Tis the Season for Box Tops

When I think of holiday traditions, baking and decorating Christmas cookies is at the top of my list. With all the baking I do during this time of year, I certainly gain a few extra pounds but I also clip a few extra Box Tops.

Be on the lookout for all the baking products that feature the Box Top label, such as Betty Crocker cake, cookie, and brownie mixes, Betty Crocker frosting, Gold Medal flour, and Reynolds parchment paper (for more products, visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/participating-products). Each Box Top clipped and turned in earns Discovery classrooms 10 cents. It might not sound like a lot, but they certainly add up.

Thanks for everyone who sent in Box Tops during the classroom contest in November. Mrs. Wright's 5th grade class turned in the most Box Tops and received a pizza party.

The next Discovery Box Top contest has started, and four students will receive free passes to JumpTime. Print out the collection sheet below and tape or glue on your box tops (expired ones won't be counted). Be sure to put your student's name, grade, and teacher on each sheet and turn in by Jan. 30.

Discovery Students Continue Racking up Reading Minutes

Discovery readers are doing a great job working toward their million-minute goal. So far, students have read 293,702 minutes.

The primary and intermediate classes who read the most minutes in November get to wear their pajamas to school. Congratulations to Mrs. Watkins’ 2^nd grade class, which read 5,462 minutes, and Mr. Runyan’s 3^rd grade class, which read 11,739 minutes.

The primary top reader for November was a boy from Mrs. Hoppe’s 2^nd grade class who read 995 minutes. The intermediate top readers were a boy from Mrs. Wright’s 5^th grade class who read 3,714 minutes and a girl from Mr. Runyan’s 3^rd grade class who read 3,972 minutes.

Congratulations to all of our readers! Parents, if you still have November reading calendars at home, please send them in at any point, and those minutes will be counted toward the overall total. Every minute counts!

Keep encouraging your kids to read; a cold day is perfect for snuggling up to read a holiday classic! December calendars have been sent home this week, and they are due back after holiday break on Jan. 5. Every student who turns in a calendar for December will be entered into a drawing for a Pojo’s Family Fun Center certificate for a free kid’s meal with 12 tokens and three ride tickets. Twenty certificates will be given out, and the top two readers also will get to pick out a free book.

Moms and Muffins Rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18

Due to school being canceled on Friday because of the snow, Moms and Muffins and the Reflections Art Gallery have been rescheduled for 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Moms, we hope you'll be able to join your students for muffins and milk and then participate in the arts/literature activities in the gym after. It'll be a fun time for everyone!

Calling All Moms

The PTA is hosting Moms and Muffins and the Reflections Art Gallery from 8 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. We invite you to come to the school cafeteria and enjoy a muffin and milk with your students.

Then stay and browse through the Reflections Art Gallery and participate in art and literature stations set up in the gym. You and your students are sure to have a wonderful time!

Friday Fun Days: Popcorn, Reflections Deadline, and Moms and Muffins

There is a lot going on the next two Fridays at Discovery Elementary.

This Friday is the deadline for students to submit their art entries for the PTA’s Reflections program. The theme for this year’s content is “The World Would Be a Better Place if …” In addition to the art, students will have to submit an artist statement and the entry form, which count as 50 percent of the judging. Any dance, film, music, or photography may also be turned in by email to Reflections Chair Brooke Cleverly at brookecleverly@yahoo.com.

It’s also Popcorn Friday. If you prepaid for the year, then the popcorn will be delivered to your students’ classrooms for an afternoon treat. If you didn’t prepay in September, you can send 50 cents in with your students to purchase popcorn.

Next Friday, Nov. 14, is our annual Moms and Muffins. Come have some tasty muffins in the cafeteria with your kids from 8 to 9 a.m. You’ll also have the opportunity to view students’ artwork in the Reflections Art Gallery that will be on display in the gym. We hope to see you there!

October Top Readers Announced

A big round of applause for Discovery readers. Students read 203,587 minutes in September and October, galloping their way toward the million-minute mark.

The October reading minutes were tallied to select the top readers for the primary grades (pre-K to 2nd) and intermediate grades (3rd to 5th).

The October top reader for the primary grades is a boy, who read 1,110 minutes, from Mrs. Drlik's 2nd grade class. The top read for the intermediate grades is a girl, who read a whopping 3,480 minutes, from Mr. Partin's 4th grade class.

Both top readers were awarded a certificate, a goodie bag, and a free book. All students who read 300 minutes or more in October will receive a coupon for a free kid's meal and a slice of pie from Marie Callender's.

In November, the top two classes that read the most minutes will get to their pajamas to school. The top two readers also will be awarded with a free book. Below is the November calendar to keep track of your students' minutes, so get reading!

As former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy said, "There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."

Discovery PTA's November Calendar of Events

November is slated to be a busy month for Discovery Elementary PTA. Please update your calendars with the following dates:

• Nov. 4: There will be no PTA meeting, but be sure to get out and vote since it is Election Day (the next PTA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. in the Health Room).
• Nov. 7: It’s Popcorn Friday. If you didn’t pre-pay for the entire year, you can send your kiddos in with 50 cents to have popcorn for an afternoon snack!
• Nov. 7: Students’ Reflections art entries are due.
• Nov. 14: Discovery PTA’s annual Moms & Muffins. Moms, this is a chance to come to school and enjoy a muffin with your children from 8 to 9 a.m. in the cafeteria. Also, the Reflections Art Gallery will be on display in the gym at this time. 
• Nov. 21: Get your Box Tops in by this date to help your student’s class win a pizza party!
• Nov. 27: Special wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families!

Discovery Students Off to Strong Start on Million Minutes Reading Challenge

The Discovery mustang is on the move! In September, Discovery students have already read 73,025 minutes as part of the Million Minutes Reading Challenge (thank you teachers for sharing your September calendars). Only 926,975 minutes to go!

The Million Minutes Reading Calendars for the September/October period are due Oct. 30. Please have your students turn in their calendars to their teachers. Students who read 300 (or more) minutes in October will receive a coupon to Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery for a free kid’s meal and a slice of pie. The top reader for grades Pre-K- 2nd and the top reader for grades 3^rd- 5th will get to pick out a free book.  And those two winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Look for the November calendar in backpacks this week. Those will be due back to teachers on Dec. 1, and the top two classes that read the most minutes during November will get to wear their PJ’s to school! 

Reflections Deadline Quickly Approaching

With all of the frenzy of fall festivities, it's easy to put out of mind some things with later deadlines. However, the deadline for students' works of art for the PTA Reflections program is just around the corner.

We hope you encourage your children to participate and share their creative sides. This year's theme is "The World Would Be a Better Place if ..."

Students can enter in six different categories:
Dance choreography (make up a dance)
Film production (create a movie)
Literature (write a poem or story)
Music composition (compose a song)
Photography (take a picture)
Visual art (any 2D form - draw, paint, color a picture)

In addition to the piece of art, students will have to complete an artist statement and the entry form, which count as 50 percent of the judging.

Please have your students turn in completed projects by Nov. 7. Any dance, film, music, or photography may be turned in by email to Reflections Chair Brooke Cleverly at brookecleverly@yahoo.com.

For more information on the rules, visit http://www.idahopta.org/REFLECTIONS.html.

Discovery Night at The Farmstead Brings in the Bacon

The Discovery Elementary PTA thanks everyone who came out to The Farmstead last Monday night to enjoy fall festivities and watch kindergarten teacher Mrs. Rojas kiss a pig!

We had 474 people attend from Discovery, and The Farmstead has generously donated $474 to the PTA. In addition to the money that came in for the “Kiss a Pig” contest, we raised a total of $778.73, which will go toward technology and other resources to benefit the school.