May 2019
Calendar of Events
Calendar
May :
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2: Field Day and Luau
3: School Lunch Hero Day
6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
​9: Food Around the World Festival, 5-7pm
Choir, Drama, and Band Performance, 5:30pm
10: Readathon; All Library Books Due
13-17: Summer Reading Book Swap
16: Talent Show
20: STEAM Night
22: 6th Grade Graduation; Kindergarten Graduation
23: 5th Grade BIZTOWN
​24: Last Full Day
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New and Notable
President's Corner
Dear Discovery School Parents:

I can’t believe that the school year is already wrapping up! As I reflect on my time as PTO President, I am filled with gratitude for so many things: our amazing volunteers, our great sense of community, and the strong connections our children are making with each other and with our families. I am deeply grateful for the amazing teachers and staff who ensure that there is a safe and positive learning environment for our children every single day.

Thank you for everything you did this school year to support our Discovery School through fundraising and volunteering. I will still be volunteering at the Discovery campus because it is my other home. 

Here is a quick recap of what we accomplished in the 2018-2019 year.

July 2018 : Open House with food trucks.
August/September 2018 : Boohoo Yahoo Breakfast for kindergarten parents. Smart Cards Went on sale. No membership was required due to us planning to switch to a PTO.
October 2018: We helped out with the Fall Festival, but it was run by the school because we were in the transition period to the PTO. Next year, it will be operated by the PTO. We supported The BETA Club for their state convention.
November 2018: Holiday Luncheon
December 2018 : We officially became a PTO, and we started off without any money. We held a membership drive.
January 2019: We hosted a Trivia Night for Discovery School families.
February 2019: The Box Tops Contest was kicked off. We raised around $1,000.
February, March, April and May 2019: We hosted Spirit Nights at businesses around town. We created and started selling new Spirit Wear.
May 2019: Teacher Appreciation Week. We host the Food Around the World Festival on May 9th from 5:00 to 7:00.

These are some of our major funding efforts this year:
  • A new swing set for the playground
  • Registration fees for the Tennessee STEM Conference (for teachers)
  • A new laminator and supplies
  • Teacher hospitality events throughout the year
  • $4,000 to teacher room accounts
  • and much more.

Have a Great Summer,

Ayat Abu
PTO President 2018-2019
Teacher Appreciation Week
Spirit Night @ Blue Coast Burrito
May 6th

Food Around the World Festival
May 9, 5-7 p.m.
We are excited about our upcoming food festival! For $10 per person or $25 per family, you can sample cuisines from many different countries including Venezuela, France, Egypt, Jordan, India, China, Hungary, Chile, and more! Plus, view clothing and artifacts from around the world. This will be the same night as the choir, drama, and band performances, so if you are involved in those, come eat before or after the show!

Because the participants have to know how much food to make, this is a pre-sale event. We sent home forms on April 22. Please send them back with payment by Friday, May 3.

Upcoming Performances

May 9: Choir Performance, Band Concert, and Drama Presentations

May 16: Talent Show, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Library News

Read-a-Thon May 10th

Every May we dedicate a special day to celebrate reading here at Discovery School. I challenge teachers and students to think of creative and interesting ways to read to self, listen to reading, and share reading with others for that entire Friday. Teachers will be providing specific details about how their class/grade level would like to celebrate our annual Read-a-Thon very soon so be on the lookout!

Summer Reading Book Swap May 13th-17th

Instead of a BOGO Book Fair this year we will be having a  BOOK SWAP  to kick off our summer reading! Students are encouraged to take a look through their bookshelves at home and bring in  gently used  books that they would be willing to donate to our book swap. Please only bring books that are appropriate for students K-6th and that are in good condition. You may start bringing in books to the library right away but please have them in no later than  Wednesday, May 8th . In return, during the week of May 13th-17th every student will be able to choose a few "new to you" books to take home with them for summer reading! Spring Cleaning + Free Books = Happy Summer Reading



Explorer Success

Congratulations to the following groups on a fantastic showing in recent competitions!
Fifth graders showed off their research and tech innovations at the MTSU STEM Expo on April 9, bringing home several gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Discovery School successfully defended their 1st place title in the annual Murfreesboro City Schools Book Battle on April 11.
The Drones Team has had many successful meets and heads to the championship on May 18.
The Science Olympiad team won medals in 21 events and took 1st place out of 19 teams at their competition on April 27.
Welcome, 2019-2020 Board Members

New PTO Board members were announced at our last general membership meeting.
President - Genevieve Borendame

Vice President/President Elect - Jeanette Price

Secretary - Claire Odette

Treasurer - Anthony Brownlow

Communications - Bianca Tinsley

Fundraising - Laurel Parkerson
Hospitality - Anna Stewart

Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Roach

Membership - TaLisa P. Smith

Members At Large

K-2- Anna Cushingham
3-6- Julie Phillips
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Support Discovery When You Shop!
Did you know that you can earn money for our school every time you grocery shop?
Do you enter your phone number at these stores to use coupons and earn gas rewards? Make sure you go online and select Discovery School as your community reward recipient. Use the links below to log in or create an account.

Last year we earned $3713 from Kroger and $700 from Publix!
Kroger
Support Discovery School every time your use your Kroger Rewards card. Enroll at

Publix has changed their reward system to be more like Kroger. You no longer need to carry a card or tag, but can sign up for an account linked to your phone number. Designate Discovery School as your "Publix Partner."
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Happy Birthday!
Birthday Cake 2

May

14- Nancy Collins (MDA)
19- Sheryl Weber (MDA)
28- Shea Payne (4th Grade)

June

3- Len Jenkins (Janitor)
9- Kendra Tucker (Cafeteria)
13- Trish Huffine (office)
14- Angela Bunyi (1st Grade)
18- Katie Holmes (Psychologist)
27- Kimberly Kahle (1st Grade)
Teacher and Staff Favorite Things
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Happy Birthday!
Free Square Processing for You and the PTO

This year we have been experimenting with online payment through Square with no processing fees. Our free processing promotion is about to end, but if you need a Square account and use our referral link, we both win! Use this link for free processing for up to 6 months or $1000, whichever comes first. We'll get the same deal again, as well. Click the image below to get started.
PTO Board, 2018-2019
Officers*/Executive Committee
President*
Ayat Abu Halimah
Vice President*
Laurel Parkerson
President-Elect*
Genevieve Borendame
Secretary*
Julie Phillips
Treasurer*
Anthony Brownlow
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Committee Chairs
Activities
Leslie Kekelis
Communications/Newsletter Editor
Amy York
Volunteers
Rachel Zelenak
Hospitality
Anna Stewart
Membership
Holly Holton
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Members-at-Large
K-2 Member-at-Large
Vacant
3-6 Member-at-Large
Vacant