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Ursuline Preschool trades Box Tops for monkey bars
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten principal Charlotte Italiano (back) participated in the ribbon cutting for the school's new playground equipment on April. The play gear was purchased through the collection of over 26,000 Box Tops for Education and joining Italiano were student representatives from top Box Top collecting classrooms throughout the school.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .After unveiling the new playground equipment at Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten that were purchased through Box Tops for Education, top Box Top collectors were treated to a juggling and puppet show from Mike Hemmelgarn (left).
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Top Box Top for Education collectors and Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten principal Charlotte Italiano snipped the ribbon to unveil new playground equipment for their school on April 27.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Entertainer Mike Hemmelgarn (left), who visited Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten on April 27 as a treat for students who collected Box Tops for Education, joked around with student Jamie Vrabel (right). Soon after, Hemmelgarn made Vrabel a tall balloon hat as a gift for Vrabel's hard work collecting Box Tops throughout the year.
By SARAH FOOR
Throughout their 2011-2012 school year, the students at Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten have learned to count to a higher number than most kids their age: 26,000. The 241 students learned about the astounding number after collecting 26,000 Box Tops for Education, snipped from many of their favorite foods and snacks.
The large pile of Box Tops were redeemed into a check from the General Mills company to the school for $2,618.49, which they used to buy two new pieces of playground equipment.
Amy Herrmann, a USPK parent, was the force behind the Box Tops project throughout the year, and visited the school on April 27 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground gear.
“I always want to support the school and I see the need here — Ursuline is a small school that gets no public assistance. I compare the Box Tops to finding a dime on the ground — who wouldn’t pick up that dime and start saving? A dime will really add up, so we decided to give it a try,” Herrmann said.
Herrmann said the success of the collection program was due to the enthusiasm of the teachers at USPK.
Kindergarten teacher Mary Ann Critell and her students collected the most Box Tops during the program.
“When we began, I simply told the students that collecting the Box Tops is something that can benefit our whole community, and that future generations of children here at the school will enjoy it. I urged the kids to ask family and neighbors to send Box Tops their way. A few students who just moved into new neighborhoods told me that they met some new friends that way, and that’s a wonderful bonus,” Critell explained.
Herrmann also offered incentives throughout the year, hosting two ice cream parties for students to earn. Top-collecting classrooms at USPK enjoyed a celebratory magic show by Mike Hemmelgarn on April 27.
During the equipment’s official dedication on April 27, USPK principal Charlotte Italiano blessed the gear and one student from each top-collecting classroom were responsible for cutting the ribbon.
“This program is wonderful for a small school like ours. It has been great to see the children directly contributing to fundraising and having a sense of accomplishment knowing their hard work helped purchase this equipment,” Italiano said.