GUILDERLAND — Guilderland Elementary School earned over 100,000 points in Colonie Center’s School Bucks program, which resulted in a $1,000 prize.

“This was our second year,” said Principal Alan Lockwood of competing in the contest. “Last year, we weren’t in the top 10.”

This year, Guilderland came in seventh, with 102,298 points. The first four winners were Catholic schools. First place, and an $8,000 cash prize, went to the Blessed Sacrament School, which earned 328,434 points. Second place and $4,000 went to the Sacred Heart School. Third place and $2,000 went to St. Jude the Apostle School.  The next five finishers each earned $1,000, and the last two earned $500 each.

“You earn points by shopping at Colonie Center,” said Lockwood. “You take your receipt to the office and get it stamped.”

He credited Donna Campbell, the mother of a Guilderland student and a member of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, with heading the drive. “It was a year-long effort, starting last summer,” he said.

Guilderland also earned 5,000 bonus points by having a book fair at Barnes and Noble, said Lockwood, and the school earned other points by participating in the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots drive and by collecting for the Gold Star Mothers’ troop donations.

Altogether, Colonie Center reports, 2.1 million points were earned by participating schools this year.

Lockwood said that the PTA will decide what to do with the windfall but he’s not sure yet how it will be spent. Some of it may be used to provide transportation for the “Fun Friday” sessions traditionally held after school in March at Guilderland Elementary. To close a budget gap, bus transportation for the program was cut.

Lockwood concluded of the School Bucks program, “It’s a painless way to bring in $1,000 if I don’t alienate the Crossgates Mall crowd.”

— Melissa Hale-Spencer