A whopping $45,200 was raised at Centertown School in activities relating to its annual Fall Festival.
When the grand prize drawing is $3,000 folks tend to snatch up the donation tickets, which were priced at $1 each. Students, parents and faculty members secured 30,000 tickets, with lucky Donna Mathis being drawn for the prize.
“The idea for the large grand prize came from members of our Parent Involvement Committee,” said co-chair and teacher Lisa Carden. “They worked hard getting businesses to donate funds for the monetary award.”
Teachers Carden and Christy Arnold co-coordinated the event, along with a host of parents and volunteers. The total amount cleared after expenses is unclear, but the profits will go back into the school.
“We’re not exactly sure how we will use the money, but we will probably purchase some much-needed technology and other equipment for the school,” said Carden. “It is all very expensive, and we don’t get federal funds for everything that is needed.”
Raising money for the school was important to the students, but not as important as having fun. They ventured down the three hallways visiting classrooms and participating in the fun games. Children could play a variety of games, place their hands in the gross boxes and try to guess its contents, hula hoop, bowl and even meet royalty in the Princess Room.
Dinner from Prater’s Barbecue was served in the cafeteria, and a concession stand was available for other delicious snacks.
The gym was abuzz with activity, with a constant cake walk going on. An abundance of pies, cakes and desserts were available for winning, prompting both old and young to participate.
Tables filled with auction items were also displayed in the gym, with emphasis on theme baskets, donated items and creative class displays. Most of the class entries featured the students, with either photos of them, handprints or signatures.
“I have to commend the teachers and their classroom projects,” said Carden. “There was a handprint quilt, photo collages, a platter with the children’s thumbprints and even a handmade wooden table featuring the class of 2030. The displays actually brought me to tears just looking at them.”
When students grew tired of all the activity, they were welcomed to sit and rest a while in the “chill room” manned by teacher Dawn Christian. The lights were low, an imitation fire burned in the fireplace, soft music played, all while students lounged in bean bags, on pillows or on the carpet.
“It’s just a place where they can come to chat and cool off a while,” said Christian. “They don’t have much time to actually visit during school, so this works out well for that purpose.”