SpiritCups Will Be Available for Pickup Wednesday Afternoon

Thank you to everyone who participated in the PTA's SpiritCup fundraiser. We earned approximately $2,000, which brings our current total to $11,000 for playground improvements. We are continuing to work toward our goal of enhancing the primary and intermediate playgrounds, which will cost a little more than $40,000.

The SpiritCup orders will be arriving to school on Wednesday, Dec. 7, and will be available for pickup at the end of the school day/after school. If you are not able to pick up the order, we will send smaller orders home with your students on Thursday and call to arrange pickup for bigger orders.

Individual Box Tops Contest Under Way

Thanks parents for clipping Box Tops for Education for Discovery! So far, 7,200 Box Tops have been turned in, totaling $720. Half of the money goes directly back to classrooms, while the rest goes to the PTA for other school projects.

Congratulations to Mrs. Arevalo's second-grade class for winning the first Box Tops contest of the school year, coming in with 765 clipped Box Tops. The class celebrated at the beginning of November with a smoothie party and an extra recess. Contest runners-up were Mrs. Wright's kindergarten class with 753 Box Tops and Mrs. Kalinski's fifth-grade class with 657 Box Tops. See the latest rankings on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria.

The next Box Tops contest is now under way. The student who brings in the most Box Tops by Jan. 27 will win Bodies in Motion passes for the cosmic ropes course for four people. Students also will get one ticket for every 25 Box Tops submitted entered into a drawing for other fun prizes, such as passes to Planet Kid, passes to JumpTime, and Toys R Us gift certificates.

For a list of participating Box Tops products, visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products.

Sides, Desserts Needed for Staff Holiday Luncheon

Discovery PTA is helping to round out the Discovery staff holiday luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 15, with side dishes, desserts, and beverages. Homemade or purchased food is welcome. We are planning on serving 60 to 70 staff and school district visitors at the luncheon, so we really appreciate any help we can get.

If you are interested in providing a dish or beverages, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49aaa72da6f58-discovery1.

Enjoy Art and Donuts at Discovery on Friday

Discovery PTA will host its third annual Discovery Donuts from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 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 PTA's 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, What's Your Story? Students also can hear stories, do origami, make Christmas cards for veterans, and decorate ornaments.

We hope to see you Friday morning for this fun Discovery event!

SpiritCups Fundraiser to Aid Playground Improvements

Discovery PTA is doing a SpiritCups fundraiser the first two weeks of November to raise money for improvements to our primary and intermediate playgrounds. Flyers were sent home at the end of last week or early this week in backpacks. We will receive 40% of all SpiritCups sales.

These durable SpiritCups and SpiritTravelCups feature the nation's top NFL, MLB, NHL, and collegiate teams and make great holiday gifts for sports fans. Order forms are due back to teachers by Wednesday, Nov. 16, and the orders will arrive before the December holiday break.

You can sell local, and you can also create a link to send out via email or social media to friends and family across the country. If you sell local, please have all checks made out to Discovery PTA. To create your individual participant online link, go to www.SpiritCupsDirect.com/login. Friends and family can purchase the cups online, and they will be shipped directly to them. Shipping and tax will be charged for online orders.

All students who sell one set of cups will win a prize and be entered in a drawing for a $25 ToyTown gift card, and the top fundraising student will win a $50 ToyTown gift card.

Please email discoverypta@gmail.com if you have any questions about SpiritCups. Sample cups also are featured outside of the Discovery front office if you want to take a look at the products.

Upcoming Events at Discovery

We have some exciting events coming up at Discovery over the next month, in addition to Halloween celebrations!

Fall Book Fair: This week is the Fall Book Fair. Students and parents can shop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. Wednesday is the late night, and students are welcome to wear their costumes. You can also order a whole pizza for $15 from Idaho Pizza Co. to pick up in the cafeteria or purchase a slice for $2. We are still looking for parent volunteers to help out during the book fair. If you are interested, check out our signup sheet at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4da5a72aaafe3-parent.

Box Tops for Education: Please send in any Box Tops for Education by Friday, Oct. 28, to count for the first classroom contest of the year. The classroom that brings in the most Box Tops will win a smoothie party and a free recess.

November PTA Meeting: The next regularly scheduled PTA meeting will be at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the Health Room. We will be answering questions and providing updates regarding our Brax Cup fundraiser.

Reflections: The deadline for Reflections art entries is quickly approaching. Please turn art and completed entry form in to classroom teachers by Friday, Nov. 4. To print an entry form or get more information, please visit http://discoverypta.blogspot.com/2016/10/students-can-share-their-stories.html.

Popcorn Friday: The next Popcorn Friday will be Friday, Nov. 4. If you didn't prepay for the entire year at the start of school, you can send in 50 cents with your student on Friday or $3 to pay for the remainder of the year. Just be sure to add a note with your student's and teacher's name. If you're interested in helping bag popcorn, come join other volunteers at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the cafeteria. It takes about an hour.

Discovery Donuts/Reflections Gallery: The PTA will host its third Discovery Donuts from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 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. At the same time, everyone can visit the PTA's Reflections Gallery that will be set up in the gym.

Items Needed for Staff Appreciation Lunch

Discovery PTA will host a staff appreciation lunch during parent-teacher conferences next Thursday, Oct. 20. If you would like to contribute something, such a fruit plate, a salad, or dessert, for the luncheon, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49aaa72da6f58-staff2.