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.

Fro-Yo Social at U-Swirl

Don't miss the chance to meet other Discovery families at the PTA's fundraiser night at U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, 3319 N. Eagle Road, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 31. The self-serve frozen yogurt shop will donate 20% of all proceeds during that two-hour period to Discovery PTA!

Save the Date: Upcoming PTA Events

We hope everyone is having a great "Back to School" week! A huge thank you to all of the parents who signed up for PTA or its volunteer team, purchased Spirit Wear, prepaid for Popcorn Fridays, and provided teachers with additional classroom supplies through our Wishing Garden at last Friday's Meet and Greet. We really appreciate your support of the PTA. Your help allows us to better serve Discovery and its students.

Save the date for the following Discovery PTA events:

Discovery U-Swirl Night: Have a cold treat on a hot summer evening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, at U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, 3319 N. Eagle Road. The kids will be happy, and you'll have the chance to socialize with other Discovery families. U-Swirl will donate 20% of all yogurt purchases during this time to Discovery PTA, which we will use for school and classroom initiatives.

PTA Meeting: The first PTA meeting of the school year will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the Health Room. We will be discussing the year's goals and would love to have parent and teacher feedback!

Popcorn Friday: Our first Popcorn Friday of the year will be Sept. 4. Popcorn Fridays are held on the first Friday school day of the month, when the PTA will deliver bags of popcorn for students to enjoy as a snack. You can send in 50 cents with your student that day or prepay for the entire year for $4 (this pays for eight times, with one month free). If you would like to prepay, either send back the popcorn pass form or a note with your student's name, grade, and teacher with $4.

Back to School Night: Discovery will hold its Back to School Night for parents from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10.  The PTA will have its Wishing Garden set up with the remaining items teachers would like for their classrooms, and we also will be selling Spirit Wear and PTA memberships.

We hope to see you soon!