Jamaica kindergartener Andrew Nelson said he hopes the school’s new playground equipment comes. It will, thanks to his mother paying attention to a grocery store receipt.

Sara Nelson said she was shopping at Albertson’s grocery store in the fall 2011 when she paid attention to an extra printout she received with her receipt, she said.

All she did was fill it out, mail it in and several weeks later, Jamaica’s Principal Paula Levensailor said she got a call telling her the school won $10,000.

“We just could not even believe it,” Levensailor said.

Nelson had won a “Box Top for Education” contest, she said. General Mills launched the program in 1996; coupons from certain products can be redeemed for 10 cents.

Jamaica started actively pursuing the collection about two years ago, Levensailor said, and receives around $250-$300 quarterly. However, Nelson’s mailing was for a different contest within the program, Levensailor said.

Today’s News-Herald was unable to confirm the contest on the program’s website and an emailed message seeking further information was not immediately returned.

Levensailor said she didn’t believe the school had actually won until the $10,000 was deposited in the bank. The funding was awarded to the school’s parent-teacher organization and not the school itself, she said.

The organization’s members decided to replace playground equipment. Levensailor said students will be surveyed to help determine what equipment they want. The equipment is expected to be installed between December and June 2013.

Nelson said she doesn’t frequently enter contests.

“I’ve never won anything in my life,” she said. “I was excited. I was really excited.”

Andrew said he was excited to play on the new equipment when it arrives.

“The other kids in my class are really happy about it,” he said.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com