FWES Spirit Rock
Spirit Rock Reservations
Rent the FWES Spirit Rock!
Reserve the FWES Spirit Rock and paint it to show school spirit, celebrate a birthday, or mark another special occasion that your child or friend is celebrating!
Reservation process
Review the Spirit Rock Guidelines below. Renters must agree to all stipulations.
Check the FWES Spirit Rock Calendar (on the right) to see if your desired date is open.
Complete the Spirit Rock Reservation Form and make a donation from the link there.
Once payment is made, and the Spirit Rock chair has approved the message, you will receive confirmation via email. The confirmed reservation will appear on the calendar.
Start decorating at 5PM the day before reservation!
Cost
Reserving the FWES Spirit Rock is possible with a minimum non-refundable $10 donation per day to the FWES PTA; donations of higher amounts will be accepted. Donations must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the date requested.
Contact
Please contact Spirit Rock Chair at spiritrock@fwespta.org for any questions.
About the Rock
The FWES Spirit Rock is mostly slate and weighs over 11,000 pounds! We are grateful to Lehigh Hanson and their Holly Springs Quarry site, Edwards Inc. of Spring Hope, and Dean's Wrecker Service of Raleigh for their generous donations to make this happen. Funds raised with the Spirit Rock support students, staff, and programs at Farmington Woods Elementary School.
Spirit Rock Painting and Design Tips
Wear old clothes!
The best paint to use is spray paint. Premium spray paint works best (such as Rustoleum, example on the right) instead of generic store brands. You will probably need 2-3 cans for a good base coat and additional paint for your design. The quantity needed will depend upon the color you are using, the color already painted on the rock, and weather conditions. Remember, latex paint or paint that is rolled on will take longer to dry.
Once you have the base coat done, use chalk to sketch out your design. Try to do large shapes so that it’s easy to see from a distance and so that you can use spray paint for most of it.
Stand back from the rock to make sure you can see your design clearly.
Spray paint large areas. If you mess up, use the base coat color to fix the mistake.
For more detailed areas, use a can or tube of paint and a paintbrush. While outdoor latex is best, regular artists' acrylic paint seems to work well too (even in rain).
Bring paper towels to wipe any drips.
Bring a cup of water if you are using a paintbrush.
Wearing rubber gloves will help keep hands clean.
Bring something to take trash with you - help keep our school campus clean.
No refunds will be issued in the case of bad weather. If wet, the rock can be towel-dried before painting and the paint will adhere even in the rain and or snow.
Have fun and send photos to the FWES PTA Facebook page!
Spirit Rock Rules and Guidelines
The Farmington Woods Elementary School Spirit Rock is located at the front of the school between the parking lots. The Rock can be reserved throughout the year to display a special message. Those eligible to paint a message on the FWES Spirit Rock must be one or more of the following: a member of the Farmington Woods Elementary School staff, a parent or guardian of a current student, a relative of a current student, or the FWES PTA.
Some examples of messages that can be painted on the FWES Spirit Rock are, but are not limited to: help FWES students or staff members celebrate a special day or occasion, provide encouragement, celebrate school spirit, or recognize/advertise a school club or event.
FWES PTA reserves the right to block dates for school use.
All reservations are done on a first come, first served basis. No reservation will be confirmed unless the donation has been received. Payment must be received at least 48 hours before the requested date. All payments are non-refundable.
Reserving the Spirit Rock is possible with a minimum non-refundable $10 donation per day to the FWES PTA. Those asking to reserve the Spirit Rock space to promote *school events* are not required to make a donation, but they still must reserve it through the form. All funds raised from the reservations will be used to benefit our school community.
When choosing the date on the reservation form, select the day you want to have your message displayed. You may begin decorating the Spirit Rock at 5:00 PM the day BEFORE you sign up. Similarly, the person who signs up for the next day may begin decorating the rock at 5:00 PM on the last day you have reserved. Spirit Rock reservations run from 5:00 PM the day BEFORE you sign up through 4:59 PM the day of your sign up.
Although you may sign up for multiple dates throughout the year, reservations cannot last more than 2 consecutive days. If a particular message stays on the Rock because no one has rented the next day(s), there will not be an additional donation necessary. If the Rock is painted over by someone that is not on the calendar, it is not the PTA or school’s responsibility.
You are responsible for providing your own materials. This could include, but is not limited to: paint, drop cloths, stencils, and brushes. FWES PTA does not provide paint or supplies. ONLY the Rock may be painted. Please make sure the surrounding area is protected before painting. The renter will be held financially responsible for cleaning and/or any repair costs associated with violation of this policy. Anyone painting the Rock must leave the area in clean condition. Remove all materials and trash from the site and ensure extra paint is disposed of properly. You paint the Rock at your own risk. The person or group painting the Rock assumes liability for any individual who may be injured or who may incur clothing or other personal property damage.
You are encouraged to paint the rock in the evenings, after school hours. Kids like to climb big rocks and are likely to be on the spirit rock before school and after school hours. Please be mindful that the rock is dry during these times, so your hard work isn't accidentally ruined.
The Spirit Rock chair must approve the message before the Rock is painted. Messages and images must be acceptable within school community guidelines and policies. No profane words, symbols, or any derogatory or offensive message; no advertising for commercial purposes; no political messages will be permitted on the Spirit Rock. FWES PTA reserves the right to remove any content, message, or language that is deemed inappropriate. Any messages submitted that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be approved. If the message or images displayed on the Spirit Rock are not what has been approved (minor adjustments are okay), then the party reserving the Rock will lose the rental period, the design will be covered without notice, and they will not be approved to reserve the space again.