Book Fair continues until Friday
By Kathy Thomson
The Parent Teacher Organization’s Scholastic “Book Fair Jungle: Elephants, Tigers, and Books, OH MY!” is set to wind down to a close tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 14, at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, but purchases can still be made between now and then.
“It was a little slow today, but it usually is on Monday,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy after the first day of the Book Fair. “It typically builds up momentum as the week goes on.”
Some parents forget about the book fair until they see the signs on Monday, and sales normally pick up after the first day, according to Ivy.
Daily Schedule
Parents of elementary students are encouraged to visit their children during lunch, eat with them in the cafeteria, and then visit the Book Fair, which is open from 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., both today and tomorrow.
“If you intend to eat in the lunchroom, please call the office as soon as you can to let them know,” said Ivy.
Visitors planning to bring their own food do not need to call in advance, but they do need to check in at the office before going to the cafeteria, according to regular NSES policy.
Other Fair Options
The book fair will also be open this evening, Feb. 13, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for anyone who would prefer an evening option, and online shopping at www.scholastic.com/fair will remain open 24 hours a day through Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The book fair offers specially priced books and educational products, including new releases, award winning titles, children’s classics, and current best sellers.
In addition to books, there are DVDs, games, posters, bookmarks, and more.
“We have a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level, and all purchases benefit our school!” Ivy said. “We will also get a portion of the profits from books bought from the NSES book fair online at scholastic.com from Feb. 5 through Feb. 18. It is a great option for those who can’t make it to the school that week and for family members living out of town.”
eWallet
New this year is an option of buying book fair items at the local campus using a digital payment system called eWallet.
“We had a couple of students who paid with eWallet on Monday, and a few more who are registered,” said Ivy. “It was a pretty simple process.”
Parents or others who wish to use the new alternative payment method set up an account for the student ahead of time by going to the NSES portal on the Scholastic web site, creating an eWallet account for the specific student, and depositing funds into the account from a credit card. The student can then use eWallet to buy items at the book fair up to the deposited amount.
Any funds remaining in a student’s account after the book fair closes will automatically be refunded back to the credit card.
“I think that it’s a good option,” said Ivy. “That way parents don’t have to send a signed check or cash with the student, and the student doesn’t have to worry about losing the money.”
The list of student eWallets accounts is available for workers to look up at the Scholastic EasyScan register, so students do not need to keep up with their eWallet account number. Instead, they can tell the volunteer their name and grade level when they check out.
Coin Drive Ends
Today is the deadline to contribute change in the ‘All for Books’ coin competition that raises extra money for purchasing books by challenging NSES students to try and win an ice cream party for their class.
Jars labeled with each grade are set up in the front hall of the school, and children are encouraged to donate loose change.
“This year, the two grades that raise the most money during the ‘All for Books’ coin competition will be treated to an ice cream party” said Ivy. “We end the coin challenge on Thursday so we can use the proceeds to purchase books on Friday.”
The contributions are used to purchase books for the school library, fill teacher’s wish lists, and make sure that every child has a book they can take home, according to Ivy.
Local teachers traditionally make lists of books that would enrich their classroom libraries.
For more information about donating books, call the NSES office at 325-762-3974 or visit the book fair when it is open.
