Windermere High PTSO raising funds for outdoor lunch area

High-school students who eat their lunches outside are exposed to the sun and rain, and the PTSO hopes to purchase more tables and umbrellas.

By Amy Quesinberry
| 4:41 p.m. September 5, 2018

Windermere High School has some outdoor seating, but the PTSO wants to buy more tables and add umbrellas to the ones not under the shade.

Southwest Orange
Neighborhood

Temperatures still are high in the daytime, but once fall hits Central Florida, more high-school students will venture outside to enjoy the cooler weather and eat their lunches.

Windermere High School’s PTSO is raising funds to accommodate this year’s increased student enrollment with additional shaded seating areas on the patio near the cafeteria. Denise Milazzo, PTSO president, is heading up the fundraiser. All donations are tax-deductible.

Milazzo said Principal Doug Guthrie asked the organization to help raise the funds for the tables and umbrellas.

“The way things are growing here, next year will be worse,” she said of the need for more tables. “The umbrellas are needed because not all of the tables outside are under the covering, and they are completely in the sun.”

The PTSO hopes to purchase 25 to 30 tables, umbrellas and bases through a company Guthrie and Orange County Public Schools recommended. The estimated cost is $22,000 for 25 tables similar to the ones already in place outside. Each 46-inch-wide octagonal expanded metal table has a coated surface that is environmentally safe and won’t fade or crack.

Fundraising ideas are being considered, including a 5K and online merchandise sales. Fifty percent of purchases goes directly toward this initiative.

A variety of spirit wear items can be purchased at squareup.com/store/windermereptso/. Orders placed online by 5 p.m. Thursday can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the school store.

Merchandise includes long- and short-sleeved T-shirts, hoodies, Pop Sockets, lanyards, magnets, stickers, baseball hats and Wolverine claws.

PTSO memberships are available, too, and some levels include school spirit magnets and other benefits. Memberships are $5 for students, $10 for staff, $20 for the Lime level, $100 for the Navy level and $200 for the Silver level.

To make a donation directly to the table-and-umbrella fund, contact [email protected]. For questions, email [email protected].

author

Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.