Frequently Asked Questions
AT THE EVENT
TICKETS?
Ticket pricing is as follows:
- Early Bird (through February 28): $145
- Regular Tickets (available until sold out or April 5): $170
- Faculty/Staff: One complimentary ticket
Ticket price includes entrance to the event, up to 4 alcoholic beverages, all non-alcoholic beverages and dinner. Complimentary tickets for financial aid families are available. Please see email from Regan with discount code to enter when purchasing tickets. Please email Regan at reganw@thelittleschool.org with any questions.
CHILDCARE?
Make it a fun night out for the whole family. Drop the kids off at BrightWater Environmental Education and Community Center (a convenient 8-minute drive to the venue) where TLS faculty will oversee a night of pizza, snacks, activities and a movie. Childcare is available for enrolled TLS students and their siblings ages 3-11. The cost is $40 for one child or $60 for multiple children. Financial aid is available.
For families using childcare, consider leaving a car or two and carpooling from BrightWater.
You can add childcare to your ticket purchase or register separately here.
PARKING?
Parking is complimentary at Liljebeck Farms, however spaces are limited. We encourage families, especially those dropping children off at childcare, to arrange carpools. One option is to meet at BrightWater for childcare (also has complimentary parking) and then carpool over to the Liljebeck.
WHERE IS THE VENUE? HOW FAR FROM CAMPUS?
Liljebeck Farms is a beautiful 11-acre family farm snuggled in the Paradise Lake area, a 19-minute drive from TLS. With complimentary parking and its convenience to the highway, don't let the distance worry you. Take a look at the venue here! Childcare, provided at BrightWater Environmental Education and Community Center this year is a convenient 8-minute drive to the venue.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Each year there is a wide range of dress, from casual to fancy. Some people choose to play off the auction theme. Ultimately, have fun and wear what makes you feel celebratory and most importantly, authentically you!
HOW DOES SEATING FOR DINNER WORK?
We will do our best to accommodate all seating requests submitted when tickets were purchased. If you did not indicate another family you would like to sit with, we try to place families by grade/age of their children.
CAN I LIVESTREAM THE EVENT?
This year's event will be fully in person and not available to livestream. We hope you can join us on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Liljebeck Farms. The silent auction catalog will be available online, but exclusive live auction items and favorites like the dessert dash are available only in person.
I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND, HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?
This year, the event is in-person only. If you can’t attend, you will not be able to bid on live auction items. But worry not, there are still a couple of ways that to participate:
- Online Catalog: There will be lots of amazing packages available in the online catalog from April 22-27, 2024. Get ready to bid on favorites like class art projects, teacher experiences and TLS Exclusives, plus incredible get-a-aways, sporting events, family-friendly memberships and more! Bid here.
- Raise the Paddle for Financial Aid: If you can’t make it for the event, you can still contribute to the raise the paddle for financial aid by donating online. The dollars raised at this event ensure that TLS can continue our commitment to a $1 million financial aid budget each year. Check for employer matching. Every dollar counts toward our fundraising goal!
SILENT AUCTION & CATALOG
Where do I bring the items I want to donate?
When dropping off items, please bring them to the Development Office in the Rivers Building (first office past Michele's front desk). Please make sure to hand them off to a staff person - either Michele, Jenny or Libby. If you need a hand in with anything, please let us know! We have carts, etc. and are happy to help with transport from your car.
What are TLS Exclusives?
TLS Exclusives are packages only available to current TLS families. They include teacher experiences, hosted events by TLS families and class projects. Some TLS Exclusives have a limited number of tickets, sold available at a set price. These often sell out *very* quickly. Events range from private dinner parties hosted by TLS families, to faculty-lead excursions, to ice skating parties and movie nights.
What is Send Your Teacher Packing (SYTP)?
SYTP is a fun TLS tradition! For $25 you can enter your favorite TLS faculty and staff to win a fabulous get-a-away. There is no limit to how many nominations you can purchase - the more nominations, the better the chances that your teacher will be the one sent packing! The lucky winner will be drawn at the live event on Saturday, April 27, 2024. SYTP proceeds benefit TLS financial aid.
How do I collect my winning items?
Class art projects and some tangible items will be displayed at the auction and must be taken home from the event by the winning bidders. An email will be sent to winning bidders to arrange pick up of all other tangible items at The Little School after Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Whenever possible, gift certificates will be transferred electronically.
ONLINE BIDDING INFO
What can I expect?
This year’s silent auction will use Greater Giving Online Bidding – allowing for a paperless bidding system. You will bid using your smartphone or tablet on silent auction items. Also, you can easily track Packages by “following” their activity without having to continuously return to a table or bid sheet. Please note: this year, we will return to a physical paddle for the live auction and Raise the Paddle sections of the evening.
How to Bid with Online Bidding:
Once you have been invited to join Online Bidding, you have a number of options available to you.
- Select the Package you wish to Bid on.
- Select either the Bid option to bid the next increment, or select Bid More to choose your increment.
- Or, if available, select Buy Now to purchase the Package for the price listed.
- Click the star icon to save the Package to your Favorites.
- To make a donation, click the Donate button on the home page and enter your amount.
- Use the menu in the top left to view Packages you have bid on, favorited, or to browse by Category.
- When the auction closes, the high bidder can find Packages they have won in the Bids area of the menu.
How can I participate in Online Bidding?
Please include your mobile phone number while registering for the event.
What are the benefits of Online Bidding?
Once bidding starts, you will be alerted on your mobile device when you have been outbid, so you can instantly respond with another bid.
Bidding can occur at any location within the auction itself, whether you are in line for the bar or mingling with friends. You do not have to be at the display tables to make a bid.
At the end of the evening, the check out process will run efficiently because your credit card information will have been entered into our system prior to or at the beginning of the event.
Online Bidding Highlights
Online Bidding allows for a completely paperless bidding system.
You are able to use technology you already know ..... your own smartphone or tablet (iPad, Samsung Galaxy, etc).
It is fun and easy.
You are notified via text when you are outbid and can rebid immediately from your phone without going back to the auction package on the display table.
Online bidding eliminates overcrowding and hovering around auction packages and bid sheets.
Online bidding will make the event run more efficiently from registration to checkout.
Will this work for all mobile devices?
Yes, you can bid with any mobile device.
With smartphones and tablets, you can browse, search and bid via a web browser.
When registering your mobile device, you will be provided a custom URL for bidding purposes.
With standard mobile phones, you can bid and receive alerts via text messaging.
Additional questions?
For questions regarding the event, email auction@thelittleschool.org. For sponsorship and donation inquiries, contact:
- Libby Singer (libbys@thelittleschool.org) - General auction questions and sponsorship
- Jenny Chiang (jennyc@thelittleschool.org) - Alum volunteers, event logistics
- Braden Wild (bradenw@thelittleschool.org) - Auction items, auction software
THE FINE PRINT
Refunds: All sales are final. Ticket and purchases are non-refundable. Please note specifications and restrictions such as expirations dates or quantity limits carefully before bidding.
Auction Rules and Terms: Payment by the successful bidder must be paid in full and will be charged by credit card within three days of event.
* Pickup of items is the responsibility of the purchaser and will be arranged with the school after the event.
* All sales are final and no exchanges or refunds on items are allowed.
Please note: Although TLS has attempted to describe all items correctly, all items are sold as-is. The Little School neither warrants nor represents and in no event shall be responsible for the correctness of descriptions, genuineness, authorship, provenance or condition of the items. No statement contained in the online bidding site or elsewhere shall be deemed a warranty, representation, or assumption of liability.
