Middle School - Round-Up of Used Gift Cards

We did morning announcements at the school, telling everyone gift cards are made of PVC, which is recyclable, but often they aren't recycled because many recycling companies don't have the equipment to recycle PVC. So, they get thrown in the trash. But, that's a problem because PVC is harmful to humans when in landfills, and it doesn't biodegrade. So, the announcements also asking kids to bring in their used gift cards the first week back after the Christmas break. The grade that brought in the most cards would win a hat day. (Wearing hats is otherwise not allowed). We didn't think it would be too successful, because the announcements were made, and then we had so many days off before coming back. But we actually had a great response. We collected a total of 140 gift cards to be recycled!! Then, on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 was the hat day. The sixth grade won the contest, so they got to wear hats. Our principle said that if other kids in other grades wanted to wear hats, they would have to pay $1.00 and put a pin on their hat to show they paid. (The office has the pins used for this). The Principle said The TLC club could keep the money!! So our Club members met with the Principle on Tuesday morning, and asked if we could make our own pins. He agreed. Our club members all got together on Tuesday night (01/11/11) and made 100 ribbons (They look like Cancer Awareness Ribbons). Wednesday morning, we started selling the Pins/Ribbons to those who wanted to wear a hat, who weren't in the 6th grade. We made $25.00 for our club!! We can use this money toward the shipping costs to send the used gift cards to the recycling company.