How it works, what the priorities are, and how we make sure it goes well.
Most parents choose the Theo Thijssenschool for its rich cultural, creative and educational programme on top of the compulsory curriculum. That programme is made possible partly by specialist teachers in visual arts, music and PE. Because specialist teachers are involved, lessons are often taught in half-classes, which means extra attention for pupils and better quality teaching. Central government funding no longer fully covers the cost of these specialist teachers. Stichting De Gelukkige Klas makes sure those costs are covered as much as possible through voluntary contributions from parents.
We don't interfere with the content of the teaching. The school does that. The school's leadership decides where the money goes; we make sure the funding is there for what would otherwise fall away. We stick to the guidelines from OCW (the Dutch Ministry of Education) and ANBI: we don't pay for basic provisions that should be funded by the government, only for additional education and the cultural programme. As a donor, you can see every year exactly where your contribution went: in our annual report and on the ANBI page we publish every expense.
Head teacher Stefan Roskam has told us what's most at risk, and what the school would most like to keep. The priorities below come straight from the school. They line up with the teaching and activities parents told us were most important in the survey.
Weekly visual arts lessons by a specialist teacher, in half-classes. For groups 3 and 4 all year round, for groups 5 to 8 as much as possible. One day of visual arts can no longer be funded out of the staffing budget for 2026-2027. Stefan has flagged this as the top priority.
In the survey, 63% of parents also put this in their top 3 priorities — by far the highest of any topic.
Twice a week, gym for groups 1 and 2, in half-classes, taught by a specialist teacher. During the gym lesson the other half gets language lessons from their own teacher. One of those two days can no longer be funded from next year's budget. Stefan has flagged this as the second priority, because scrapping the gym lesson also hits the language teaching.
The TTSA has a rich cultural programme: the Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum, Krakeling theatre, IDFA, Jordaan weeks, Children's Book Week, guest lessons from writers, monument walks, studio visits. Much of this is under pressure as budgets shrink. The school wants to keep it going.
Stefan has also told us what the school would like to add, if there's room: a school band, guest lessons in technology in half-classes for the upper groups, and richer play equipment for the playground. We'll only start on these wishes once the first three priorities are covered.
The school commissions specific programmes or services. The teacher or organisation invoices the foundation directly, and we pay those invoices. The school decides the content, the foundation funds it. This way of working has been used successfully for years by other Amsterdam primary schools.
The foundation is legally independent of the school and of the OADA umbrella organisation. Own board, own bank account, own administration.
All board members and volunteers work without compensation. No office, no salaries, no overhead.
We publish an annual activity report and financial overview on this site. Donors get an update at least twice a year.
Donations are anonymous. Board and school don't know who does or doesn't pay. No ranking, no difference in treatment.
Every contribution is welcome. Not being able or not wanting to contribute has no consequences whatsoever for your child. Matter of principle.
Our first goal is to raise enough for school year 2026-2027 to keep visual arts and gym for early years going. After that we look ahead:
You don't have to give much to join in. Every contribution counts — and everything we raise goes to the school's priorities.
