PTA Gearing Up for Million Minutes Reading Festival

Discovery students have made reading their mission this school year and will exceed the million-minute mark. So, in turn, the PTA is working hard to plan the celebration!

The Million Minutes Reading Festival will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at Discovery. The fun-filled evening will include games, activities, food, and a special drawing to raise money for playground and other classroom improvements.

This will be the PTA's major fundraiser for the year, and it wouldn't be a success without the support of local businesses and individuals who have donated items for our drawing.

Thank you to the following businesses for their generous donations for our May 1 fundraiser:

• Aquarium of Boise
• Bogus Basin
• Boise Hawks
• The Blue & Orange Store
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Dave & Buster's
• Discovery Center of Idaho
• Five Guys
• Grimaldi's
• Idaho Pizza Co.
• Idaho Stampede
• IT'SUGAR
• Nothing Bundt Cake
• Olive Garden
• On The Border
• Panache Hair Studio & Day Spa
• Papa Murphy's
• U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt
• Zoo Boise

To celebrate reading, authors and publishers have also donated books. A big thank you to local author Laura Bingham who donated autographed copies of her fantasy books "Alvor" and "Wings of Light." We also have autographed copies of "Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons" by Eric Litwin, "Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11" by N.  Griffin, "Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk" signed by illustrator Peter Reynolds, and Jodi Picoult's latest page-turner, "Leaving Time."

A special thank you goes out to Menchie's Frozen Yogurt for donating free 5-oz. yogurt coupons that we can give to every student for meeting the reading challenge!

Stay tuned for more details about the festival! And if you're a local business that would like to make a donation for our drawing, please contact me at christineserlin@yahoo.com.

Volunteers Needed for Spring Book Fair

The PTA has been asked to help with Discovery's Spring Book Fair/Art Walk March 16-19. There is need for help during lunchtime on Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. and during two shifts on late night on Wednesday. In addition, you can help by providing 2 dozen cookies or baked goods for the late night reception. You can sign up for a shift or to bring cookies by going to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094baaa923aafa7-spring/26098183. Please deliver the cookies to the library by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.

Thank you for all of your help and support!

Discovery Students Getting Closer to a Million Minutes

"And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)."                --Dr. Seuss

Discovery students are getting closer to the million-minute mark for this year's Reading Challenge, and there's no doubt in my mind that they will reach that milestone by our fun-filled festival on Friday, May 1!

Discovery's very own Cat in the Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two!

Thank you to all the kids and their families who came out to read on Monday night and hear some fun stories by our very own Cat in the Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two! Approximately 200 people participated, and we chalked up 18,000 minutes for the evening!

Adding Monday's night total with the February minutes, our total count now stands at 843,434 minutes, and students have two more months left to read! If you see any old calendars laying around the house, please send them in. Those minutes can still be counted.

Now announcing the top readers for February:

• Pre-K: A girl from Ms. Baranco's class read 893 minutes;
• K: A girl from Mrs. Rojas' class read 640 minutes, and a boy from Mrs. Jayne's class read 660 minutes;
• 1st: A boy from Mrs. Davison's class read 1,050 minutes;
• 2nd: A girl from Mrs. Hoppe's class read 1,207 minutes;
• 3rd: A girl from Mrs. Jackson's class read 4,050 minutes;
• 4th: A boy from Mrs. Spenner's class read 3,360 minutes; and
• 5th: A girl from Mrs. Bonebrake's class read 2,180 minutes, and a boy from Mrs. Wright's class read 2,230 minutes.

Next week, the top readers for February from each class will receive a $10 gift certificate for the Spring Book Fair, which will be held March 16-19.

Congratulations to all readers at Discovery! Your extra reading work is adding up!

Fourth-Grader Wins State Level for Reflections Program

A fourth-grade boy from Mrs. Spenner's class has won at the state level for the National PTA Reflections program.  His artwork, The Mosaic Rainbow in the Intermediate, Visual Arts category, will represent Discovery Elementary and the state of Idaho at the national level in Washington, D.C.  Congratulations and good luck! 

What's Ahead for March at Discovery

Here's the latest and greatest happenings at Discovery Elementary this month.

Tuesday, March 3: The PTA meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Jean Dean, the West Ada School District nutrition specialist, will be joining us to explain the new school food programs and answer questions.

Wednesday, March 4: Smile, it's time for class pictures!

Friday, March 6: Popcorn Friday! If you didn't prepay for the year, send in 50 cents for your child to have a snack during the day.

Tuesday, March 10: Election Day for the West Ada School District bond proposal.

Monday, March 16 to Thursday, March 19: Spring Book Fair/Art Walk. It's a great opportunity to pick up a good read for spring break so you can continue to add minutes to the Million Minute Reading Challenge. The late night/Art Walk will be on Wednesday, March 18, until 7:30 p.m. and is open to family and friends. Parents may purchase their children's masterpieces for 50 cents.

The week of March 23: No school, enjoy your spring break!

Spring into Reading During the Month of March

Monday, March 2, is a celebratory day of reading. It's the NEA's Read Across America Day as well as Dr. Seuss' birthday. This annual reading awareness program calls for every child across the nation to celebrate reading on this day.

Come out to Discovery for the Million Minutes Family Reading Night on Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss. Wear your jammies and bring your blankets and pillows so you can be cozy while reading with your family. Families also should bring their own books to read. And don't forget, special guests (one who will be "smiling at you") will be arriving at 7:15 p.m. and all minutes read by family members will count toward the Million Minutes Reading Challenge totals. You will be able to purchase Dreyer's ice cream for $2 a cup as well as Discovery spirit wear at the event.

And don't stop celebrating reading after March 2 comes and goes. The entire month of March has been designated as National Reading Month. So please encourage your students to crack open the books at home and continue contributing minutes to Discovery's Million Minutes Challenge. There are only two months left to get to a million minutes by May 1. The March calendar will be coming home in backpacks this week, but you can also download it here! Calendars are due back on Wednesday, April 1, and all students who turn them in will be entered into a drawing for fun mystery prizes! The top reader from each grade also will be able to choose a free book.