Booster Club
The Board:
President
- Viki Etheredge
Vice President - Sharon
Vaal
Treasurer -
Peggy Koski
Communications - Harriet Zazzaro
Fundraising - Jeri Stewart
Corresponding Secretary -
Mary Jackson
Recording Secretary - Celeste Sawtelle
Special Projects -
Kathee Giuffre
Welcome to Drama at CHS!
If your student is new to the Countryside High School Drama Club or, if you haven’t had a chance to get involved with boosters before, you probably have some of the same questions we had when we started out. Here are the answers to some questions we are often asked. Please let us know if we can provide any further information and how you would like to become involved. Contact us with questions and suggestions via email any time: boosters@chstroupe900.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
What is the purpose of the Drama Booster Club?
Countrside High School Drama Boosters, Inc. was formed as a non-profit organization in 2001, primarily to provide financial support and organize parent volunteers. In other words, we exist to help the show go on - to be producers of sorts. We take our cues from Kim Florio who, in addition to her role as teacher of drama and theatre classes at CHS, is also the Drama Club sponsor and director of all productions. This is a huge, time-consuming role for one individual, so we like to help provide assistance wherever possible.
Is the Drama Booster Club really needed?
You may have heard that budgets for the arts in our public schools have been cut drastically over the years, but you may not realize how painful these cuts are. The department receives only a couple hundred dollars per year from the school board to cover both classroom materials and shows. A typical fall musical may take up to $4,000 to produce, for rights, set materials, costumes, musical accompanists, publicity, etc. We help raise money to cover this huge gap in funding.
Do the students really want the parents around?
We watch each year as the students light up when parents and other volunteers become involved! Even the kids grumbling about having mom around make sure to brag that she was there. Studies show that students have better grades and better behavior when their parents are involved in their school. And what better way to get to know your children’s friends and share an interest with them.
What help do you need? Will it take up a lot of my time?
We have many opportunities to help out the kids, either one time or on a regular basis. Check out the options below and let a booster club board member know what you’re interested in.
- Sponsorships - If you or a business you know can sponsor the CHS drama program, we will be very grateful. Sponsors may receive special notices of thanks, such as free tickets and the sponsor’s name in show programs.
- Concessions - Concessions during our students’ shows are one of the booster fundraisers. Volunteers purchase the goods, set up and clean up the concessions, and sell drinks, snacks, flowers and T-shirts before the show and during intermission. The boosters also provide labor for the ticket booth at shows. Working during shows is a fun way to help out, get to know other parents, and still watch the show!
- Car washes, donut sales, gift wrapping, silent auction… These are the types of fundraising activities we coordinate for the students each year. This gives them a direct hand in raising money for their shows and other events. Booster volunteers chaperone and coordinate these activities.
- Sets, costumes and props – The students design and create the items used for each show, along with help from parents and other volunteers. You can help purchase and pick-up materials, build and paint sets, sew or shop for costumes and props, or help the students coordinate the needed items.
- Field Trips – Our troupe takes at least one trip of several days each year to the Florida State Thespian Festival. We chaperone this trip of several days’ immersion in high school theater.
- Boosters Board – Every year as our students graduate, there is room on the board for new parents to join in. If you think you would be interested, please come to a board meeting or two so you can see what it’s like.
- Special projects – Creative tasks come up every year so, if you have an idea or area of interest, let us know!
For questions or further information, please contact us via email: