BoxTop collection assists HCES with playground items

(Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Richard Todd, Hickman County Elementary School Principal)

The students of Hickman County Elementary have a request; please save BoxTops from common household products such as breakfast cereal and send them to HCES.

We are asking all Hickman County Elementary students to bring BoxTops from home.

It would be great if all of our students and their families asked neighbors, grandparents, and other family and friends to collect the BoxTops for our students as well.

The collection of the BoxTops (and Coca Cola lids) is part of an ongoing sixth-grade project that involves and benefits all HCES students.

Earlier this year, sixth grade social studies teacher Emily Easley and sixth grade math teacher Leslie Bizzle came up with a real-life project-based learning event for that grade level; the idea was to increase our school’s collection of BoxTops so that we can use the funds to purchase additional playground equipment for our students.

The idea also involved collection points for the BoxTops in our community, and a challenge to our HCES homeroom classes to bring in more of the BoxTops. Renee Cole, art teacher at HCES, was included to help decorate and design the collection receptacles to be placed in each HCES homeroom from kindergarten through sixth grade, and for the containers to be placed throughout the community.

Our sixth grade students researched possible playground additions, then prepared a Google slide show for students to view during the morning announcements.

The slide show offered six different choices, each with various activity centers and fun offerings to improve the HCES playground.

Our entire student body in grades kindergarten through sixth grade voted on which of the six proposals they liked best, and the winner, by a landslide vote, is attached above (Operation Boxtops).

Sixth grade students also spoke to each homeroom about the project, collected and counted the votes, and designed posters for the promotion of the BoxTops collection containers throughout the community.

Three sixth-grade students represented the grade level at the monthly meeting of the Hickman County Board of Education Sept. 25.

The students, Lexie Branham, Shelbee Webb and Naziah Powell, spoke about the project to the board, Superintendent Casey Henderson, and others in attendance.

Mrs. Bizzle and Mrs. Cole joined the girls to speak about the learning project.

Everyone in the room seemed impressed at how the students are invested in both this endeavor and their education in general.

The three young ladies spoke in depth about the project, calling it their grade’s “legacy” as they complete their final year at HCES.

Playground equipment is expensive, more than the general public realizes. The equipment being sought by the group has an estimated cost of just over $12,000; our playground fund currently has more than $8,000, so the BoxTops drive is to raise the additional $4,000.

The sixth grade students broke it down this way as they explained the project to their younger peers; if each homeroom collects about $200 worth of BoxTops and Coca Cola lids, HCES would reach its goal for the playground equipment.

So, again, we’re asking everyone – parents, neighbors, relatives, friends, and everyone else – to collect your BoxTops and give them to an HCES student. If you don’t know an HCES student, we will soon have collection points around the community; look for them please. Or, you can bring them to HCES anytime. We would love to have them!

Is your child interested in the Hickman County archery team? It’s open to students in grades 4-12. If your child is planning to participate in archery, he or she must have all forms - including a sports physical - completed before that individual is allowed to practice.

Archery practice begins Oct. 15 at HCES. For more information, contact head coach Michele Young at Michele.young@hickman.kyschools.us.

Our annual Farm Safety Day is Oct. 5. That is the last day of school before our fall break (Oct. 8-12), and Mr. Darian Irvan, the Hickman County High School FFA students, and local volunteers collectively put on a great learning activity for our students each year. Students are encouraged to wear farming attire that day as well.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held the week we return from fall break. You should have received information about parent-teacher conferences. Please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a meeting. The times and dates for each grade level is listed below: Kindergarten, Oct. 15-18, 3-5 p.m.; first grade, Oct. 15, 16 and 18, 3-6 p.m.; second grade, Oct. 16 and 17, 3-7 p.m.; third grade, Oct. 15-18, 3-4:30 p.m.; fourth grade, Oct. 16 and 18, 3-7 p.m.; fifth grade, Oct. 16 and 18, from 3 - 6:30 p.m., and Oct. 22 from 3 - 5 p.m.; and sixth grade, Oct. 15, 17 and 19, 3-5 p.m.

Upcoming important dates are: Oct. 5, Farm safety day; Oct. 8-12, Fall Break; Oct. 26, Fall Festival; and Oct. 31, Halloween parties.

Spirit Days are as follows: Oct. 5, Farm Safety Day, wear farm clothes; Oct. 19, Football season, Show your fave football team; Oct. 26, Red Ribbon Week, Wear RED today; Nov. 2, Nov. is wear, Wear long sleeves; Nov. 9, We’re a top school! Wear a hat; Nov. 16, School spirit, Wear red and black; Nov. 30, We love the weather, Wear a hoodie; Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, Wear camo; and Dec. 14, Christmas is coming! Wear a Christmas sweater

Parents, we have one more week until fall break. We hope it’s a great one at both school and home.