Rummage Sale to Benefit Abraxas High School

San Diego County Teacher of the Year Shaylene Watkins is among the many individuals, churches and organizations participating in a rummage sale to benefit student services at on Saturday, May 21.

Watkins, who teaches at Monterey Ridge Elementary School, attended the continuation school and credits Abraxas for “opening the doors” to her future.

“The guidance and care I received at Abraxas put me on the fast track to graduation,” Watkins said. “In fact, I graduated one and a half years early due to the streamlined environment I received and was able to enroll in college. Abraxas is a unique school that offers tailored instruction with individual learning styles and goals in mind.”

Funds raised will benefit student services such as athletics and prom, but also other “things we take for granted,” said Cathy Kosich, a student services specialist and student council coordinator at Abraxas.

Because no district school bus transports students to and from Abraxas, Kosich said the school usually purchases at least four bus passes a month so students can get to school.

Funds will also be used to purchase graduation caps and gowns, yearbooks, and even gift cards and gas cards to help support low income, working and homeless students, Kosich said.

“What we’ll do with that money, it’s not to pay salaries, it’s to help families,” Kosich said. “If we have funds available, those are the kinds of things that we’ll be able to provide.

“It’s a great opportunity for the school—for the community to know who we are and what we need.”

The Church at Rancho Bernardo is one of the local churches and organizations helping Abraxas organize the rummage sale.

A team from the church has helped collect items that were dropped off the last two Saturdays. Members from the church and other school and community volunteers will also sort and set up donated items on the day of the rummage sale.

“One of the reasons we were attracted to this is because this school really does a great work,” said Rick Scott, the pastor of Community Outreach & Missions at The Church at Rancho Bernardo. “Yet they’re the only school that really doesn’t have a foundation or a PTA. All the other schools do to help raise funds for the extra things that help make school worthwhile for the kids. So we wanted to a part of that.”

Scott added that his church is enthusiastic to help Abraxas, especially after learning about the school’s work with local students.

“There’s awesome success stories with students that would tell you this is maybe their last hope to get through high school. Now, they’re at productive jobs in society and contributing in many ways,” Scott said. “I just want the community to realize that this is a great school, and it needs our help.”

Watkins added: “By lending my support, I am sharing enthusiasm for the Abraxas community and the great work the staff does.”

Organizers ask that good quality, gently used items be dropped off at the school’s parking lot at 12450 Glen Oak Road. Items can still be dropped off this Saturday, and volunteers will help unload donations.

The rummage sale will take place Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors are asked to contribute items by Saturday, May 14.

“I truly encourage the community to come out to the rummage sale, and even this Saturday, bring and drop off things,” Scott said. “I want them to know this school does a great job.”