The Sixth Annual “Change Wars…Battle for Education” started at the North Platte Public Schools on September 13 and continues to the 20th. “Turn over the couch cushions and guard your piggy banks because the students in the North Platte Public Schools are leaving nothing unturned as they begin this fundraiser”, said Terri Burchell the Executive Director of the North Platte Public Schools Foundation. ‘It’s time to make change count”, she continued.
All seven Elementary Schools, along with Madison and Adams Middle Schools and NPHS are participating in this seven-day challenge to raise money for their schools and for the REACH Grants for Teachers and the Prepared to Learn Fund facilitated by the North Platte Public Schools Foundation.
Each classroom in all elementary schools, along with Team Smart Time (Madison), Team Drive (Adams) and Team Bulldog Time (NPHS) is challenged to bring in as much change as they can each day. Family and friends of the schools are welcome to donate on-line to nppsf.org or stop in at First Interstate Bank to leave change for a favorite school and/or classroom.
According to Burchell, “There is $650 ($350-1st place, $200-2nd place $100-3rd place) in prize money up for grabs. The top three classrooms bringing in the most amount can win money to be used for their classroom. In addition, the school collecting the most overall change will receive a discretionary school-use prize in the amount of $500 and the chance to proclaim themselves the 2023 Change Wars Champion. The top teacher in each elementary building and the top three teachers at the middle schools and the top three teachers at the high school will receive a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. Thanks to a generous donation from Integrated Power Company. Many of the schools are raising money to upgrade the outdoor spaces for students.
It was reported that last year’s event brought in just over $13,000.
Each school will receive 70% of the dollar amount that they raise. In addition, new this year each elementary school will receive a matching donation of up to $250 from the Gwen Dickenson Estate. Mrs. Dickenson retired in 1996 as a long-time, very active First Grade Elementary school teacher and she passed away November 1, 2022.
“But that’s not all, ” says Burchell, “students from the winning elementary classrooms will celebrate on September 22nd before the Bulldog vs Kearney football game. Little Bulldog tickets will be given to the students to attend the Backyard BBQ and the NPHS football game.” All Elementary schools will be recognized in a Victory March at 6:15 p.m. prior to the game.
