Special Events

TV-Turnoff Week: April 21-27, 2008

Book Fair

Sasquatch Award (3-5)

WCCPBA Award (K-3)

TV Turnoff Week

Discovery Elementary participated in TV-Turnoff Week 2008, April 21-27, together with thousands of other schools and communities nationwide.  This year over 175 students participated in this experiment by leaving their television sets off and playing no video games for five or seven days.  Nearly 90% of the students say that they would do TV Turnoff Week again next year!

TV-Turnoff Week is about having a healthy break from TV to focus on activities that are more academically, socially and physically rewarding.  It is also about having more fun.  More than 24 million people have participated nationwide.  This success demonstrates that a solid one-week recess from television allows more time to converse, read, exercise, play, think, create and do.  This event can help curb excessive TV-watching.  Upon high school graduation the average student has spent more time watching television than in the classroom.  Children who watch little or no TV tend to have higher grades, read more books, and exercise regularly.

Here's what some participants had to say.

• I think it should be once a month!

• I spent a lot of time outside, and I enjoyed it.  TV Turnoff Week is good.
• My daughter motivated herself very well and was very determined to not watch TV or play computer games.
• It was a little difficult at first with 4 small kids to constantly entertain, but now that it’s over, the desire to watch a video or morning cartoons is not there.  The week was a little more exhausting, but we had a great time.
• A tough week for my child.  We spend way too much time in front of the screen.  She made it with no TV with some encouragement.
• Thank you for encouraging this program!
• My daughter liked listening to music.
• My child is now sleeping without her TV at night thanks to TV Turnoff Week.
• TV Turnoff Week rocks.
• My daughter played more, asked more questions.  It was interesting.
• I unplugged the TV at the wall as a reminder.  All children were more imaginative in their play (did a lot of role playing).  It was awesome not being the bad guy.  (We have an agreement to keep) vs. (because I told you so!)

Thank you for helping your child succeed in this effort by providing positive alternatives to the television.  As part of this TV-Turnoff Week, there were special activities for students and events for the whole family, including our third annual Book Bingo on Thursday evening.  Thank you for joining us in this week-long celebration!  

Screen-free activity ideas  Local events calendar (2008)

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Book Fair

The book fair, held in the library during parent conference week in October, had nearly $5000 in sales!  The profits allow us to add over a hundred new books to our library collection for all students to enjoy.  Parents and students were also generous in giving teachers books that were on their classroom wish lists.  Thanks to our volunteers for their invaluable assistance.  And thanks to everyone who purchased something and helped make the fair a success.  We appreciate your support!

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Award Contest: Sasquatch

Discovery third, fourth, and fifth graders who listen to and/or read at least two of the twelve nominated books are eligible to vote in this statewide contest to select the best chapter book.  The library has multiple copies of each title, which are kept on a special shelf. AR quizzes are available for all titles.  Voting takes place during March. 

For the 2008 award, 71 votes were cast.  The table below shows the results of the voting at Discovery Elementary.

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Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award (WCCPBA)

Discovery students in grades K-3 joined other Washington children to select the picture book to receive this award.  Beginning in January, classroom teachers read sixteen books aloud to their classes.  The other four books were read during library times.  Voting took place in mid-February.  More information on this contest is available from the WCCPBA contest organizers.  The table below shows the results of this year's voting at Discovery Elementary for the 2008 award.

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