Box Tops for Education

For our Holiday Contest I made a "brochure" using an 81/2 x 11 sheet folded like a Christmas card.  I put info about the contest and two collection sheets and made copies at school.  I had it sent home in their weekly folders.  It was easy and our kids seem to like the collection sheets.  

We have a Box Top VIP contest once a month.  10 will get you in!   If each child brings 8 a month  we will reach our goal of $4000. (4 X last years earnings)   Once a month there is a drawing from the kids in each class who brought at least 10 Box Tops.   Each class draws one winner who is the lunchtime Box Top VIP.  The VIP gets to  go to the front of the line and sit in a special section which has table cloths and decorations.  They get to invite any child in the cafeteria (instead of just sitting with their class) to be their "guest" at the VIP table,  and they do not have to raise their hand or wait for permission to go for seconds or water.  On Mondays their name is announced as being the VIP, and their family members can come eat with them. On Tuesday and Wednesdays they get movie passes and free What-a-burger coupons and  Sonic coupons. On Thursday we have someone who is a community VIP come eat with them. We have had the Mayor, high school football heros and cheerleaders, and HEB Buddy.  They get their photo taken and an article written about them for the local newspaper. On Friday they and their guest get free Ice cream paid for with donations the Box Top Brigade rounds up from local businesses.  We make fancy certificates with their pictures on them and they hang in the cafeteria all month.   It is pretty popular right now as everyone wants to be a VIP.

Because the school is small how about going another direction for a contest than pitting one class against another.  Try something like this.

Get one big plastic "pickle" jar for each teacher, the librarian, the principal, etc.  Cut a slot in each lid and put a big label on each one with the name of each teacher.  Set them up in the library, cafeteria, a table in the hallway, somewhere that the kids can access them.  Give them 1 month to put as many box tops as they can in the jar of their choice.  At the end of the time, whichever teacher has the MOST box tops has to do something crazy- take a pie in the face, kiss a "critter" (a piglet or something), wear a funny costume, ride a tricycle around teh hallway, something.  You'll have to see what the teachers are willing to do before you start of course, but it is pretty low maintenance.  You don't have to track by individual kids or classrooms.  The kids will try and stuff the one they want to see do the stunt.  The teachers will try to stuff other teachers so they don't end up having to do it themselves.  Win, win and you only have to count through 1 time at the end.

Tess

Since the break is coming soon I would send home the box top collection sheet make it for 10 box tops. Because parents are shopping for Xmas and New Years Dinners. It's nice to go from room to room reminding them and telling them on what packages there are boxt tops.  You could do the movie madness collections but, it is 20 box tops. Or you could do a basket, I did a basket for Xmas I have had a good response. I did read about the VIP table for Lunch sounds good.  My next venture I read about is making a map of the United States and having people from different states send box tops. The child that recieves box tops from the farthest state or country wins a prize. We are going to put up the Map in the Cafeteria for everyone to see where the box tops come from and I hope this inspires the children. I know the basket did.

                                                               Good Luck

                                                              Denise McNamara

                                                            Wright Elementary Ft Walton Beach Fl

Since the break is coming soon I would send home the box top collection sheet make it for 10 box tops. Because parents are shopping for Xmas and New Years Dinners. It's nice to go from room to room reminding them and telling them on what packages there are boxt tops.  You could do the movie madness collections but, it is 20 box tops. Or you could do a basket, I did a basket for Xmas I have had a good response. I did read about the VIP table for Lunch sounds good.  My next venture I read about is making a map of the United States and having people from different states send box tops. The child that recieves box tops from the farthest state or country wins a prize. We are going to put up the Map in the Cafeteria for everyone to see where the box tops come from and I hope this inspires the children. I know the basket did.

                                                               Good Luck

I really like this idea.  However, we have a fairly large school (900+ students) and more than 65 staff members.  We do have a principal and 2 assistant principals.  Using just those 3, I think this would work.  The three principals are great sports and the kids would love to see them get a pie in the face.  Especially if the person throwing the pie is drawn from a raffle of some sort.  Thanks for the idea!

Deb