches students the science of decomposition and allows them to compost school lunch scraps to fertilize plantings in the school garden.
These innovative grants are directly funded by Teacher Toasts. Toasts can be everything from an adults-only gathering at a home to an after-school picnic in the park for the class. The toast hosts register the toast at MFEE.org, and MFEE then creates a page about the toast to sell tickets. Toasts are open to anyone with a suggested donation or “pay-what-you-can” option.
Get Ready For SuperToast!
This year, instead of just inviting families to host a toast, MFEE is also getting in on the fun with a district-wide celebration and fundraiser: a SuperToast! On May 23rd, Montclair will be gathering together to Party Like a Kid. For the Kids. Without the Kids. MFEE’s award-winning fundraisers and events always center joy and community, and this party is no different. This SuperToast taps into the inner kid in all of us, but it’s an adults-only affair. The event features nationally-recognized DJ Prince Hakim, a fierce, but friendly dance-a-thon, live music, carnival games, lawn games, prizes, guest bartender contest, delicious BBQ – and you can be in bed by 10:15. Montclair Public School staff will be making some special guest appearances on the dance floor and behind the bar. Grab your friends, and join MFEE on Tuesday, May 23rd from 6-10 pm!
Both the SuperToast on May 23rd and the Toast parties that can be hosted through June 30th will fuel the creative, dynamic ideas of Montclair teachers. MFEE welcomes our town to gather this spring to laugh, connect and support our schools through these parties with a vital purpose! Learn more at MFEE.org.