2/2-3/1 Read-A-Thon!

Summary: The annual PES PTA Read-A-Thon is happening 2/2-3/1! Sign-up sheets will come home in backpacks on January 30th with your unique code so your child can track minutes and fundraise for the school. Kids love this annual event that has lots of fun parties and prizes for all. Your donations help fund PTA events, students, and teachers all year! 

Register for Read-A-Thon!

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

Reading Helps Us Grow! Join us 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, International Night, and Lunar New Year Celebration.

Dates: February 2 – March 1, 2026

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 AM 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. 2 and Mar. 1, your child can log minutes and have the opportunity to win prizes individually or with their AM class. Minutes will be calculated each Sunday at 11:59 pm. See prize list below.
  • Questions? Contact PTA President Maryellen Grant.

Every Sunday at 11:59 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. Winners will be announced on Tuesdays. Raffle prizes will be drawn the week of March 9th. A grand finale celebration will be held on Wednesday, March 11th.

2026 Raffle Prizes include:
Washington Wizards Tickets | Sarah’s Homemade Ice Cream Behind-the-Scenes Tour | One Week at Bar-T Summer Camp | One Week at Sportsrock Outdoor Summer Camp | $100 Clyde’s Restaurant Gift Certificate | 15-Day Pass to Movement Rockville | Imagination Stage Tickets | ZavaZone Trampoline Park Passes | Dulce Crepes Gift Certificates | FireWok Boba Tea Gift Certificates | Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Tickets Reading Baskets | And More!

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

  • Each student who registers at Read-a-Thon.com will receive a backpack clip AND a raffle ticket.
  • Each student who logs 900 minutes or more will receive 2 raffle tickets. (Just 30 minutes a day!)
  • Each week, the top two readers per AM class 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 AM class can win prizes:

  • When 100% of your child’s AM class registers at Read-a-Thon.com, 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-5 class that raises the most donations will win a pizza party.
  • The grade-level that raises the most donations per capita by Mar. 1st will earn a grade-level “Things That Grow” Science Spectacular assembly with Eric Energy.

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

  • Read 250,000+ minutes 
    • Every student will receive a coupon to Potomac Pizza!
    • Mr. Aleshevich and Mrs. Silverman will chase a chicken through the school courtyard! Who will win?
  • Raise $10,000+ The Maryland Agricultural Education Mobile Bus will visit the school during the read-a-thon!
  • Raise $15,000+ Award-winning science and nature author Rebecca Hirsch will attend our Read-a-Thon Celebration on March 11, 2026. Her books include Wonder Wings: Guess Who’s Flying, Rise to the Sky, and Sensational Senses: Amazing Ways Animals Perceive the World!
  • 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!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!