Announcements for the week of October 22-26

1. Turn in your Boxtops- NOW!
2. Explorations teachers needed
3. Food Drive this week
4. Dine-In Fundraisers
5. Committee Lead needed
6. Last Chance for Spirit Wear!
7. Office Coverage needed
8. Equity and Diversity Policy Approved!
9. Art By Me
10. Thanksgiving Food Drive
11. Upcoming Events

1. Turn in your Boxtops TODAY!!  October 22! (If you forgot, send them in Tuesday morning)  

It’s that time of year again. BOX TOP submission time is right around the corner – November 1st!  If you’ve been clipping and saving, please send them in TODAY or first thing TUESDAY!  If you haven’t been clipping and saving, what are you waiting for?! 🙂 This is an easy way to help earn money for Exploris.

To help Gina with the Boxtops, feel free to print out a collection sheet, then trim and tape your Boxtops to it.  This is a great kid activity, too!   Printable sheets here:  https://www.boxtops4education.com/about/collection-sheets

If you don’t have time to use a collection sheet just turn in the boxtops to the front office at either school campus.  Thanks!

2. K-1 and 2nd grade Explorations classes needed 

for 3rd Session

Eugene and Jamie need at least three more K-1 Explorations classes and two more classes for just 2nd grade.  They have all the 3-5 classes they need, but can’t publish options for families until there are enough spots for everyone.  Please email  ewheeler@exploris.org  or jbutler@exploris.org if you can help with Explorations.

3. Food Drive at the Elementary School this week:   

Kids Care Explorations is doing a food drive for the Food Bank of Eastern & Central North Carolina next week only – October 22-26. There will be donation boxes placed in each building @ the elementary school and posters in each building.

The need is great this year with so many natural disasters. Most needed are the following items: Canned Fruit and Vegetables, Canned Meat (think tuna, chicken, salmon), Canned beans and soups, cereal, whole grain pasta and rice and nut butters. Our kids will go to the Food Bank distribution center next Friday and get a tour of one of the facility and help to sort the food. Thanks for your help in making this successful for our kids.  🥫🍠🥗🍲🥣🍚🍓🍑🥨🥞🥒🍌💖

4.  Dine-In Fundraisers: 

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the City Barbeque Fundraiser last Wednesday!  We’ll share how much we raised in coming weeks!  Our next dine-in fundraiser is at Chipotle in North Ridge Shopping Center (6102 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh) on Wednesday November 7.  Eat-in or Take-Out anytime between 4 & 8 pm and show this image to earn 33% back for The Exploris PTO!  Please RSVP on our facebook page, and share the event with friends:

https://www.facebook.com/events/979768885536902/

5. Committee Lead Needed

6. Second Chance at Spirit Wear- today and Tuesday only

We need to submit another spirit wear order. If you wanted to order something but didn’t get to it, please email kimberlyannharris@yahoo.com, Today and Tuesday, Oct 22-23 only! (They would make great holiday gifts!)   Please email Kimberly for all information, including inventory and payments.  She will get back to you ASAP.

7. Office Coverage- help needed

We don’t have official hired substitutes when Mary Margaret (middle school) and Carolee (elementary school) need to be out of the office. We would love to have more parents on the list of those who might be able to help cover the front desk. It’s fun! Please email kimberlyannharris@yahoo.com if you are interested. 

8. NC Board of Education Approves Priority Lottery to Increase Equity and Diversity! 

Please read the press release about the approval of our weighted lottery on website and social media!
https://www.exploris.org/news/priority-lottery-to-increase-equity-diversity-approved/?fbclid=IwAR1e424cLQF8mJezdzy8vT7XO6FSM1DjupYwi1Ozawj5uUTcoqiTQ0D2z6E

9. Art by Me

The Exploris PTO is excited to about our Fall Fundraiser that will showcase your child’s art.  We are partnering with the company Art by Me to feature the work of Exploris students on a variety of products. These will make great gifts! This is a school wide fundraiser for the Exploris PTO including all grades K-8. The products purchased will arrive before Winter Break! The profits will enable the PTO to continue providing all of the great services they offer to our school and teachers.

Please visit our Art by Me Fundraising page for more information. 

10. Collecting Food for the Elderly at Glenwood

Exploris is collecting food for the seniors, as they do not get food over Thanksgiving break.  The whole school is helping to bring a little joy and food to each of the 318 residents of Glenwood Towers.

Please consider helping at:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49AAA87-2018

11. Upcoming Events

• October 22
  Boxtops for Education – submission deadline
• October 22-26
  Food Drive at the Elementary School
• October 22-26
  Outward Bound Application Week for 8th Grade!
• October 26
  Middle School Electives Start
• October 30
  Board Meeting
  @MS 4:30
• Tuesday, Nov 6
  Election Day
• November 7
  PTO Dinner Night at Chipotle
• Monday, Nov. 12
  Veterans Day – Holiday
• Friday, November 16
  End of First Trimester, Teacher Workday
• Monday Nov 19 – Mon Nov 26
  Thanksgiving Break
• Monday Nov 26
  Teacher Workday

Thanks for reading the “Monday Minute”!  We publish this Exploris PTO blog post each Monday. If you would like to include information, please email your text (copy ready), photos, and links to Dana Deaton at explorisptonews@gmail.com by 8pm Sunday evening.