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Schools

A Coke And A Smile: Caledonia Elementary School Awarded $10,000 For Library Improvements

North Park cashes in on rewards program with help from parents

Emblematic of how community support can make a difference in a school's budget, l won a $10,000 sweepstakes, the district announced recently. 

The school was named one of two nationwide winners in the My Coke Rewards for Schools Refresh Your School Library Sweepstakes after parents and staff donated their Coke Reward points to the school this spring. 

"It's a great example of what this community is capable of and what this school district is capable of when we work together," said Racine Unified School District spokesperson Stacy Tapp. It's "important to have community support, especially in times like this when we keep hearing about all of the cuts being made in schools." 

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Office assistant Sue Kaczmarowski entered the contest for the school on behalf of the Parent Teacher Association.

"This is a notable example of how our parents, teachers and staff have come together with the help of our PTA to make a difference," said Christine Kane-Welsh, the president of the school's PTA. "Without the parents and staff submitting these rewards, we never would have had the opportunity to win."

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A committee has been formed and will meet in September to determine how exactly the money will be spent. 

The school and its students and parents are active in similar contests and reward programs that involve turning in box tops and labels on a regular basis. 

"Winning this contest inspires our PTA to search for similar contests," Kane-Welsh said. "We are a close knit school with dedicated and lively students, staff and parents and when we all come together we can set our sights high."

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