Hi Brook! Thanks about the classroom! No, I decided not to enter the contest. Our parent group just gave each grade level $450.00 to purchase anything we want for our classrooms. That is in addition to our regular order that we do in January with the school budget. Then we also get wish list items from the parent group and the secretary came in and told us to come to the next meeting to talk to them about a BIG rug we have been looking at for our whole group area.
So in other words, I'll let a school that is in need go for that prize. It would be fun to enter, and I'll enjoy looking at the entries, but I have plenty of funds and Disney items for my class, and even though I would never win, I don't want to take any votes that could hurt anyone's chances if that makes sense.
Wow, wow, wow!!!
How nice that you have so much support!
We get $200 per classroom teacher for the year. We keep half - $100 is for each teacher for the individual classroom, and $100 is put in a pool to pay for the risograph and copy machine fees for the year.
A wish list would do little good at our school.
I think your post makes total sense, and I
did enter the contest strictly for the opposite reason you didn't - not to showcase the room, but to have the chance to see the thrill that getting those books would bring to our kids.
Do I think I have a shot of winning?
No.
But, on the teeny tiny chance that we might get those books, I figured I would throw my hat in the ring.
I think it is very classy of you to step aside and leave it for struggling schools, because I really have no doubt that if you entered, you
would win. Your boat in the ceiling and all of that other under the sea work would clearly get the votes!
If I had a more financially stable school, I would have done the exact same thing. I took my pictures and then just let them sit on the camera and wasn't going to enter, either, until I got 'a sign from God'
to go ahead and do it from a DISer who came out of nowhere on the report and told me I should. Like you, I hope whoever gets the books (and/or whatever the prize is) is a struggling school.
I am very excited about getting to see all the entries - to see all the cool Disney classrooms and to get new ideas for future years. I've already been thinking, in a few brief moments here and there, about next year's classroom. Right now, I am sensing the choices of Toy Story and Safari Minnie and Mickey, but we shall see. I still have this very, very, very long year to get through!!!
By the way, five weeks from today, Brooklynn and I will be in Animal Kingdom all day. After rockin' out to the Jammin; Jungle Parade, we will be coming to find you and your crew of dressed-up friends at Magic Kingdom!
What is on your agenda in the 5:00 to 7:00 range? I think there might be some DISers who want to meet up who can't come into the park, like maybe Ty's Nonnie and some others. I didn't know if you guys would be able to come up to the front gate for a quick hello. Brooklynn and I can come in until the 7:00 witching hour, so we can meet anywhere inside the park. We can narrow it down as time gets closer, so talk to your people and see what's good for them. I'll put out an 'all call' on our TR, too, and see what anybody else is able to do as far as meeting that night.
I'm really looking forward to hearing all about that day - SO MANY DISERS!!
I KNOW!!! All of you non-planners are KILLING me! 
When/where will you guys have your pool times? Brooklynn will always be up for pool crashing, and I'll only take up a chair if there are empty ones.
