Video: Mr. Dudley Kisses the Pig at The Farmstead!

Thanks to everyone who came out this evening for Discovery Night at The Farmstead. We had a great crowd in attendance to see our "Kiss a Pig" winner Mr. Dudley pucker up. If you didn't make it or just want to relive the moment, here's some video from the big smooch! More photos and the total earnings from the night will come later this week ...

Fall Fun at The Farmstead

Discovery Night at The Farmstead is finally here! Come to The Farmstead on Monday evening from 4 to 9 p.m. for some family fun.

The Farmstead is offering a discounted admission of $5.25 for the evening. It includes the MAiZE, hayrides, the jumping pillow, the cow train, the corn box, the spider web, and slides. Among the activities not included in the admission are pony rides, pumpkin blaster shots, and pumpkin purchases.

And you don't want to miss our "Kiss a Pig" winner pucker up for a porker at 6:30 p.m. during the racings pigs show. We'll be announcing our winner Monday afternoon at school!

Discovery Night at The Farmstead is the PTA's biggest fall fundraiser. The Farmstead will donate $1 for every person attending from Discovery so please be sure to invite your friends and family. And thank you to everyone who sent in pennies for the Kiss a Pig competition. We raised more than $520.

The proceeds from the Kiss a Pig contest and the evening at The Farmstead will help raise funds for playground improvements and other classroom initiatives. Check out the blog on Tuesday for photos from the event.

We hope to see you Monday night at The Farmstead!

One Day Left to Vote for 'Kiss a Pig' Contest

Tomorrow is the last day for students to vote with their pennies to decide who will be coming face to face with a pig Monday night at The Farmstead! 

After Thursday's count, here are the latest "Kiss a Pig" totals:

• Mr. Dudley, principal: $149.63
• Mr. Thie, 3rd grade: $92.24
• Ms. Geis, 4th grade: $47.22
• Mr. Johnson, PE/health: $34.54
• Mrs. Davison, 1st grade: $31.03
• Mrs. Jayne, kindergarten: $21.13
• Mrs. Kalinski, 5th grade: $18.14
• Mrs. Hoppe, 2nd grade: $7.06
• Mrs. Drews, school counselor: $5.29

The winner will be announced Monday afternoon, with the kissing of a pig taking place at 6:30 p.m. that evening during Discovery Night at The Farmstead!

We have already raised over $400. Thank you to all the students, parents, and staff for helping to make this fundraiser such a success! 

Mr. Dudley's Lead Continues; Two Days Left to Vote

Principal Dudley remains in the lead for the Kiss a Pig competition, but he shouldn’t be ready to pucker up just yet. Third-grade teacher Mr. Thie is starting to make a comeback. There are still two days left to vote with your pennies for one of the nine brave teachers and staff members! 

After Wednesday's count, here are the latest totals:

• Mr. Dudley, principal: $109. 81
• Mr. Thie, 3rd grade: $66.83
• Ms. Geis, 4th grade: $39.45
• Mr. Johnson, PE/health: $25.12
• Mrs. Jayne, kindergarten: $18.81
• Mrs. Kalinski, 5th grade: $17.89
• Mrs. Davison, 1st grade: $11.32
• Mrs. Hoppe, 2nd grade: $7.06
• Mrs. Drews, school counselor: $5.29

The winner will be announced Monday afternoon, with the kissing of a pig taking place at 6:30 p.m. that evening during Discovery Night at The Farmstead!

Mr. Dudley Expands Lead in Kiss a Pig Competition

Principal Dudley is getting closer to smooching a swine at Discovery Night at The Farmstead with a hefty lead after the second day of students' voting with their pennies.

But the other eight brave contestants don't have to be stuck in the mud—there are still three days left for students to vote with their pennies on who they want to see kiss a pig.

Thank you to all the parents and students who have brought in change so far this week! Here are the current totals after today's count:

• Mr. Dudley, principal: $86.57
• Mr. Thie, 3rd grade: $39.66
• Ms. Geis, 4th grade: $34.84
• Mr. Johnson, PE/health: $23.77
• Mrs. Jayne, kindergarten: $17.88
• Mrs. Kalinski, 5th grade: $13.81
• Mrs. Davison, 1st grade: $10.82
• Mrs. Hoppe, 2nd grade: $6.85
• Mrs. Drews, school counselor: $4.84

Don't miss this fun fall event from 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, at The Farmstead. The kissing of the pig will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Dudley Takes Lead in Kiss a Pig Contest

Today was the first day for students to vote with their pennies on which teacher or staff member they want to see kiss a pig at Discovery Night at The Farmstead next Monday.

After tallying the votes this morning, Mr. Dudley, Discovery's principal, is in the lead, with third-grade teacher Mr. Thie and fourth-grade teacher Ms. Geis not too far behind. But it's early in the week so you never know who's going to come face to face with a pig. Students can continue to vote each day this week with their pennies.

Here are the current totals after today's count:

• Mr. Dudley, principal: $38.55
• Mr. Thie, 3rd grade: $34.42
• Ms. Geis, 4th grade: $26.18
• Mr. Johnson, PE/health: $15.88
• Mrs. Davison, 1st grade: $8.60
• Mrs. Kalinski, 5th grade: $7.29
• Mrs. Hoppe, 2nd grade: $5.59
• Mrs. Jayne, kindergarten: $2.64
• Mrs. Drews, school counselor: $2.24

The money raised from the Kiss a Pig contest will go toward playground improvements and other classroom initiatives. We will update the totals each day on the blog, and the lucky winner will be announced next Monday afternoon!

First Box Top Competition Under Way

Box Tops for Education has been a successful program for Discovery Elementary. Parents clipped and submitted 24,127 Box Tops worth a total of $2,412.70, with half of that money going directly back to the teachers for their classrooms.

The first Box Tops competition is under way this school year, and the classroom with the most Box Tops submitted by Oct. 16 will win a smoothie party!

Discovery PTA's goal this year is 25,000 Box Tops. I think we'll meet that goal and hopefully exceed it. You can see how the classrooms are stacking up on our Box Tops bulletin board outside of the cafeteria.

Be on the lookout for Box Tops on your next trip to the grocery store. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents so even submitting one or two each month during the school year will help make a difference. Look for them on Old El Paso products, Chex Mix, Progresso soup, Big G cereals, and Yoplait Go-Gurts, just to name a few. Also, check out http://www.boxtops4education.com/participating-products for a list of all the participating products.

You can send Box Tops into school on the collection sheets that were sent home on Back to School night or in a plastic bag. Just be sure to include your student's name, teacher, and grade. Get clipping!

Who Should Kiss a PIg?

In preparation for Discovery Night at The Farmstead on Monday, Sept. 28, the PTA is holding a "Kiss a Pig" contest. Students will have the chance to vote with their pennies next week on the teacher or staff member that they want to see get a swine smooch!

Flyers will be coming home at the end of this week, and students can return the baggies with their pennies (or other denominations) to cast their vote any day next week.

Thank you to all the parents who got the voting started at last week's Back to School Night. Here's where our lucky contenders stand so far:

• John Thie, 3rd Grade: $13.32
• Mike Dudley, Principal: $7
• Ashley Kalinski, 5th Grade: $6.25
• Corinne Hoppe, 2nd Grade: $4.25
• Kim Davison, 1st Grade: $2.71
• Christine Jayne, Kindergarten: $1.40
• Laura Geis, 4th Grade: $1.16
• Julie Drews, Counselor: $1
• Cory Johnson, PE/Health: $1

Check the blog each day next week for the latest totals. The winner will be announced during the afternoon of Sept. 28. The kiss will take place during the racing pigs show at 6:30 p.m. that evening at The Farmstead.

Discovery Night at The Farmstead is the PTA's biggest fall fundraiser. The event will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 28, and the discounted admission is $5.25 per person. The Farmstead will donate $1 for every person attending from Discovery so please be sure to invite your friends and family.

The proceeds from the Kiss a Pig contest and the evening at The Farmstead will help raise funds for playground improvements and other classroom initiatives.

Students Can Show Discovery Pride

Spirit Days are coming to Discovery on Friday, Sept. 11, and Friday, Sept. 25. Students and teachers are encouraged to sport their Discovery shirts or colors, which are red, white, and blue, on these days!

The PTA will have Spirit Wear available for purchase and special order at Back to School Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. We will have a selection of short-sleeved T-shirts available in a variety of youth and adult sizes in red, blue, black, and white for $10 ($2 extra for XXL). You also can special order long-sleeved shirts for $17 and hoodies for $27.