Elm Dale Elementary School got an unexpected gift – make that two gifts – as part of Walmart’s Teacher Reward Program that awarded more than $4 million to 90,000 teachers during the 2012 back-to-school season.

Principal Christine Brzycki was initially told by Walmart her school had been chosen to receive $1,000 worth of gift cards for her teachers to use on supplies and snacks.

Then, upon delivery of the gift cards on Sept. 28, Walmart also brought $8,500 worth of school supplies.

“The (Walmart) employees voted on the school to donate to,” Brzycki told the Greenfield School Board on Monday. “At first I thought it was a joke when they called.”

Walmart’s donation, which was approved by the board Monday, was the third large donation the district received in recent weeks.

On Oct. 1, the School Board approved the donation of $2,500 from the Glenwood Home and School Organization to the school for a new sound system in the gym.

“We are appreciative and thankful for all they contribute to the education, safety, and enrichment of our students,” Glenwood principal Dan Carr wrote in a memo to the board.

That same evening, the School Board approved a $500 donation from the family of Elaine Gavin toward books for the Elm Dale library.

Gavin, who passed away July 28, was a teacher at Elm Dale.