Class 2: Candle Dipping

General

Please read the information for all classes.  Information on expense reimbursements can be found here.

Zero Waste
A new development for 2025 is the shared running of the Zero Waste Station by all school class communities. One volunteer from each class is needed to fill the Zero Waste station roster HERE. The task generally involves guiding fair goers arriving at the station table on where to put their waste, and, looking after the controlled filling of the compost bins.  
Your Stall Roster now includes a space for the volunteer to indicate that their name has been entered for a shift on behalf of their class.

Cake Stall or Salad Bar Donation It is tradition for all school families to donate baking to the Cake Stall or a salad to the Salad  Bar. Both these stalls regularly sell out so donations provided from the wider school allow the stalls to remain open maximising the fundraising. Please Click here for more information. Ka pai!

Task Lists

Click the links for a detailed planning task list and other info:

• Candle Dipping Roster

• Photo Example Stall setup

• Zero Waste (one volunteer)

Stall/Task Coordinators: Edit these lists to suit your needs, then ask parents to put their names on the lists (online and/or print them out).

Parents: When requested, volunteer your help by putting your names next to task on the lists.

Candle Dipping

Supplies and Equipment 

What the C4 Team and Community Association will Provide - 

• 3 x Trestle tables

• Table clothes (CA to check container)

• 3 x double electric hobs and power connection

• All pots and tins for the wax 

• Various utensils and other tools for stirring etc

• Oven gloves

  • 2024 > Candles, enough stock was purchased in 2023 to supply the 2024 stall 

• 2024 > Plenty of wax ,  including coloured wax , left over from last year

• Signage

What Class 2 needs to provide -

• Not Required 2024 >2 Cartons  (144 per carton approx) of large straight sided white tubular candles (Waxglo House, 1013 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead  - may have permanent closed, check supplier 2025 

• Not Required 2024 >1 Carton of small plain white tubular candles 

• Not Required 2024 > 1 Block-of wax (Waxglo House)

• 3 People on at all times in shifts of 1 hour duration

• Crayons from office - 1 crayon for each large tin of melted wax -A red, blue, yellow -

• 1 Bucket of cold water, a face cloth and burn cream - in case of accidents!!

• Set up outside class 2 with tables positioned under the verandah so sheltered from the wind and rain, 

Before the day

Check the wax, candle supplies and other useful items in the Community Association container.  Arrange with the CA for access. See also the inventory in the google doc 

It is important that the wax and candles to do this are sourced and bought long before the fair. This is in order to melt down the ingredients and get the tins of coloured wax filled and ready to melt on the morning of the fair. It takes a long time to melt big tins of wax ready for dipping. 

Break up block of wax into small pieces to melt in large tins. In old pots with hot water, re-melt the tins of last year's wax (in large and medium tins) so that you have full ones to start with on the day. This takes hours and is very messy. Worth checking condition of medium tins which may have holes due to rust if have been used at many fairs.  Also do not fill medium tins right to the brim. It makes them difficult to pick up and move about when melting on Fair Day.

Organise shifts of people to help. It is best if there is at least 1 adult, to supervise the gas burner, for crowd control, collecting money and handing out candles. The other two people will be in charge of instructing the customers how to dip. 

On the Day

Set up early enough so that dipping wax is completely melted. This will take about one and a half hours. Decide on your pricing based on current price to but the plain candles. In 2023 prices were $4 for a large candle and $2.50 for a small candle.

On the back table - Hot coloured wax production: 

• Setup 1  x electric hob. The back table is for melting wax of the different colours directly in different pots which can then be poured into the tall tins on the front table as and when they need topping up.  The pots of melting wax must be supervised and stirred to speed up melting.

• Keep adding pieces of wax and pieces of coloured crayon to the three pots, or pieces of pre-coloured wax, to keep them topped up and keep the colours strong.

• Use oven gloves and have everyone step back when topping up the hot wax in the tins at the front table. The metal ladles can be used for this job.  

On the front table - Candle dipping supervisors: 

• Set up 2 x electric hobs with large pots of water and the tall wax tins of each colour placed within the water to keep hot/melted. 

• During the initially setup any old wax in the tall tins could be melted without water to speed up the process 

Selling to Customers

Money and Crowd Control Person:  

• Collect money from two customers and give them a white candle each.

•  Ensure only the people dipping are at the hot-wax stations, and that they each have enough room.

Caution: It is very important  that only 1 child is allowed in front of each tin of hot wax at any time.

• When a customer is finished dipping the next customer who has paid and is waiting can step up.

Hot wax Supervisors:

• Allow each customer to dip their candle approximately five times. Any more makes the candle too thick, and makes other people in line wait too long.

• The wax in the tins needs to be stirred periodically, if a skin forms turn up the element a little

• Your pots will melt fast, watch your temp so you don’t get any spluttering. If this happens, then turn off your element for a short period.

• Make sure customers have stepped back before topping up.

• Tell each customer the following:

Start with the lightest colour you want. 

Quickly dip the candle in and out. Do not leave it in too long or the candle will melt. 

Allow this coat to dry before dipping another colour. 

For a darker colour, dip again. The candle can be dipped both ends. 

The candle dipping stall is a great money earner for the fair. So if there are no customers, start yelling: 

"Candle Dipping, only $4” (for example)

On some years Class 2 opts to run the school raffle through the fair time.  This roster can be used for parents selling tickets on the day>
Raffle Ticket Selling Roster