2/3-2/28 Read-A-Thon!

Summary: Read-A-Thon is happening 2/3-2/28! Sign-up sheets are coming home today in backpacks with your unique code so your child can track minutes and fundraise for the school. Kids love this annual event which has lots of fun parties and prizes for all. Your donations help fund PTA events, student, and teacher support all year! 

Register for Read-A-Thon!

**When prompted to “Enter Teacher Name,” write your child’s Reading/ELA Teacher’s Name.**

It’s time to Pop into a Good Book during Potomac Elementary School PTA’s annual Read-a-Thon! This year, our school goal is to read 250,000 minutes and raise $35,000.

What we are raising funds for: Proceeds of our annual fundraiser allow the PTA to host all-school student assemblies, staff appreciation activities, parent coffees, student enrichment activities, and more than 10 family events – including Fall & Spring Festivals, Book Fair, STEAM Night, International Night, and Lunar New Year Celebration.  

Want to track minutes on paper and just upload once a week (do before 9pm!!), here is a handy form for you. Thanks!

Reading LogDownload


Dates: February 3 – 28, 2025

How It Works

  • Step 1: Register your reader(s) at www.read-a-thon.com/readers – Each student will come home today with sign-up sheet with a unique code from their reading teacher. When prompted, please be sure to enter your child’s reading teacher. If you need assistance logging in or setting up your account, please contact Mrs. Silverman. 
  • Step 2: Create and share your reader’s page – Contribute to the PTA by donating to your child’s reader page. Share with family and friends to encourage your reader to meet their personal goals.
  • Step 3: Log your child’s reading minutes – Between Feb 3 and Feb 28, your child can log minutes and have the opportunity to win prizes individually or with their reading class. Minutes will be calculated each Friday in February at 9 pm. See prize list below.
  • Step 4: Send Media Specialist a photo of your reader – Email a picture of your reader to Mrs. Hazel anytime throughout the month. Photos will be featured in the Potomac Beat and Media Center.
  • Have more questions? Visit www.PotomacPTA.org/read or contact Maryellen.


AUTHOR VISIT – PRE-ORDER BOOKS by MARCH 3rd

On Wednesday, March 12th, award winning and best selling author, Ben Hatke, will give two presentations (K-2nd and 3rd-5th) on Three Secrets to Visual Storytelling. Ben Hatke is the celebrated author and illustrator of the The Robot, Zita the Spacegirl series, and more. 

Pre-order your own signed Ben Hatke books by March 5th. (Ordering Instructions). The books will be signed by the author and delivered to students on or after March 12th. Follow the unique link and reference the instructions below to make sure the books get sent to Potomac Elementary School.

PRIZES!

Every Friday in February at 9 pm, we will calculate how many minutes were logged and donations made that week to determine weekly individual and class winners. Each week, the minutes read and dollars donated will re-start at zero so that there are new opportunities for classes and students to win prizes. Prizes will be announced on Mondays via Mustang Mail and Potomac Beat. A grand finale celebration with all final prizes will be held on Wednesday, March 12th.

Here are some of the ways your reader can win prizes:

  • Each student who registers at Read-a-Thon.org will receive 1 raffle ticket.*
  • Each student who reads 800 minutes or more will receive a gift certificate to Potomac Pizza and the new Bagel & Grinds.
  • Each week, the top 10 readers per grade will receive 1 raffle ticket.*
  • Each student will receive raffle ticket(s) based on total donations to their Read-a-Thon account.*

Here are some ways your child’s reading class can win prizes:

  • When 100% of your child’s class registers at Read-a-Thon.org, each student in the class will receive 1 raffle ticket.*
  • Each week, the K-1 class and grades 2-5 class who read the most minutes will win a donut party.
  • Each week, the K-1 class and grades 2-5 class who raise the most donations will win a party | Week 1: POPcorn Bar | Week 2: Chocolate POPs | Week 3: Cake POPs
  • The grade-level that raises the most donations by Feb. 28th will earn a grade-level “Reading is Fun” Science Spectacular assembly with Eric Energy.

And here are some ways the entire school can win prizes:

  • PRIZE UNLOCKED Read 250,000+ minutes EVERY student will receive a gift certificate to Potomac Pizza and the new Bagel & Grinds.
  • PRIZE UNLOCKED Raise $10,000+ The PTA will install a free little library at PES and our Sister School, Highland Elementary.
  • PRIZE UNLOCKED Raise $15,000+ Bestselling cartoonist and author Ben Hatke will attend our Read-a-Thon Celebration on March 12, 2024. His books include Little Robot, Mighty Jack, and Zita the Spacegirl!
  • PRIZE UNLOCKED Raise $25,000+ To meet our annual budget goals as a PTA, we need to raise at least $25,000 this year during Read-a-Thon. And if we do that, Spring Fair can remain a free event! So please help us meet this milestone and our annual Spring Fair will have free entry for all!
  • Raise $35,000+ The PTA will sponsor a school-wide assembly, and students will vote on which assembly comes to PES this school year.

The Annual Read-a-Thon is the PES PTA’s main fundraiser of the year. Our goals are two fold: (1) inspire students and families to read and (2) fund the many ongoing PTA initiatives the community has come to love and enjoy.

We hope you and your family have fun reading this month. Please encourage your readers at home. Don’t forget to share their donation page with family and friends!

Happy Reading!

*Please see more raffle and party prizes below! Full raffle prize list is available here.