Friday, January 24, 2014

Paper-eating Backpacks... it's true. Info about the Read-a-thon.

Just in case your student has a paper-eating-backpack like mine... here is the form that they will come home with today, explaining the Read-a-thon. Let's read!!


Thursday, January 23, 2014

Where the sidewalk ends...


One of our biggest concerns at our school is the safety of the students. Together with Mrs. Schroeder and the school district we are trying to see if we can get enough funds to put in a sidewalk that would go on the far north front of the school property (right after the fence) so that children would not be crossing in front of the Kindergarten circle driveway to get to the playground and to go home after school.
 The bikes would be moved to a location over there as well. This would also (as a bonus) alleviate some traffic issues as cars exit that pull through. The walkway and bike pad would cost $11,000 and could be completed this summer. Our cost as parents/PTA would be about $3,000-4000. Each year we have earned about $4000 through our walk-a-thon. Please consider this addition when it comes time to donate in April. 

As a PTA we have been trying to find other ways to offset the fundraiser, and truthfully if we could find enough money elsewhere we would just eliminate the "asking for money" part of the Walk-a-thon, but we just aren't there yet. We are grateful to Chick-fil-a, and Kohl's in American Fork (and many others) for the large donations (both over $1000 each so far this year). Do you know of any other companies who could help us out? Please send a message if you do. We are grateful for all the positive responses we have had to all of our efforts! Thanks!!


Friday, January 17, 2014

If you love us...

Our school coordinator, Ashley, must mail our box tops by February 28th, and we will receive that check in July. The next deadline will be in October of next year. So, we thought of a date that's easy to remember (or maybe not).
If you LOVE us bring us your box tops by Valentines Day!!

We are still a ways off from our goal, but we know we can do it. Chances are you have at least 20 box tops in your cupboard now on products that you already buy. Cereal, granola bars, socks & underwear (that's right!!). I found a box top on a package of plastic cups the other day. So make an effort or have your kids look and clip those tops off and send them to school. I clip my box tops off my cereal boxes BEFORE I put them in the cupboard, that way they don't accidently get thrown away when the box it empty. It doesn't seem to make the box week and since the cereal is already in a bag it stays fresh.

So please remember - February 14th!! Valentines Day -- and if you LOVE us -- bring us your box tops! And even if you don't, still do it. :)
 

Link your Smith's Grocery Card to Snow Springs to help us earn!

Please re-link your Smiths Card to our school. It re-sets every calendar year. You can go to the link below and log in, or take this paper the next time you go and ask the cashier to scan the bar code before you checkout. We earn 1% of all purchases. For 2013 we earned just over $500. Thank you!!
https://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/
 
 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Macey's Perks Program

Snow Springs Friends,

As many of you already know we were invited to join Macey's and their Perks program.

Throughout the school year the totals will be tallied of anyone with their cards linked, and at the end of the school year the 3 schools in our area with the highest $ in receipts will earn $700, $350, or $200.
If you would like to link it online here is the link.
http://maceys.com/shopping-at-maceys/perks/perks-login

After you login, click on Non-Profit and then follow the instructions to link Snow Springs Elementary to your account.

You can also just tell them at the customer service desk at Macey's.

Thank you for your support in all things!

 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Parent/Teacher Conference Dinners (aka SEP Dinners)

 
Did you know its almost time for Parent Teacher Conferences again? Crazy how fast this year is going. We would like to again feed our wonderful staff & teachers since they will stay all day (morning to night) at the school. These dinners allow Teachers to give us more time slots to visit with them and I know they really appreciate all the effort and contributions from the parents.
Below, there are 2 different sign ups for the nights - Wednesday & Thursday (Feb 5th & 6th). Just so you know... we will be able to sign up for our time slots for teacher conferences with our teachers as of the 20th of January, so watch for that form to come home. Thanks to all of you!!  Please sign up for whatever you can AND share this with your friends and neighbors (anyone who would like to help).
The items need to be to the school by 2:30. Thank you - Thank you!
 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Bring us your BOX TOPS, please!

Parents and friends of Snow Springs Elementary, we LOVE box tops, and have earned close to $2000 for the last couple years. We would like to earn more this year and help our school buy some Google Chrome books (laptops). These laptops would be available for whole classrooms (each student) to use to write reports, learn how to type, etc. Our school currently has enough for one and a half classrooms to use them. We would like to set a goal for $3500 this year to help get enough Chrome books for 2 full classrooms (they will be on moveable carts that teachers will check out, and will be available to the whole school). That's 30,000 box tops. We are well on our way and have earned already over $1000.
For every 50 box tops a student brings in, they will receive a token to use at the token tower. You do not have to write the students name on the back of the box top, like has been done in previous years. Simply place 50 box tops in a Ziploc bag and write their name and teachers name on the bag - so we know who to reward. You can also use this sheet above if that's more fun and easier to remember.
Just a thought. If each student in our school brought 50 box tops this year, we would have 60,000 box tops and that would equal $6000 -- wow!*
Thanks again for all you do!

Friday, January 3, 2014

A message about our Passive Fundraisers

Well its been a wonderful break, but we are excited to get back to school!
I thought you may find it interesting how much money our PTA has raised from just a few "passive fundraising" sources:
Chick-fil-A at American Fork has overwhelmingly donated much to our school through lunches to cookies! Our Spirit nights there have raised $1126.65 (on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5-8pm, anyone can... attend, tells the cashier OUR school name and makes a purchase, Chick-fil-a gives us 20% of that purchase).
American Fork Kohl's has generously donated over 15 hours of service AND $1500!
At the beginning of the year as a PTA we participated in Target's gift card giveaway and received $825 which is going to the school to improve safety.
Café Zupas donated $129.52 from their hosted evening (we are currently discussing having Zupas be a monthly opportunity as well.) Brick Oven in South Jordan generously donated $300 for tee-shirts and asked for nothing in return. We have earned $93.14 so far this school year from signing up with AMAZON associates and all of you who have linked through them when you shop with Amazon! - Amazing! Ken Craft Candy donated 1500 candy sticks to be used at Christmas time. Many more individuals have donated time and others have donated money anonymously and we thank them as well!
ALL of this money is already filling in that amount we budgeted to give to our classrooms/teachers for our students by way of "grade grants" this year and we are very appreciative.
Here are some of the way that grants have been spent so far this year:
2nd Grade Reading Posters, Star tutoring program, Geared Clocks & Timeline rulers for 3rd graders, Fitness Testing Awards for this spring, Kindergarten Alphabet Sets, Library Educational DVDs, Art Supplies, Substitute teachers to allow grades to attend clinics, Readers Theatre, Read-a-thon (over $4,300). When you divide that by the number of students at our school that's about $3.50 a student. Seems so minimal and yet very effective way to spend our donations. Thank you to all who have been so generous!
This spring we will hold our annual PTA fundraiser/ walk-a-thon. In the past we have asked for a small flat donation. We are currently working with the school to decide exclusively what this money will be raised for and what our goal will be, we will announce that as the time gets closer. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or would just like to help our school improve. Please message your PTA here - we would welcome your support. And please continue to share our "spirit nights" with your friends, family, and neighbors...as we can all see from the #'s above every little bit helps!
*I hope I haven't left anyone out, just wanted to highlight the "passive fundraisers" - we appreciate all those who donate!