Poly students, it’s time to get your Read On! The annual Read-A-Thon fundraiser kicks off today with the packets sent home. Fall into reading as you gather sponsors to support your reading efforts.

From Oct. 16-18, students will receive raffle tickets for each new sponsor they acquire. Students choose the raffle bucket they wish to place tickets in. Primary prizes include Chuck E Cheese gift package (top pledge earner), and a $50 AMC Movie giftcard (most minutes read); intermediate hall winners receive 6 passes to the Reef (top pledge earner), and $50 AMC Movie giftcard (most minutes read). See the Read-A-Thon packet from the Oct. 11 Wednesday Watch for more information on the fabulous raffle prizes available. If students gain more sponsors after the Oct. 18 date, raffle tickets will still be provided for additional sponsors.

Top earning classes in each division will receive an ice cream party, and the classes with most minutes read receive an extra recess and gummy bookworm treats.

Next up, time to read on and on! From Oct. 20-27 is Reading Week; special guest readers will be featured in the gym before school begins on Oct. 24-26. After logging all those minutes, students will collect pledges from their sponsors, turning in their log and monies no later than Nov. 3.

Last year’s Read-A-Thon netted $10,620. The bulk of the funds raised went toward STEM initiatives at Poly Drive, including 1:1 computing for primary grades. Funds raised will be allocated toward the 2017-18 Poly Drive PTA budget, including STEM efforts.

To volunteer for Read-A-Thon, use myschoolanywhere.com online or via the app.

The Fall 2016 Poly Drive Read-a-Thon kicked off on Friday, Oct. 7 All students have received their pledge sheets and instructions. Here’s the scoop:

From Oct. 10-14 students will set a reading goal and obtain sponsors. Sponsors may either pledge a flat donation or a set amount per minute read (i.e., $0.05 per minute or $10 flat donation). All donations are tax deductible.

During this week, students bring sponsor envelopes to school so they can be rewarded for new sponsors they’ve gathered. For each unique sponsor, students get raffle tickets and can choose which prize box they’ll put their tickets in. Prizes will be rewarded from the raffle prize boxes, as well as for most minutes read (individual and by class), most sponsors, and most money earned.

Oct. 15-21 (Saturday-Friday) Reading Week! Now it’s time to accrue those reading minutes each student sets as their personal goal. Minutes are logged on the sponsor envelope. Guest readers will read in the Poly Drive Library Monday-Wednesday morning at 8:10 a.m. Additional sponsors may be added during reading week.

Oct. 23: Add up all minutes read by students, including on their own, being read to and 100 minutes from school work.

Oct. 22-28: Contact sponsors and collect pledges, put all money and additional reading logs into the envelope, seal and return to the school no later than Friday, Oct. 28.

Funds raised through the Read-a-Thon will go toward STEM activities and initiatives, as well as other PTA-sponsored programs. Some of the funds are also used to refurbish library materials.