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Alma Miller
Posts:
1
Registered:
10/5/09
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(5 of 5)
Re: Ideas for FREE prizes for your contests!
Oct 5, 2009 9:45 AM
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My wife teaches at the school. I am the LFE coordinator and she is the school contact. She also is on the Gold Medal committee to encourage healthy choices. Since Campbell’s encourages healthy eating the school tied the two together. She gets some money each year to reward students for walking to school, walking the track (1/2 mile) during recess, exercise etc. She was able to take some of the money and purchased stickers, erasers, and pencils as a prize for turning in a LFE sheet. If the sheet was filled, or a bonus certificate from the store was turned in, the student was put in a drawing for a MP3 player (we watched the sales and purchased one for about $40.00) I sent a note home with each student at the beginning of school with a 1 and 5 point sheet attached. In the past the PTA has also provided little rewards for turning in labels.
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Susan C
Posts:
56
From:
Pennsylvania
Registered:
6/26/08
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(4 of 5)
Re: Ideas for FREE prizes for your contests!
Jul 29, 2009 10:51 PM
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Great ideas! Like you, I also keep my eye out year-round for prizes - I have a large box downstairs filled with various items that I've found, and I'm always trying to figure out how I can use things in contests. I used the Book Fair posters as prizes for the first time in a contest last year and they were VERY popular for all ages. Our school is a Catholic school with classes ranging from 3 year-old preschool up through 8th grade - so designing contests and finding prizes to motivate everyone can sometimes be a challenge!
I like to offer different ways to win prizes - for most contests, there are usually some individual winners, who may either be chosen at random (ie, submit "x" labels for each entry) OR maybe I'll recognize the top three students who bring in the most points that month. I also like to recognize the classes, too - and will award a class certificate and small individual prizes (pencils, stickers) for each contest to the class with the most labels submitted, highest average, etc. Many of the teachers display their certificates in their classrooms or in the hall by their doorways for all to see.
It takes a little extra effort and record keeping to keep the contest entries organized (because instead of just throwing names in a box, I actually keep a tally of how many students from "Mrs. Smith's class" entered, count up points, etc...) but I believe that it's been worth it from the increase in participation that I've seen!
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Chris Lundquist
Posts:
1
Registered:
7/26/09
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(3 of 5)
Re: Ideas for FREE prizes for your contests!
Jul 26, 2009 10:06 AM
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I am our schools BTFE and LFE coordinator. Sometimes I run contests including both. Four times a year I have around 30 prizes the kids can win by bringing in both. Every 10 BTFE or LFE is one chance to win a prize. The prizes are donated mostly from teachers and parents. There is a company called Books are Fun that brings books and gift items into the school that the staff can order at great prices. If there is a certain number of items or $ ordered the school can pick items free. So the principal has been giving me great books and gift items through this program. The librarian has a book fair twice a year. The company she deals with recomends that one of each of the posters is displayed so they sell better. She gets to keep the displayed posters. So whenever I need a few extra prizes she lets me look through the posters. I also watch for great toy clearances. The PTO allows me to also buy some prizes each year. I was lucky enough to get around 7 Webkinz donated by various individuals in our school community. d(these are still popular here) I have really built up the BTFE program over the last 9 years. We just started with LFE a few years ago. But I noticed once I included the LFE collections in the prize drawings participation increased. Now if I could only train everyone not to put them on the BTFE collection sheets I would be happy! LOL
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SHEILA B
Posts:
168
Registered:
6/11/08
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(2 of 5)
Re: Ideas for FREE prizes for your contests!
Jul 21, 2009 2:21 PM
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Susan,
Thanks for the good idea/reminder. We're headed to a city w/ Staples and I can easily run in and pick up those good deals you mentioned.
Wouldn't have thought of it if I hadn't read your post!!!
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Susan C
Posts:
56
From:
Pennsylvania
Registered:
6/26/08
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(1 of 5)
Ideas for FREE prizes for your contests!
Jul 20, 2009 8:34 AM
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I am always on the hunt for prize ideas for our Campbell's contests. This is a great time of year to find bargains with many back-to-school sales going on! Office supply stores are great - I love STAPLES and they have already started with big sales. This week (July 19-25, 2009) for example, they are offering four items FREE with rebate, including a battery-operated pencil sharpener, highlighters, pens, and even a backpack (with Staples Rewards card, which is free to get)! Also, a package of matte photo paper - 50 sheets for $1 after rebate (in reality, this is like white cardstock, great for printing certificates and signs). You do have to pay up front and submit rebates for many items, but you can submit rebates online and the process is easy to do and turns around quickly. Rebates are one per address, so if you have a kind friend or family member, you might be able to get two or more of the specials!
I also try to keep an eye out for the 1-cent specials, 10-cent specials, etc that many office supply stores, WalMart, Target, and drug stores have - by the start of school, I will have a large box of school supplies that I will have paid very little $$$ for...
I can then offer incentives such as:
--Raffle with basket of school supplies on Parent Orientation night (incentive for parents to stop by the table and pick up a flier)
--Multiple prizes during our kick-off contest (instead of one winner, you can have maybe TEN winners and give each a "back to school" prize pack - I believe that last year I stuffed folders (that I'd found for a penny) with the freebies mentioned above
--And whatever's left - you can donate to your teachers, who will be EXTREMELY grateful!!!
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