Not sure what to do

Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive March 2004: Not sure what to do

Two months ago the director of my ds's private preschool asked me to take over as Box Tops for Education coordinator and I said yes. This is the first year the school has participated in the Box Tops program and the previous coordinator set it up where the child who brings in the most Box Tops each month wins a small prize and then the child who brings in the most for the whole year wins a grand prize.

My ds won the first month for bringing in the most. Then he was the winner again a week after I became the new coordinator. Even though our Box Tops had been handed in before I took over, I was now in charge and decided to award the prize to the second place child since my ds had already won once before. Now my big problem is this - my ds is in first place for the grand prize by a fairly wide margin. It's a real possibility that my ds is going to be the top child in the school for the year. I would feel weird standing up in front of the entire school at the end of the year program and after giving my big "be sure to save your Box Tops" speech, award the grand prize to my ds. However, my family worked really hard to get the Box Tops that he has turned in this year and I only took over this position two months ago and the bulk of the Box Tops were brought in before I became coordinator.

What should I do? What would you do if you were in my position? Would you take your child out of the running for the prize or leave him in?

By Yjja123 on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 06:40 pm:

No it isn't fair to your son to take him out of the running. If he wins he deserves to win the grand prize.
Perhaps you should speak to whomever was in charge before about counting his boxtops for you (so someone else has proof of his numbers)
Good Luck!

By Mommyathome on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 06:41 pm:

I would get a "helper" to add up all the scores and see who got the most. Then have that person do the box tops speach and announce the winner. I would just take a back row seat.

We had a backpack full of supplies that we drew for in our school at the first of the year. I'm on the PTO board and I happened to be the one in charge. I drew my own DD's name. I put it back in and picked another one. I didn't want my DD to get "harrassed" for winning.

By Texannie on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 07:03 pm:

I agree, I wouldn't take your son out. Maybe have the principal or like the other's suggested tally and announce. You could even make a little joke like "hey, you guys might want to volunteeer to be in charge of this job next year..it sure does guarrantee that you turn in the box tops!"

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 07:06 pm:

I agree, it isn't fair to take your son out. I would talk to the principal about this immediately and work out some way to handle this so that everyone will feel it is fair and your son doesn't get cut out just because you are in charge of the program.

By Amecmom on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 07:07 pm:

Give the box tops speech and make sure you state several times that you took over mid year. Then have the director of the school give the award, also thanking you for taking over mid year.
Getting a helper to oversee the counting is a good idea.
Also, keep a poster in the pre-school with a running tally of the top five children for the year and how many tops they have brought in. This will keep the program in the parents' eye and let them know that your son is way ahead. This way they will not be surprised if he wins the grand prize at the end.
Above all, do not be embarrassed for doing a good job in teaching your child to help his school by participating in this program.
If you don't like any of the foregoing, you can always resign as coordinator and volunteer for some other position.
Ame

By Coopaveryben on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 07:42 pm:

He deserves to win!

If you are feeling awkward maybe you should talk to the director and see if she would present the award or you could give a smaller second place prize to the runner up also.

But by all means I don't think your son should miss out on something he has worked so hard for.

By Marg on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 07:59 pm:

You give the speech and have the principal or vice-principal give out the award, or the president or the pta.

He does deserve it

By Melanie on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

ITA. He deserves the award.

By Momtotwoangels on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 08:59 pm:

ITa with all the other ladies, Plus you as a mom have worked hard to get the tops as well. YOur Son deserves it for all his hard work.

By Mommmie on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 09:08 pm:

Let him win. In our school, it always seems like the kid who wins the art contest is the child of the mother who is head of it and the kids who win the Science Fair are the children of teachers at the school and the kid who wins the bookmark designing contest is the child of the school secretary, etc. I think it sortof goes with the territory.

Since you are head of it, it's always on your mind and you think to save them and ask other folks for them and no one cares more about the fundraiser than you do and it would only result in your children winning. I think there's nothing wrong with it.

By Tunnia on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 08:09 am:

Thank you so much!

Oh my! The solution seems so simple. Why in the world didn't I think of it? (I'm hitting my forehead with the palm of my hand now Duh!) I am going to go to be at the school for a while this morning and I am going to talk to the director about awarding the prize for me. I also didn't think it was fair to take my ds out of the running, but I just wasn't sure what to do. I had talked to the director about this before and she thought that my ds should remain in the running because she knows that the numbers are correct because she checks behind me as she checked behind the previous coordinator, but she also couldn't think of a solution. I think it's a great idea to have the director award the prize and I like the idea of making a little joke about it. Thanks again, ladies!

By Janet on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 04:12 pm:

Stacy, I'm the coordinator for a writing contest at our school, and last year my older dd won and this year my younger dd won (for their grades). I know exactly what you mean about the awkwardness, and I've worked hard to overcome making excuses for them. Even though I'm in charge, the actual judging is not done by me, and the entries are coded so no one knows who the children are. You should be proud of your son for achieving this honor... and I'm also proud of you for being in charge of Box Tops! That's one of our PTO jobs I'm not eager to take on! LOL