Box Tops for Education

Student count

I know a lot of schools keep count of which class brings in the most Box Tops.  Does anyone keep track of how many Box Tops each individual student brings in?  I personally would like to try it at our school and give a certificate or some kind of recogntion to any student who contributed "x" amount of Box Tops.  However, I am hearing some rumblings about how it would not be fair to students whose families are unable to purchase name brand products with a Box Top.  Anyone out there face this same issue and how have you dealt with it?  Thanks! : )

RE: Student count

I have two students in school. I keep track at home how many boxtops each son submits to the school.  Commonwealth Connections Academy school does ask that I have students name, teacher name and grade on baggies with box tops, so they know to keep track of class with most collected.

RE: Student count

I keep individual student counts and award a monthly "Box Top Champion" prize and certificate to the student who brings in the most.  I also do a class count and each month a class gets monthly prize and certificate.  Tha prizes are small, I have run into rumblings also - I went to the principal, stated I understand some can not participate for finacial reasons, but I am not asking anyone to buy anything they do not normally buy - and how many homes really don't buy hamburger helper or cereal?  She agreed with me and was quite pretrubed with the rumbler.  I keep reminding everyone the money raised helps all students, not just those who contribute or win prizes.   I have been so angry at times I have almost walked away from this.  I hope this helps. Donna

RE: Student count

crazt 4bt:

We have 950 kids in our school and I , personally , would NOT even attept to do a "per student" contest !!  I am no longer allowed to do  any sort of contests ... our principal says that it does not coincide with our being a PYP school . I am still promoting EVERYTHING we collect and send in though with posters and charts in the hallways ... Label Lady Leters that are included in the news letters sent home ( including pictures ) . I hope it works out for you , doing the per student deal !!!     

Debi

PS: Donna .... just for the record I NEVER buy hamburger helper .... so there' 1 for you ...   but I do buy cereal !!! Just stick with this and do not quit .... we ALL go through times when we feel like walking but then we remember just how much we LOVE our job and get right back to it !!  A lot of things that are said or even implied you just have to take with a grain of salt .... if you don't you'll just end up angry all the time and life is just too darn short !! 

RE: Student count

At my daughters' school, the students are asked to collect all summer long and return Boxtops by the end of September for the "Boxtops Superstar" Award.  Only pink clipped Boxtops count toward the contest (bonus certificates, etc to do apply).  The students are asked to hand in their Boxtops in a bag labeled with their name and grade, and the Coordinator keeps track of their contributions.  Once the contest deadline has passed, there is an award presentation at a weekly assembly.  There anyone who brought in x-number or more is recognized, and prizes are award to the top Boxtop collector(s).  The students' names and totals are posted in a main hallway with along with some sort of graphic for tracking the school's goal.

RE: Student count

Besides the individual "Boxtops Superstar" contest at the beginning of the year, we run an end-of-year collection contest on a class level.  The class that submits the greatest number of Boxtops (figured out as a percentage based on the numbers of Boxtops and students) gets a group reward.  That way, everyone has a chance, even if they aren't in a Boxtops-buying family.

RE: Student count

I'm the co-ordinator for a brand new school and I considered doing individual rewards along with monthly class rewards.  I quickly found that our teachers tended to mix the box tops together as a classroom, so I gave up on the idea of rewarding individuals.  There was too much potential for too many mix ups and mistakes crediting individual kids.  I think our teachers and principal prefer the idea of recognizing the efforts of a classroom each month too. We actually recognize the top 2 classrooms with pencils each month, as well as a traveling trophy which stays in the top classroom each month.    

RE: Student count

Forgot to add one more thing.  The "grumbler" doesn't actually have to be the ones buying the box tops products, they just need to be the ones collecting them.  She/He should ask all their friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, church members, etc. to collect and save the box tops for them.  They could probably collect a bunch of BTs that way and still feel like they were contributing.  Just a thought.

RE: Student count

Our school used to do that but as the new coordinator, I felt it would be too much work.  Instead, I am having my "clipping team"---parent volunteers--keep track by classroom.  The class with the most each month gets a special treat such as donuts or ice cream cups.  Good luck!

RE: Student count

[quote user="lclabellady"]

crazt 4bt:

"We have 950 kids in our school and I , personally , would NOT even attept to do a "per student" contest !!"

I am with you, lady!  I can't imagine who has time or resources to count per kid!  I'm the coordinator at an elementary school of 500.  I do try incentives, but have stuck with rewarding the whole classroom.  My latest was a raffle:  for each 100 BTFE from the classroom, the class was entered in raffle.  This time it was for PTA carnival tickets.  We've also done the top K-2 and 3-5 classes.  I'm trying to simplify instructions to get them to increase the average per classroom and reward that, as class sizes can differ by as much as 10 kids.  We also have a distinctly different response from the gifted classes.   I've done the cookie parties, too.  I'm always so reluctant to ask for recess time when all class time is so precious.  I dread the junk food label, too, as we're REALLY trying to encourage healthy eating.  These carnival tickets were WONDERFUL.  My next round will be school store coupons. 

I've thought about asking nearby businesses for incentives, too.  Gate, Pizza Hut and Publix often provide our schools with coupons for winners of good behavior awards or good report cards.

My son's middle school has an awards program for good behavior in general.  BTFE is allowed to participate in this and give out the award coupons for each 10 BTFE that a kid brings in.  I think they have an office staffer who counts and gives out the coupons as the BTFE come in...a few every day so it's not a big deal.

I read about 1 school that gave out little trinkets (like from Oriental Trading Co) for all kids that brought stuff in.  Still, that seems like such a distraction to be shopping for treasure all the time.

I do try to block out the thought that I'm encouraging people to eat processed foods from national brands (as in more expensive) in order to collect BTFE!   I feel conflicted, but figure if they buy at BOGO sales and supplement with fresh fruits and vegetables like my family, maybe it's not so awful.  Am I kidding myself??   ;-)

Anyway, good luck with those incentives and don't commit to something too detailed until you've done it at the grade or classroom level yet.  Good luck!