PTA's Upcoming December Events

Time is flying, and the holiday season is upon us. Here's what Discovery PTA has going on in December:

Friday, Dec. 1: Instead of Popcorn Friday, we're feeling festive and doing Licorice Friday. If you didn't buy a popcorn pass at the start of the school year, please send in 50 cents with your student for a licorice treat. Popcorn Friday will return in January.

Tuesday, Dec. 5: The December PTA meeting will be held at 4:10 p.m. Because of the holidays, we will be skipping the January meeting and will reconvene on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Friday, Dec. 15: Help Santa fill his sack with Box Tops. Each Box Top for Education label is worth 10 cents, and they do add up quickly! The class with the most Box Tops during this contest will win a holiday surprise.

Friday, Dec. 15: Help the PTA provide side dishes, desserts, and drinks for the Discovery staff holiday luncheon. View the signup sheet at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4faca729a1f85-staff if you're interested in helping out.

PTA's Upcoming November Events

I hope November is off to a great start for Discovery families. Hopefully all of the kids have bounced back from yesterday's sugar overload.

The PTA has several events this month, so please mark your calendars.

Friday, Nov. 3: It's that time of the month again for Popcorn Friday. If you didn't prepay for the year for your student to have a popcorn snack in the afternoon, you can send in 50 cents that morning. Also, the PTA needs help bagging the popcorn. If you have time, stop by the cafeteria between 8:30 and 9 a.m. to help out.

Tuesday, Nov. 7: The November PTA meeting will be at 4:10 p.m. Join us to hear the latest on Box Tops, playground improvements, and other school activities.

Friday, Nov. 10: Discovery PTA will host its fourth annual Discovery Donuts from 8 to 9 a.m. in the cafeteria. This is a great opportunity for students to bring the special adult in their life to share a donut and socialize with other Discovery families before school.

At the same time, everyone can visit the Reflections Gallery that will be set up in the gym. Enjoy the fabulous art entries that students submitted for this year's PTA Reflections competition, Within Reach. There also will be activities and a movie in the gym at this time.

Last Call for First Box Tops Contest

Tomorrow, Oct. 20, is the last day to turn in Box Tops for the first classroom contest of the school year. The class that turns in the most Box Tops will win a smoothie party.

You can staple the Box Tops to a collection sheet or send them in a baggie with your student. Please be sure to check that the Box Tops haven't expired.

Stay tuned for details about the next Box Tops contest.

Mr. Thie Wins the Pie-Eating Contest

Thank you to all the Discovery families who made it out to The Farmstead this evening. It looked like everyone was having a fantastic time, especially Mr. Thie and Mrs. Jackson who battled it out for the pie-eating contest.

If you didn't make it to The Farmstead or got lost in the corn maize, watch our video to see what went down in the pie contest. Congratulations to Mr. Thie for eating the most in 90 seconds! We raised about $400 for the pie contest, and The Farmstead will also give us $1 back for each Discovery admission. A great night for Discovery Elementary!

Come Out to Discovery Night at The Farmstead

The PTA event of the fall is finally here. Come out and join us for Discovery Night at The Farmstead from 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9. Admission is $6 per person, and The Farmstead will donate $1 for every Discovery admission back to the school.

The admission includes the MAiZE, hayride, jumping pillows, bee line, cow train, pig races, corn hole, the Famous Idaho Potato sack slide, barnyard ball zone, and farmyard games.

Also, don't miss our Discovery pie-eating contest at 7:30 p.m., when our top two earners Mr. Thie and Mrs. Jackson will face off.

Thanks again to all of the students and families who donated pennies for the pie-eating competition. Every penny counted, and we raised almost $400.

We hope to see you Monday night!

Mr. Thie Takes Pie Lead, Still Neck and Neck with Mrs. Jackson

Mr. Thie has moved into first place with one more day of voting left.

The race for the two pie-eating contestants is heating up. After this morning's count, Mr. Thie passed Mrs. Jackson by over $5. However, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Maw, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Kats, and Mrs. Kearns aren't too far behind. Tomorrow is the last day for students to vote with their pennies on the staff member they most want to see in the pie-eating contest next Monday evening at The Farmstead.

Thank you to all the parents and students who have sent in money. The PTA so far has raised over $311 for school and classroom activities. The Farmstead also will donate $1 per Discovery admission next Monday, so we hope you and your family will join us for a fun fall time. This is our biggest fall fundraiser.

Here are the current totals. We will announce the final two winners on Monday afternoon before The Farmstead.

• Mr. Thie, 5th Grade: $68.30
• Mrs. Jackson, 4th Grade: $63.11
• Mr. Johnson, PE/Health: $38.39
• Mrs. Maw, 2nd Grade: $34.55
• Mr. Dudley, Principal: $29.50
• Mr. Kats, Counselor: $29.02
• Mrs. Kearns, Kindergarten: $28.94
• Mrs. Howard, 1st Grade: $10.63
• Ms. Jayne, 3rd Grade: $9.00

Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Thie Continue Lead for Pie-Eating Contest

Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Thie are the top two contenders for the pie-eating contest. But I wouldn't count any of the other teachers or staff members out. Three days remain for students to vote with their pennies on who they want to face off over pie. The PTA will be collecting money through Tuesday, Oct. 2. The two winners will be announced the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 9, and you can see them duel it out that evening at 7:30 p.m. at The Farmstead. It's a fun fall event, and Discovery will receive $1 for every school admission.

Here are the current totals:

• Mrs. Jackson, 4th Grade: $47.53
• Mr. Thie, 5th Grade: $41.50
• Mr. Johnson, PE/Health: $32.78
• Mr. Dudley, Principal: $24.19
• Mrs. Maw, 2nd Grade: $18.63
• Mr. Kats, Counselor: $18.52
• Mrs. Kearns, Kindergarten: $11.36
• Mrs. Howard, 1st Grade: $5.52
• Ms. Jayne, 3rd Grade: $3.81

Discovery Staffers Show Pie-Eating Skills

Discovery has the greatest staff members who don't mind a bit of fun and a mess. To see what great sports they are, check out the video from this afternoon's assembly. After this, how could the students not be excited for the pie-eating competition at The Farmstead! 

Mrs. Jackson still holds the lead after the second day of voting, but Mr. Thie is gaining ground. Students will be able to vote for the staff member they want to see in the pie-eating competition through Tuesday, Oct. 3. We'll announce the contestants—the top two money makers—on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 9, before The Farmstead event.

Here are the latest totals:

• Mrs. Jackson, 4th Grade: $41.28
• Mr. Thie, 5th Grade: $30.80
• Mr. Johnson, PE/Health: $20.98
• Mr. Dudley, Principal: $18.13
• Mr. Kats, Counselor: $10.92
• Mrs. Kearns, Kindergarten: $7.38
• Mrs. Howard, 1st Grade: $3.42
• Ms. Jayne, 3rd Grade: $3.30
• Mrs. Maw, 2nd Grade: $2.28

Mrs. Jackson Takes Lead for Pie-Eating Competition

Will Mrs. Jackson be one of the pie-eating contestants at The Farmstead Oct. 9?

Today was the first day students could vote with their pennies on the staff members they want to see face off in the pie-eating contest at Discovery Night at The Farmstead on Monday, Oct. 9. Students can continue to vote with pennies, or other coins, through Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Mrs. Jackson has the lead by almost $20. Will Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Johnson stay in the lead and be the two staff members to eat pie? Or will two other lucky staff members get the "support" of students? We'll keep you updated on the PTA Facebook page as well as the blog.

Here are the totals so far:

• Mrs. Jackson, 4th Grade: $37.33
• Mr. Johnson, PE/Health: $19.71
• Mr. Thie, 5th Grade: $9.80
• Mr. Dudley, Principal: $9.17
• Mr. Kats, Counselor: $8.61
• Mrs. Kearns, Kindergarten: $7.38
• Mrs. Howard, 1st Grade: $3.42
• Ms. Jayne, 3rd Grade: $2.30
• Mrs. Maw, 2nd Grade: $1.76

This is the PTA's big fall fundraiser, and all money raised will go toward school and classroom activities. Come to the PTA meeting at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, to hear about our school year plans.

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events

We are now full swing into the school year, and the calendar shows it. Discovery PTA as well as the school has some great things planned in the next few weeks. Save those dates now!

1. Discovery Night at The Farmstead will be from 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9. This is such a fun fall event for Discovery families, and The Farmstead donates back $1 for each Discovery admission that night. This year, two staff members will compete in a pie-eating contest at 7:30 p.m. that night. Students can vote with their pennies from Tuesday, Sept. 26, to Tuesday, Oct. 3, for the staff member that they most want to see in the pie-eating duel. We will announce the two "eaters" on Monday, Oct. 9, before school is out. This year's competitors are:

• Mrs. Kearns, Kindergarten
• Mrs. Howard, 1st Grade 
• Mrs. Maw, 2nd Grade
• Ms. Jayne, 3rd Grade
• Mrs. Jackson, 4th Grade
• Mr. Thie, 5th Grade
• Mr. Kats, School Counselor
• Mr. Johnson, PE/Health
• Mr. Dudley, Principal

Thanks to all of the parents for donating at Back to School Night. Mr. Thie is currently in the lead, followed by Mr. Dudley and Mrs. Kearns. We will update the totals on the blog and on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria this week.

2. Discovery PTA will help to provide lunch and snacks for the staff during parent teacher conferences on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and Wednesday, Oct. 4. If you would like to donate food or supplies, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4da5a72aaafe3-parent1. We appreciate all of your support!

3. The regularly scheduled PTA meeting has been moved to Tuesday, Oct. 10, because of parent teacher conferences. Come out to the meeting on 4:10 p.m. Members will be hearing about and voting on staff grant proposals.

4. Popcorn Friday will be Friday, Oct. 13. You can still prepay for the school year, if you haven't already, for $3.50, or just send in 50 cents for your student to have an afternoon popcorn snack. The PTA also needs help bagging that morning at 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Come join us for some fun!

5. This week is the first ever National Box Tops for Education Week. To celebrate, clip those Box Tops and send in to your student's classroom. The classroom that brings in the most Box Tops by Friday, Oct. 20, will win a smoothie party!

6. Walk to School Day this fall will be Tuesday, Oct. 10. Stay tuned for more details!

7. The annual PTA Reflections art competition is underway. This year's theme is "Within Reach," and students can enter original art in one or more categories, including dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Entries should be turned into teachers by Friday, Oct. 27. Entry forms with more details have already come home in backpacks, but please email discoverypta@gmail.com or visit www.idahopta.org if you have questions. All of the art will be displayed at our Discovery Donuts event in November (date to come).

We'll have more details on all of these fall events in the coming weeks, so please check back with the blog for the latest.

First PTA Meeting of the School Year

We've made it to the end of the first full week of the school year, and the long holiday weekend is well-deserved for students, staff, and parents.

But before you take a break from school, mark your calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 5, for the first PTA meeting of the school year. It will take place at 4:10 p.m. in Room 13. We will be discussing the goals and priorities for the school year, and we would love to have your input!

Also, if you haven't had a chance to join the PTA or order your Spirit Wear, you can do so at the meeting or at Back to School Night from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7. We hope to see you there!

Come Out to Discovery Night at La Creme on Monday

We hope that everyone is having a great start to the school year. To celebrate the first few days of school, we invite you to come out to Discovery Night at La Creme Frozen Yogurt, 3319 N. Eagle Road, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28. This is a great opportunity to socialize with other Discovery families and staff.

La Creme will donate 20% of all proceeds during that three-hour period to the Discovery PTA, and we will use those funds for classroom and school needs! To learn more about what the PTA will be doing this school year, please come to our first meeting at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, in Room 13.

Popcorn Passes, Spirit Wear to Be Available at Meet and Greet

As we find ourselves at the one-week mark until school starts, I wanted to share a reminder about Discovery's annual Meet and Greet, which will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22. (Meet and Greet will be 2 to 3 p.m. for a.m. kindergarten and 3 to 4 p.m. for p.m. kindergarten.) After meeting your student's new teacher and putting away school supplies, please take a moment to stop by the Discovery PTA table to say hello, get your popcorn passes, and browse the Spirit Wear.

We'll be selling prepaid passes for Popcorn Fridays for $4 per student for the entire year. This pass pays for seven popcorn days and two licorice days. Plus, this saves you from remembering to send in 50 cents on the first school day Friday of each month and you get one month free. Our Popcorn Fridays this school year will be Sept. 1, Oct. 13, Nov. 3, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 2, and April 6. And we'll be handing out licorice instead of popcorn on Dec. 1 and May 4.

Discovery Spirit Wear will be available for purchase and special order. Back by popular demand will be the short-sleeved and long-sleeved performance T-shirts in red, blue, black, and silver for youth and adults. We also will have a selection of short-sleeved cotton T-shirts available in a variety of youth and adult sizes in red, blue, black, and white. Short-sleeved cotton shirts are $10, and the new short-sleeved performance shirts are $14. You also can special order long-sleeved cotton or performance shirts for $18 and hoodies for $28.

We also would love to have you fill out our volunteer form to stay up to date and/or sign up for a PTA membership, which is $10 for an individual, $18 for a family, or $8 for staff. It's a great way to meet other parents and teachers as well as to enhance your child's education!

You can pay with cash, checks, or credit cards. We hope to see you next week at Meet and Greet!

Don't Miss out on Back-to-School Box Tops Bonuses

Reality is sinking in that school will be starting in less than three weeks. You can't go into a grocery store without seeing aisles full of crayons, notebooks, glue sticks, and other school supplies. My e-mail is full of back-to-school shopping sales and lunchbox ideas.

Also in full back-to-school mode are Box Tops for Education bonuses at area grocery stores. In addition to the Box Top on each product, worth 10 cents, you can also earn extra money for Discovery by purchasing a certain number of products.

For instance, if you buy five Box Tops products in one purchase by Aug. 31 at Walmart and then scan your receipt into the Box Tops for Education app, you will earn 50 bonus Box Tops, or $5, for Discovery!

Fred Meyer also has a Box Tops bonus incentive running through Aug. 15. If you buy five participating items, a bonus Box Tops certificate for $2 will be provided at checkout. And if you have the Fred Meyer app, a slew of coupons are available for Box Tops products, like Annie's macaroni and cheese, Big G cereals, Yoplait GoGurts, and Nature Valley and Larabar snacks.

It's a great time to stock up for back-to-school breakfasts and snacks as well as get those extra Box Tops to start the school year off strong for Discovery! Last school year, we received just over $2,000 from Box Tops, with half of the money going directly back to the classrooms and the other half to the PTA for other school initiatives. Let's work to beat that number this school year!

Box Tops Bring in the Bucks for Discovery

A huge thank you to all the families who brought in Box Tops for Education this school year. We collected over 20,000 Box Tops, earning more than $2,000 for Discovery!

Mrs. Jackson's third-grade class won the last contest of the year with 516 Box Tops submitted. They celebrated last week with a Box Tops Bonanza party featuring Go-Gurts, granola bars, and fruit snacks.

Mrs. Wright's kindergarten class also was rewarded for bringing in the most Box Tops during the school year. Each student received a Box Tops goodie bag to take home.

Here are the overall class totals for this school year:

• Mrs. Eldredge, preschool: 302
• Mrs. Wheat, preschool: 285
• Miss Allen, AM kindergarten: 849
• Miss Allen, PM kindergarten: 411
• Mrs. Wright, tuition kindergarten: 2,152
• Mrs. Croft, first grade: 919
• Mrs. Howard, first grade: 814
• Ms. McKay, first grade: 899
• Mrs. Arevalo, second grade: 1,157
• Mrs. Davison, second grade: 2,063
• Mrs. Maw, second grade: 342
• Mrs. Watkins, second grade: 580
• Mr. Hawkins, third grade: 510
• Mrs. Jackson, third grade: 1,614
• Mrs. Jayne, third grade: 399
• Mrs. Olsen, third grade: 466 
• Mrs. Morris, fourth grade: 727
• Mr. Partin, fourth grade: 848
• Mrs. Slocum, fourth grade: 351
• Mrs. Stroud, fourth grade: 640
• Mrs. Haycock, fifth grade: 1,103 
• Mrs. Kalinski, fifth grade: 823
• Mr. Runyan, fifth grade: 1,005
• Mr. Thie, fifth grade: 800

Be sure to keep clipping over the summer. Here's a Box Tops collection sheet to help you!

Second Annual Walk-a-Thon Tomorrow

The time is finally here for Discovery's second annual walk-a-thon! Students will be walking and running the track during the school day tomorrow to help raise money for playground improvements.

Please make sure that your students wear their walk-a-thon t-shirts, provided by the PTA, that came home in backpacks today (some teachers also decided to keep the t-shirts at school and will have the students change into them in the morning).

The PTA also will collect donation envelopes this week, and students who raise $20 will be entered into a drawing for some fun prizes.

Please come out and walk with your students if you have time. Here's the schedule for tomorrow:

• 10:05-10:35 a.m.: 4^th grade
• 10:40 to 11:10 a.m.: AM and Tuition Kindergarten
• 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.: 2^nd grade
• 1:05 to 1:35 p.m.: 5^th grade
• 1:40 to 2:10 p.m.: 1^st grade and PM Kindergarten
• 2:55 to 3:25 p.m.: 3^rd grade

STEM Bus Comes to Discovery; PTA Shows Staff Appreciation

We had a flurry of activity at Discovery last Thursday. The interactive STEM Bus with hands-on activities was at Discovery for the day for the students' enjoyment and exploration. The PTA helped to bring the STEM bus to discovery under the coordination of third-grade teacher Heather Jackson and a Micron Foundation grant. 

The PTA also hosted a staff appreciation luncheon on Thursday, as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to Anne Gordon for coordinating and to all the PTA members and volunteers who brought in food donations! 

Discovery's 2nd Annual Walk-a-Thon to Aid Playground Improvements

Discovery PTA is so excited for our second annual walk-a-thon on Wednesday, May 10. This PTA fundraiser will help raise money for our initiative to provide climbing equipment to enhance the intermediate (3rd to 5th) playground and add new play equipment on the primary side. We also will be adding a ramp and playground surfacing to allow access for our special-needs students. Over the past two school years, the PTA has raised $11,000 and is a quarter of the way to our goal.

Donation packets went home with students at the end of April. This is a flat donation event, not a per-lap pledge. All donations must be turned in to teachers by Friday, May 12. If you would like to make a donation of $50 or more, please consider donating to Discovery PTA's playground initiative through the West Ada Education Foundation. Your donation will go directly to the playground improvements, and you will be eligible to earn a tax deduction. Your donation also will go further if your employer matches donations to nonprofit organizations. Go to the Discovery web page to find the link to make your donation.

The student who raises the most money in grades K-2 and 3-5 will get to be assistant principal for the day with Mr. Dudley. Also, if a student raises $20, they will earn a ticket with their name on it to go in a prize drawing to win the following:

• Bricks & Minifigs Boise birthday package worth $150
• Two full-day tickets for Roaring Springs
• Mini golf at Wahooz
• Family pass or Dart Warz
• Laser Maze from ToyTown
• Glow-in-the-Dark Lab from ToyTown
• Bowling passes from Meridian Lanes
• Big Al's FunCards
• Zoo Boise family pass
• Le Creme Frozen Yogurt gift cards

Thank you for all of your support to make this fundraiser a success and bringing us closer to our playground goals.

Discovery PTA's May Events

In addition to Discovery PTA's annual walk-a-thon during the school day on Wednesday, May 10, we have some other big events coming up in May.

• The final PTA meeting of the school year will be at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, in the Health Room. 
• To show our appreciation for Discovery's teachers and staff, we will host a spring luncheon with sweet pork burritos and salads on Thursday, May 4. We are still looking for donations of fruit and desserts. If you would like to sign up, please visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49aaa72da6f58-discovery3.  
• The final Popcorn Friday of the school year will be on Friday, May 5. Please join us in the cafeteria at 8:30 a.m. Friday if you would like to help bag popcorn.
• To say thank you to all of our wonderful family members who volunteer for PTA and in the classroom, the PTA will have muffins and beverages in the cafeteria from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. Please stop by for a morning snack and a thank you in person.

Volunteers Needed for Second Annual Walk-a-Thon

Discovery PTA is preparing for our second annual walk-a-thon on Wednesday, May 10. Please come join us as a volunteer to help pin on race bibs, mark tallies of laps walked, and escort students to the cafeteria for a snack. Or just come and walk with your students, and we'll count your laps.

Here's the schedule for our "Move Your Feet" walk-a-thon on May 10.

• 10:05 to 10:35 a.m.: 4th Grade
• 10:40 to 11:10 a.m.: AM and All-Day Kindergarten
• 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.: 2nd Grade
• 1:05 to 1:35 p.m.: 5th Grade
• 1:40 to 2:10 p.m.: 1st Grade and PM Kindergarten
• 2:55 to 3:25 p.m.: 3rd Grade

You can sign up for your student's classroom at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094baaa923aafa7-wednesday. Your help will ensure that our event is a success!

Free Walk-a-Thon T-shirts for Students, Staff

Discovery PTA is excited to announce that all students and staff will receive free t-shirts to wear for our second annual walk-a-thon on Wednesday, May 10. The shirts were designed by Discovery staffer Keith Burrell and are being provided through generous sponsorships by local businesses!

We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their wonderful support!

More details about the walk-a-thon will be coming home in backpacks this week. And t-shirts will sent home the day before the walk-a-thon.

This year's sponsors include:

• Fleet Feet Sports
• Gold Orthodontics
• J&M Painting, (208) 867-2179
• Meridian Tree Service, (208) 887-0055
• Northview Family Dentistry
• Paramount Eye Care
• The Village at Meridian
• T-Zers Shirt Shop

Help Discovery Reach Box Tops Goal

Thank you to all of the families who have clipped and sent in Box Tops this school year. We have so far collected just over 17,100 Box Tops for Education, earning $1,710 for classroom and other school initiatives! We need just under 8,000 Box Tops to get to our goal of $2,500 for the school year.

Our final contest of the school year is currently under way. The classroom that submits the most Box Tops by Friday, April 21, will win a Box Tops Bonanza Party with favorite Box Tops snacks and an extra recess.

We also will reward the classroom that brings in the most Box Tops for the overall school year with a Box Tops goodie bag!

Here are the classroom totals so far for the school year:

• Mrs. Eldredge, preschool: 295
• Mrs. Wheat, preschool: 188
• Miss Allen, AM kindergarten: 804
• Miss Allen, PM kindergarten: 360
• Mrs. Wright, all-day kindergarten: 1,909
• Mrs. Croft, first grade: 785
• Mrs. Howard, first grade: 706
• Ms. McKay, first grade: 824
• Mrs. Arevalo, second grade: 1,046
• Mrs. Davison, second grade: 1,935
• Mrs. Maw, second grade: 315
• Mrs. Watkins, second grade: 485
• Mr. Hawkins, third grade: 400
• Mrs. Jackson, third grade: 1,098
• Mrs. Jayne, third grade: 344
• Mrs. Olsen, third grade: 601
• Mr. Partin, fourth grade: 769
• Mrs. Slocum, fourth grade: 343
• Mrs. Stroud, fourth grade: 495
• Mrs. Haycock, fifth grade: 903
• Mrs. Kalinski, fifth grade: 775
• Mr. Runyan, fifth grade: 793
• Mr. Thie, fifth grade: 625

A Huge Thank You to Our Community Supporters; T-shirt Sponsorships Still Available

Discovery PTA is gearing up for its second annual Walk-a-Thon, which will raise money for playground improvements. Discovery students and staff will be taking to the track during the school day on Wednesday, May 10, as part of the PTA's largest fundraiser of the school year.

We couldn't do this event without the amazing community support that we have been receiving this spring. A huge thank you to J&M Painting, Paramount Eye Care, and Fleet Feet Sports Meridian for sponsoring our Walk-a-Thon t-shirts; The PULSE Running & Fitness Shop for donating race bibs; Clif Bar & Co. for donating Clif Kid ZBars to provide a healthy snack for our students after they walk; and WinCo for making a generous donation to help our efforts.

We also have received great prizes for our top student walkers and fundraisers as well as their teachers from Big Al's, Bricks & Minifigs, Dart Warz; La Creme Frozen Yogurt, Le Peep, Meridian Lanes, Panache Hair Studio & Day Spa; Roaring Springs, Toytown, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, and Zoo Boise.

We are still looking for some additional sponsors of our Walk-a-Thon t-shirts, which students and staff will wear on the day of the event as well as on our Spirit Days, which are every Friday, and out in the community. Having logos on our shirts will bring awareness to local businesses and support Discovery at the same time. We will accept sponsors through Friday, April 14. All donations are tax-deductible. Please email discoverypta@gmail.com to get a sponsorship form or for more information.

We have two sponsorship levels to consider:

Silver Level — $100

• Logo on PTA blog and Facebook page
• Logo on banner to be displayed during the Walk-a-Thon
• Small logo on event t-shirt

Gold Level - $250

• Logo on PTA blog and Facebook page
• Logo on pledge sheet to be sent home with students
• Logo on banner to be displayed during the Walk-a-Thon
• Large logo on event t-shirt

Thank you again to everyone who has supported our second annual Walk-a-Thon! We couldn't do this amazing event without all of you. 

Local Business Support Needed for Walk-a-Thon

On Wednesday, May 10, Discovery Elementary will hold its second annual Walk-a-Thon to raise money for playground improvements. This is Discovery PTA's largest fundraising event for the 2016-17 school year and is a great time to bring our school and the community together. We are looking for local companies to sponsor t-shirts for all students and staff for this fun event.

Students and staff will wear the t-shirts on the day of the event as well as on our Spirit Days, which are every Friday, and out in the community. Having logos on our shirts will bring awareness to these local businesses and support Discovery at the same time. It's a win-win situation!

We have two sponsorship levels to consider:

Silver Level — $100

• Logo on PTA blog and Facebook page
• Logo on banner to be displayed during the Walk-a-Thon
• Small logo on event t-shirt

Gold Level - $250

• Logo on PTA blog and Facebook page
• Logo on pledge sheet to be sent home with students
• Logo on banner to be displayed during the Walk-a-Thon
• Large logo on event t-shirt

We hope you will consider sponsoring Discovery Walk-a-Thon shirts this year. All donations are tax-deductible. Please email discoverypta@gmail.com to get a sponsorship form or for more information. Payments and logos are due by Monday, April 3.

We Need Volunteers for Spring Book Fair

Spring officially starts next week, and with that comes Discovery's annual Spring Book Fair and Art Walk. Perfect timing for students to pick up some great books to read over spring break!

The Spring Book Fair, which benefits our school library, will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, March 20 and 21; 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22; and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. sharp on Thursday, March 23. The Art Walk will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and you can purchase your student's artwork for $1 as well as enjoy cookies and lemonade in the cafeteria.

Mrs. Campbell, our school librarian, is seeking help during the book fair in the mornings, at lunchtime, and at the end of the school day. We also need donations of cookies or other baked goods, homemade or store-bought. Cookies need to be delivered to the library by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22. If you are interested in volunteering or donating cookies, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4da5a72aaafe3-spring.

Thank you in advance for helping make this annual Discovery event a success!

Polls Open Tuesday, with West Ada Plant Facility Levy on the Ballot

The polls will be open tomorrow in Meridian, and on the ballot will be West Ada School District's plant facility levy.

If approved, it would allow the district to levy up to $16 million to maintain its buildings. Voter approval would allow the district to collect the revenue for 10 years, at which time it must be re-approved by voters. The levy needs 60% voter support to be approved.

For more information on the levy, please visit http://www.westada.org/Page/45440.

We're Halfway to Box Tops Goal

Thanks to everyone who has clipped and turned in Box Tops this school year. Discovery PTA is halfway to our goal of earning $2,500. So far, we have collected 12,500 Box Tops, earning $1,250. Half of that goes directly back to the classrooms while the PTA uses the rest for other school activities.

Congratulations to Mrs. Davison's second-grade class for submitting the most Box Tops—1,359—during the last contest.

Our current contest is now under way. The class that turns in the most Box Tops by St. Patrick's Day, March 17, will celebrate with shamrock smoothies and an extra recess. The PTA will be counting all month and will update the Box Tops bulletin board outside of the cafeteria so the students can see how their class is doing!

Sweet Donations Needed for Discovery Staff Appreciation Event

The PTA will be treating the wonderful Discovery staff and teachers to a Sweet Shop on Thursday, Feb. 9. This is just one example of how we thank the staff throughout the school year.

We are looking for donations of cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and other yummy creations. They can be homemade or store-bought. We also could use wrapped chocolates, gum, and candy to share. Staff will be able to fill a box full of treats to snack on throughout the day or take home to share with their families.

If you are interested in showing your appreciation for the staff and sharing goodies, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49aaa72da6f58-discovery2. The treats need to be delivered to school by 10 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Discovery to Celebrate White Ribbon Week

Next week Discovery will celebrate White Ribbon Week, five days devoted to learning how to make smart and safe choices online and with other media. This year's theme is "Let's Get Real," which will emphasize the need for real friends, conversation, and activities. These lessons are so important in today's online world, finding a balance between physical and digital experiences.

Each morning on the announcements, students will hear a specific message called a reality boost. The PTA will be hosting lunchtime activities each day to match each reality boost, and students are encouraged to participate in the dress-up days that correspond to each boost.

Here are each day's reality boosts and corresponding dress-up themes.

Monday, Feb. 6: Unplug–get active in real life; active-wear day.

Tuesday, Feb. 7: When things don't seem right online, tell a trusted adult immediately; inside-out day.

Wednesday, Feb. 8: We're crazy about being kind online; crazy sock day.

Thursday, Feb. 9: I can spy what's real or not real online; sunglasses day.

Friday, Feb. 10: We're celebrating White Ribbon awareness and making smart and safe choices online; white-out day.

You can also send photos of your students having a real-life experience or being active during the week for a slideshow that will be shown on the final day. Please send photos to slocum.melissa@westada.org by Wednesday, Feb. 8.

If you are interested in volunteering for the lunchtime activities, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4da5a72aaafe3-discovery4.

Support Discovery PTA with Pizza and Other Coming Events

Discovery PTA has some great events coming up in the next couple of weeks.

We invite all Discovery families to come out to our fundraising night at Blaze Pizza at 2206 N. Eagle Road, Meridian, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. Bring in the flyer that your student brings home later this week or show them the flyer below on your phone, and Blaze will donate 20% of the proceeds back to the PTA. We will use these funds for various school activities. We hope to see you there!

Other upcoming events include:

• Friday, Jan. 27: This is the last date to turn in your Box Tops for the individual contest. The student who brings in the most Box Tops during this contest period will win four passes for the Bodies in Motion cosmic ropes course. For each 25 Box Tops submitted, students also will be entered into a drawing for other fun prizes.
• Friday, Feb. 3: It's Popcorn Friday. If you didn't prepay for the year, please send in 50 cents with your student for a tasty afternoon treat.
• Monday, Feb. 6-Friday, Feb. 10: The PTA will be celebrating White Ribbon Week, which helps to teach children to make smart choices online and when using other media. We will have daily announcements and lunchtime activities. Students also will be invited to dress up each day to correspond with the daily theme. Stay tuned to the blog for more details.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7: The February PTA meeting will be at 4:10 p.m. in the Health Room. We will be discussing our spring activities and reviewing staff grant applications.
• Thursday, Feb. 9: The PTA will be hosting its second annual Sweet Shoppe for the Discovery staff. We will be posting a SignUp Genius link within the next week for anyone who might want to share some sweet treats with our great school staff!

Box Tops Are 'Snowtastic'

Happy New Year! It certainly has been off to a snowy, icy start, and it's hard to believe we're already in the second half of January. And that means the deadline for the current individual Box Tops contest is coming up on Friday, Jan. 27. 

The student who brings in the most Box Tops by this date will win passes for four people for the Bodies in Motion cosmic ropes course. In addition, each student will get one ticket for every 25 Box Tops submitted, and the ticket will be entered into a drawing for other fun prizes: passes to Planet Kid, passes to JumpTime, and gift certificates to ToysRUs. 

We are almost halfway to our goal of collecting 25,000 Box Tops this school year, earning $2,500. Half goes directly back to the classrooms, while the remainder goes to the PTA for other school initiatives, such as field trips and assemblies.

For a list of participating products and other special Box Tops offers, please visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products. Print the collection sheet below and send in by Friday, Jan. 27!