# What does a school read-a-thon plan look like?

Source: https://raised.au/answers/worked-example-school-read-a-thon
Reviewed: 2026-11-13

This illustrative plan runs a two-week reading challenge alongside a Raised read-a-thon campaign. Teachers approve the reading rules, caregivers share participant links and the school chooses its visibility settings. It is not a published school result or a promise that a campaign will reach its target.

## Purpose, activity and responsibilities

The school chooses a library project and sets a budget from actual costs. Teachers decide that reading minutes will be recorded in a simple log and confirmed by a caregiver. Supported reading and class reading can count under the same published rules.

The organiser manages the campaign and supporter questions; teachers manage the activity. The reading log is an example of school-run evidence, not a claim that the platform automatically verifies books or minutes.



## Prepare participant links safely

Choose Team Mode if classes will be grouped. Decide the mode before importing members, since changing modes removes existing team and member data. Prepare only approved display names and omit student emails where they are not needed.

In this example, the school chooses Privacy mode and keeps required member selection on. Families share direct links; the public page does not list students or show public leaderboards. If your school wants public competition instead, review that choice and consent before launch.

1. Agree purpose, dates and reading rules.
2. Choose the team structure and import approved names.
3. Review privacy and payment settings.
4. Send each family its participant link and the reading log.
5. Check records at the end and resolve missing information.

## Message families can adapt

Message template: "Our read-a-thon runs from [date] to [date] for [purpose]. Please use [participant link] if you want support credited to your child. Record reading using [school process]. Children can join the activity whether or not their families fundraise. Please follow our display-name and sharing guidance."

Explain the contribution options actually available on your live page. Do not promise a specific pledge calculation or charge date without checking the chosen format.



## Budget and review

Illustration: 80 contributions averaging NZ$20 would total NZ$1,600 before any fees or expenses. This is an arithmetic scenario, not expected participation. If the school absorbs fees, budget for them; if supporters pay them, explain the additional cost.

Review confirmed activity separately from money received. Thank families and report the school's retained amount. The Pyes Pa maths-a-thon case study is evidence that a school has used an athon on Raised, not evidence that the example's reading rules were used there.



## Related guidance

- [Read-a-thon campaign format](https://raised.au/read-a-thon)
- [Actual school athon example](https://raised.au/case-studies/pyes-pa-school-maths-a-thon)
- [Privacy settings](https://raised.au/help/organisers/peer-to-peer/p2p-privacy-for-schools)
- [Member import instructions](https://raised.au/help/organisers/peer-to-peer/p2p-bulk-import-members)

[Start your fundraiser](https://raised.au/start/setup?kind=athon&source=answers/worked-example-school-read-a-thon)