As the 2014-15 school years winds down, Bluffton Elementary PTO offers this summary of its spring activities, according to Melissa Knauss, president:
"With only a few weeks left of this school year, the PTO committee wants to thank everyone who made this year such a success for us, allowing the committee to do so many things for our school, it's teachers, and students. Whether you volunteered your time or donated items, we appreciate each and every one of you.
"May 4-8 was Teacher Appreciation Week. We showed teachers how much we appreciate them by providing a meal from Mustard Seed, breakfast items from Dough Hook, car wash tokens from Super Wash, new games for each classroom (totaling over $1,000), and many other items. We also held raffles; one being for a supply cake and one for a gift certificate from Spectrum's. Spectrum's provided a 10-minute massage to all those who signed up.
"This year's Market Day profit for this year thus far is $1,328.41. Persons can still make purchases throughout the summer online at Market Day, then pick up your order at either Gordon Food Stores in Lima or Findlay.
"The normal 10% will be credited to Bluffton, but also an additional 1% for any further purchases in the store when you pick your items up.
"Total purchases in the spring book fair were $8,384.44, which meant Mrs. Stechshulte, the librarian, received $838.44 in Scholastic Book dollars to spend for the library.
If you ordered spirit wear from our spring sale, sponsored by Ideal Images, you should be seeing your purchases soon. PTO paid $7 each toward the admission price of the Toledo Zoo for 72 children and $21 for three buses to park on May 6.
"PTO is looking into purchasing sensory tables for all five Kindergarten classrooms for next year. It will be working on the Reading Garden to spruce it up for use by classrooms for the remainder of the school year.
"Don't forget to still save items the PTO collects over the summer, like Box Tops, Sunny D UPC labels, Spirit UPC labels from Sunbeam and other products, used ink cartridges, Community Market receipts, Our Family labels, and Labels for Education.
The next PTO meeting is Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school library.
