CHIMACUM — When Mitch Brennan’s class decided to publish a fundraising calendar that would feature student art, they faced a mathematical problem — the class had 27 students and only 12 months in a year.
The idea that emerged was that the Chimacum Elementary School class — composed of students from third to fifth grade — would print two calendars, each with a different set of drawings.
And instead of just 12 months, the calendars would feature 13, inserting “Friendtober” between October and November — a month intended to be removed by the user.
To even everything up, the 27th kid did the cover for both versions.
“The art the kids do for the calendars doesn’t end up on the refrigerator and then get thrown away,” Brennan said.
“The kids walk into the bank and other places around town and see their art on the wall, so it gives them a sense of pride — that along with the fact that it makes them some real money,” Brennan said.
The class sells calendars, cards and recipe books for $8 each, or any two for $12, to community members and — the standard market for such items — out-of-town relatives.
Brennan said the sales have raised about $1,800 this year, down from the high of $2,500 three years ago, which pays for field trips, art supplies and technology.
“We are getting less money from the state, so we need to get creative about paying for supplies and programs,” he said.
The class’ profit margin is wide because it uses school equipment for printing and design, and students run all the machines.
As a result, the students learn a variety of skills to produce the handmade product.
This is still a time-consuming process, since pages are printed one at a time on the classroom printer.
When things go wrong, as it did this week when one cartridge failed, Brennan must fix it himself.
“I would have liked to take this to the local printer and support that business, but it would have cost $6.50 per calendar,” Brennan said.
“We couldn’t make any money at those rates.”
The calendars are meant for the desk instead of the wall and are housed in a plastic case resembling those used for compact discs.
Each month is printed on a single card, which can be moved to the front during that time.
Friendtober fits exactly between October and November.
October ends on a Monday, so the extra month begins on a Tuesday and ends on a Monday and is 28 days long.
Brennan is betting that most people will remember to discard Friendtober right after Halloween but admits that the extra month “might confuse some people” when the time comes.
Each card has the art on the front and a more utilitarian calendar, on which appointments can be entered, on the back.
The initial printing of 100 calendars quickly sold out. The class is working now on a second printing of an undetermined number.
To order a calendar, phone 360-732-4471.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
