Boise's Longfellow Elementary PTO

Rediscovered Books Fundraiser

2011-12-04T21:08:00.001-07:00

December 8 is Longfellow Night at Rediscovered Books. We'll get 10% back in book credits for any purchases made that evening.

This is a great opportunity to support a generous local business, do some Christmas shopping, and help Longfellow all at the same time!

December 8
Rediscovered Books
180 N. 8th Street, Boise

Teacher Gift Ideas

2011-12-04T20:19:00.001-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things…
Do you need Christmas gift ideas for your child's teacher? Every teacher filled out a “Wish List” of the things they enjoy.

The form makes it easy for you to show your child's teacher (or other Longfellow staff members!) that you appreciate their hard work and dedication.

A big holiday THANK YOU goes out to Rejane Kocemba, who organized the list!

• 2011 Teacher Wish Lists

2011 Read-a-Thon

2011-09-26T21:56:00.001-06:00

The PTO Read-a-Thon fundraiser allows students to raise money for classroom enhancement and enrichment through reading. 100% of every dollar raised goes directly into classroom programs

Read Week Schedule

Monday, Oct 3 | Knock Your Socks Off Day
Wear a favorite pair or CRAZY socks to school.

Tuesday, Oct 4 |

Plaids, Stripes & Polka Dots Day
Wear your craziest mismatched outfit
Family Read-In, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Bring your pillow, your family and cuddle up with a good book in the 2nd floor lobby. Cookies provided.

Wednesday, October 5 | Cosmic Tie-Dye Day
Wear your favorite tie-dye clothes

Thursday, October 6 & Friday, October 7 | No School
The kids are out of school for in-service days. Don’t forget to read!

Get Pledges

Ask your family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to sponsor you. Then earn money for Longfellow with the time you spend READING!
Kids should collect pledges the first week and READ, READ, READ! the second week. Collect and return the money the final week.
All money is due by October 11^th in order to be eligible for prizes. (However, we’ll still happily accept donations after that date!)

Make Sure “Reading Week” is Fun!

Ideas to help your child maximize the reading time at home:

Have a “Turn Off the TV” day and use the extra hours to read.
Have a “Family Reading Day” and spend a concentrated amount of time reading together. Children can count minutes being read to as part of their reading time.
Have “Pizza & a Book” night. Order pizza and spend the time you would normally spend cooking dinner reading with your child.
Have a reading play date. Invite Longfellow classmates and friends for a reading date. Turn it into a party!
Be a good role model. Challenge your child to read more minutes than you do, and then make it tough by reading a lot yourself.
Play games that require reading, like Scrabble, bingo, Scattergories, Cranium, etc.

Longfellow PTO Blog: 2011-2012 Edition

2011-08-10T22:50:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Longfellow’s PTO blog!
We hope the site will be a resource for volunteer opportunities, event reminders and helpful links.

More info coming soon…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Longfellow Art Auction

2011-02-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

Parents Night Out!
Join us on Friday, March 4th at The Bouquet in downtown Boise for one of the most exciting nights of the school year!
The Longfellow Art Auction is a showcase for Longfellow Student Art, and an opportunity to support the school by bidding on goods and services from some of the neighborhood's favorite establishments, and generous gifts from local artisans and the parent/teacher community.
Admission is only $5 at the door, so grab some friends (and grandparents too!) and come on down for a fun night out! Light appetizers and no-host bar. Hope to see you there!

Longfellow Art Auction Friday, March 4th | 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Bouquet | 1010 W. Main St | Boise

Art Auction Video Notice

2011-01-31T19:42:00.001-07:00

Dear Longfellow parents:

As part of the Art Auction we are putting together a video of Longfellow students for premiere at the Auction on March 4, 2011. The Boise School District allows parents who do not wish their child to be filmed or photographed at school to opt-out via FERPA documents posted on the BSD website. Per Ms. Fraley, Longfellow does not have any students "opted-out." However, Ms. Fraley has requested that we contact parents via this blog to give them a second chance to opt-out.

In addition, we are requesting any photos or videos of 2010-2011 Longfellow activities, including classroom activities, for possible inclusion in the video. You may drop off photos (please mark them with your child's name and teacher name for return) or send digital photos or videos to me at mvloegering@msn.com. All photos/videos emailed to me need to be in a digital format.

Thanks,
Vicky Loegering

Dress for Winter Weather

2011-01-10T21:25:00.001-07:00

Brrrrr! Please send kids in warm winter clothes.
Appropriate winter clothing, coats, hats and gloves are imperative since the kids go outside for recess as long as the temperature is above 20 degrees.

Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser

2011-01-10T21:02:00.001-07:00

What’s for Dinner?
Don’t know what to make for dinner? How about pizza? Papa John's on Broadway will donate 20% of all orders to Longfellow on Tuesday the 11th (and the 2nd Tuesday of every month).

Order anytime during the day and be sure to mention you're from Longfellow and your child's teacher's name! Your child's class will have a chance to win a free pizza party...so don't forget to mention the teacher!

Papa John's Pizza
1323 Broadway (on right after W. Beacon and W. Rossi)
Tel. 367-9200

Box Tops Make a Big Difference!

2011-01-05T06:28:00.001-07:00

We’ve already earned $1069.94 this year - just from collecting Box Tops!

Our current Box Tops contest was supposed to end Friday, January 7. We’ve decided to extend the contest through the month of January so you have a chance to take advantage of some great Bonus Box Tops offers. The new contest deadline is January 28.

Albertson’s Box Tops promotion
Earn 50 Bonus Box Tops ($5 value) when you buy ANY 10 participating General Mills products. See the “Promotions” tab at GrowingLocalLearning.com or Albertson’s weekly ad for information. Bonus offer runs Jan 5 – 11.
Register at GrowingLocalLearning.com.
Longfellow earns 5 Box Tops every time someone registers. Plus you’ll get advance notice of Albertson’s Bonus Box Tops offers.

Register at www.boxtops4education.com.
Check out their Marketplace program (lets you earn Box Tops just by shopping at your favorite online stores), the Barnes & Noble Reading Room, and enter contests.
Recruit Helpers!
Ask friends, relatives and co-workers to help you collect Box Tops. It’s an easy way to help support our schools and most people are happy to help.

Winter Break Box Tops Contest Extended

2010-12-14T18:44:00.001-07:00

Got Box Tops?
We’re having another contest over the winter break. The class that collects the most will win a fun balloon stomp party, plus there will be individual prizes for the boy and girl who collect the most Box Tops.

Box Tops are on lots of the items you probably use everyday: Gold Medal flour, Land-O-Lakes butter and eggs, plus ZipLock baggies to keep your treats fresh! Click here for a list of participating products.

The contest ends January 28, 2011. Check your child’s folder for a postcard reminder and a labeled collection bag.

Balloon Stomp Party

Ms. Ingram’s 2nd grade class won the last balloon stomp party.

View Full Album

• • •

Teacher Gift Ideas

2010-12-08T21:17:00.001-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things…
Do you need Christmas gift ideas for your child's teacher? This year every teacher filled out a “Favorites Form” and listed things they enjoy.

The form makes it easy for you to show your child's teacher (or other Longfellow staff members!) that you appreciate their hard work and dedication.

A big holiday THANK YOU goes out to Rejane Kocemba, who organized the list! Just click here to download the form.

Have fun!

Monster Mash Photos

2010-11-16T22:14:00.001-07:00

Oops! As many of you discovered, the link that was previously sent out did not work.

Here’s the correct link: http://tinyurl.com/monstermash2010ID.

PTO Funds

2010-11-16T21:51:00.001-07:00

What does the PTO fund?

Some parents have asked for specifics about what the Longfellow Parent Teacher Organization is and does. The PTO:

Advocates for our children’s education and wellbeing, and works to strengthen a sense of community for our children by bringing families together.
Funds programs that enrich our children’s education.
See a list of programs the PTO will fund this year.

Rock to Read

2010-11-04T22:25:00.001-06:00

Rock to Read is a group of musicians helping to feed children’s imaginations. The 2010 and 2011 Idaho school budgets do not include any funding for new library books, and Rock to Read wants to raise awareness as well as money to purchase new books for public school libraries.

Rock to Read will be an evening of music, spoken word, and a silent auction. Proceeds will be used to purchase books chosen from the list of Children's Literature Award winners (including the Caldecott and Newbery Medals).

Rock to Read is presented by GoListenBoise & Rediscovered Bookshop

Rock to Read
November 19, 2010 | 6:30 -11:30
The Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove Street, Boise
All ages, Bar for 21+ with ID
$10 per person • $5 for kids 12 and under • $20 family pass
More info: rocktoread@gmail.com

Meet and greet local authors! Silent auction! Book sale! Broncos game on the mezzanine!
Proceeds go towards buying award winning books for Boise Public School District Libraries

Longfellow Read-a-Thon Results

2010-10-19T22:52:00.001-06:00

The 2010 Longfellow Read-A-Thon was a huge success!

Our school read 85,954 minutes in one week, with Jake Barkhurst waking at 5 am to read an amazing 2800 minutes himself! Congratulations Jake for a fantastic job!

We raised over $15,000 to be used for classroom needs and enrichment. Emery Strimple, a 6^th grader in Mrs. Fluckiger’s class, helped the 6^th graders earn a pizza party by raising the most money. Ms. Metzger’s first grade class was a close second, winning the title for the primary grades.

Michelle Hurty, this year’s Read-a-Thon coordinator, did a fantastic job organizing the event. She said “Thank you to all that participated. It was a lot of fun and successful beyond my imagination. I am so proud of these great kids!” Thanks also to Ms. Reed for her tireless help and support!

We also received very generous support from our local businesses, providing us with awards and raffle prizes.

Rediscovered Books
Record Exchange
Penny Lane Books
Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club
Idaho Ice World
Hyde Park Pub
Parilla Grill
Goody’s
Sun Ray Café
Fanci Freeze
PalmerCash
Blimpie’s Subs
Zach Owen
Amy Allegar Cook
Malia Collins

View Full Album

Box Tops Contest Results

2010-10-19T22:46:00.001-06:00

The Box Tops for Education contest results are in: We earned $491.10!

Thanks to everyone who clipped and collected Box Tops. In just two weeks we surpassed last year’s total earnings of $178. So far this year we've earned $1029.30 - all in $.10 increments!

Balloon Stomp Party Winner
Ms. Ingram's 2nd Grade class earned $197.80
Boy’s Top Earning Prize
Isaac Peters earned $8.70
Girl’s Top Earning Prize
Julienne Kuchera earned $9.20

What’s Next?
We’re already planning another contest right after the Winter Break so keep clipping! Longfellow also earns cash when you register at these Box Tops sites, plus you can enter contests to win $1000 or more.

Box Tops for Education

Growing Local Learning

Bonus Box Tops Contests

PTO Meeting

2010-10-18T19:31:00.001-06:00

The PTO will meet on Tuesday, October 19 at 3:20 pm in the Longfellow library.

Please join us! The playground will be supervised during the meeting.

Box Tops Contest Ends Friday

2010-10-11T21:08:00.001-06:00

Every Box Top coupon we collect earns 10¢ for our school. Our goal is to raise $2,000 for next year and we need your help!

Check your pantry
Since Box Tops are on items like ZipLock bags, Kleenex, Cheerios and Avery office products, you probably already have them in your pantry. View Participating Products
Contest Ends Friday Oct 15
Turn your Box Tops in to your teacher by Friday, October 15. Your bag needs both your child’s name and their teacher’s name. The class submitting the most Box Tops earns a fun party, plus their teacher gets a gift as well.

Register to support Longfellow at these Box Tops websites:

BoxTopsForEducation.com
GrowingLocalLearning.com
Watch our “Make a Difference” video
Each person who views our school’s video before November 15th can enter for a chance to win 5,000 Bonus Box Tops!

Longfellow's Read-a-Thon Fundraiser

2010-09-23T05:29:00.001-06:00

The Read-a-Thon is one of the PTO’s biggest fundraisers, and this year’s goal is $14,000. All money we raise goes directly into classroom programs.

Read-a-Thon Kickoff Assembly
Friday, September 24

Family Reading Night
Tuesday, October 5th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Longfellow Landing – 2nd Floor

Get Pledges

Ask your family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to sponsor you. Then earn money for Longfellow with the time you spend READING!
Kids should collect pledges the first week and READ, READ, READ! the second week. Collect and return the money the final week.
All money is due by Wednesday, October 13^th in order to be eligible for prizes. (However, we’ll still happily accept donations after that date!)

Earn Fun Prizes!
Students must record the minutes they read on their Daily Reading Record, and parents/teachers must sign to validate each effort. Children can count minutes being read to as part of their reading time.

Most Minutes Read
Through the generosity of Zach Owen, we now have an i-pod shuffle to award to the Longfellow student who reads the most minutes in the entire school. Our record is over 3,000 minutes!
Grand Prizes
$50 gift card and Principal for the Day
Prize for the student who raises the most money by collecting pledges and reading.
12 Top Reader Prizes
To the top overall reader from each grade K-6.
(The overall record reader is already recognized as above.)
2 Class Awards
The class from K-3rd and the class from 4th-6th that raises the most money will have a Pizza Party!
1,000 Minute Club
Any students who read 1,000 minutes or more (over 18 hours of reading) will receive a special award.
100 Minute Raffle
For every 100 minutes you read, you'll be entered into a school raffle for fun prizes. (Overall winners are not eligible for this prize).

Make “Reading Week” Fun

Here are some ideas to help your child maximize the reading time at home.

Have a “Turn Off the TV” day and use the extra hours to read.
Have a “Family Reading Day” and spend a concentrated amount of time reading together. Children can count minutes being read to as part of their reading time.
Have “Pizza & a Book” night. Order pizza and spend the time you would normally spend cooking dinner reading with your child.
Have a reading play date. Invite Longfellow classmates and friends for a reading date. Turn it into a party!
Be a good role model. Challenge your child to read more minutes than you do, and then make it tough by reading a lot yourself.
Play games that require reading, like Scrabble, bingo, Scattergories, Cranium, etc.

Parent’s International Book Club

2010-09-19T17:35:00.001-06:00

We’re starting a book club with an international theme for parents. For October, we’ll read any book by an Argentinean author or a story set in Argentina. Some suggestions are The Book of Sand, by Jorge Luis Borges (or any book by this author), The Tunnel, by Ernesto Sabato or The Shipyard, by Juan Carlos Onetti.

The book club will meet on Wednesday, October 27 at 7:00 pm at the SunRay Cafe on 13th Street.

If you have questions or can suggest additional books with an Argentinean theme, contact Heidi at heidib@ecohomesaves.com.

Friday Afternoon Pizza Sale

2010-09-07T21:37:00.001-06:00

The regular Friday afternoon pizza sales start this week.

Pizza is $1.50/slice
Soda is $.50/can

Every year the 6th grade class sells pizza to fund their end-of-year/graduation celebration and to pay for the legacy gift each graduating class leaves for the school. Past gifts include the National Register of Historic Places plaque and the globe in the lobby.

Welcome Back!

2010-08-29T16:03:00.002-06:00

Stay in Touch. Sign up for our newsletter (use the “join our mailing list” link on the right) to get monthly updates and reminders of important events. Be sure to check the blog too.
Get Involved! Check our Volunteer page for ideas on how you can help make a difference.

Welcome to the new Longfellow PTO site!

2010-02-19T19:04:00.001-07:00

We want this site to be a great resource for Longfellow families. We'll list upcoming school events, links to new fundraisers and more. Is there something you'd like to see? We'd love your suggestions!

Box Tops for Education

2010-02-17T21:51:00.002-07:00

Ever notice those tiny pink coupons on the box top of your favorite products? They’re small, but they pack a big punch! Each Box Top coupon is worth 10¢.
Twice each year, the Box Tops program will send a check to our school for each Box Tops coupon redeemed, up to $20,000! Since 1996, Box Tops for Education has helped America’s schools raise over $300 million to buy the things they need. School budgets are tighter than ever, and Longfellow is asking for the support of families and community members. The money we raise will be used to fund next year’s field trips and help the PTO fund other school expenses (art supplies, etc.).

Here’s how you can help:

Clip Box Top Coupons
Clip Box Top coupons from your favorite products and send them to our school. There is a collection jar by the front desk. Each Box Top coupon is worth 10¢ for our school.
Sign Up Online
Sign up to support our school on the Box Tops website at www.btfe.com. You’ll get updates on our school’s Box Tops earnings, money-saving coupons, family-pleasing recipes, chances to win Bonus Box Tops and the latest Box Tops news!
Shop Online
Shop at over 100 favorite online stores through the Box Tops Marketplace. Longfellow earns up to 15% of your qualifying purchases - and there’s no additional cost to you!

Purchase books through the Box Tops Reading Room at Barnes & Noble. Longfellow earns up to 6% of your purchases.

For more information on how you can help our school earn cash through Box Tops, contact our Box Tops coordinator:

Deanna Gutierrez
Phone: 344-7574
E-mail: Schmiglet@yahoo.com