At home … 

• Box Tops  Cut the box tops off certain products and save them for our school (see image at right for box top example). Flyers will come home in the kids’ backpacks when it’s time to send them in. Boxtops can be found on such products as Betty Crocker, Ziploc, Pillsbury, Cheerios, and more!  Visit btfe.com for the complete list.

Shopping in town…

• Stop & Shop A+ Bonus Bucks  Gainfield earns cash each time you shop with your Stop and Shop card. Registration required. More info to come soon.
• Target Red Card Register your REDcard at target.com and Target will donate 1% of your purchases to GES.
• Dining Out Nights  During the school year we have dining out nights at a  local restaurant. Mention you are a Gainfield Family and the restaurant will give up to 20% of the night’s profits back to GES.

Shopping online…

• btfe.com (Box Tops for Education)  Shop through the Box Tops website and earn money for GES. Go to btfe.com and shop as usual; just some of the participating merchants are Gap, Lands End, Old Navy, iTunes
• www.inkmyfunds.com  Gainfield receives 20% for each purchase. Be sure to reference the Gainfield Affinity Group user ID 000057.
• Public Power  Switch your electricity provider and earn money for GES.  See www.GainfieldPTO.iChooseSavings.com.

And shopping at GainfieldPTO.org  …

• Shopping on the internet at Macy’s, Walmart, Sears, or at other retailers? Shop at those same stores and many more through your account on the PTO website and the retailers will make a donation to the PTO.

Dear Parents, the PTO Welcomes You to the 2010/11 School Year

  …and It Wants You to Know: This Is Not Your Mother’s PTO

Times have changed. And so have PTO’s. Did you know The Gainfield PTO is more than just pot luck dinners and tea parties?  It is a non-profit incorporated entity with its own set of bylaws.

According to those bylaws, its mission is to “promote, augment and improve public school education in Southbury.”  To that end, the PTO has 36 committees chaired by a total of 34 people who are assisted by additional dozens and dozens of other dedicated volunteers  The PTO strives:

- To provide funding and other resources to the Gainfield Elementary School.

- To work collaboratively with Pomperaug Regional school district 15 and the administration and staff of GES to assist, sponsor, and support initiatives and activities that will expand and or enhance public school education in Southbury.

- To promote the welfare of the children of GES by facilitating the cooperation of students, parents, faculty and others.

The financial goals are funded through various fundraisers throughout the year. Presently the PTO is working towards putting a Smartboard ($3000 each ) in every classroom. In the spring the PTO keeps parents informed about the Region15 budget process and any budget decisions that may directly affect Gainfield.  And throughout the school year the PTO coordinates different activities and events, such as: hosting children’s author/illustrator visits, sponsoring After School Enrichment programs, and assisting the school yearbook development, spring art show, and 5^th grade concert.