$4,000 FOR FUN

One of the more popular places was the photo booth. Fourth-grade students Kainoa Defiesta, Colton Rempel and Lincoln Wickert (from left) laughed at the results. The third annual Hillsboro Elementary School Carnival on Friday offered fun, food and games for students, families, faculty and staff.

Erin Beavers, HES Carnival Committee chair, said more than 200 meals were served, but the number of people attending the event was unavailable at press time.

“We made approximately $4,000 with tickets, meals and business donations and we couldn’t do this without community support,” she said.

Carnival history

Three years ago, the HES Site Council launched its first fall carnival as a way to jump-start fundraising efforts for a new and safer play­ground.

The carnival tradition continued in 2015, even after the playground was finished.

“(Site council) decided to continue the carnival,” she said. “It’s a great community event, and it achieves our fundraising goals in one night.Eli Dalke launches a football toward the target as carnival-goers watch the fun. Now in its third year, the Hillsboro Elementary School Carnival served more than 200 meals at Friday’s event.<p>

“Last year, funds from the carnival, as well as box-top contributions, were used to purchase three new adjust­able basketball goals for the playground,” Beavers added.

The money also was used to pay for several teacher-appreciation events throughout the year.

“We have now established a large enough site council fund that we can help with teacher and staff needs, but also fun things the kids and staff can look forward to during the year,” she said.

To identify those needs, the site council enlists the input of teachers, parents and Principal Evan Yoder, who praised the carnival, too.Don Ratzlaff assists granddaughter Zaire Ratzlaff in guessing the number of jelly beans in the jar.

“This is a family-friendly event which will provide much needed funds for our school,” Yoder said. “We had a wonderful turnout.”

Popular booth

One of the carnival’s popular places Friday was the photo booth, she said.

“It’s always a big hit,” she said. “One of our parents, Brandi Hein, makes that happen for us each year.”

Hein has a contact at the Wichita Photo Booth Co., Beavers said, and it gives the school a discounted rate because Hein helps run it.

The dunk tank is another favorite for students.

“How many kids can say they get to dunk their principal every year?” Beavers said.

The dunk tank, photo booth and the other activities that engage students are at the heart of the carnival.

Adrian Unruh, HES fifth grader, said he liked making wristbands at the craft booth.

Becki Yoder, who was in charge of the craft booth, said Unruh liked it so much he made seven wristbands.

Sonareigh Bell, 9, decided to try her luck at the fishing booth. She said she went away with a bag of cheese crackers. Teacher Rachel Winter was in charge of the booth.

Eli Dalke, a seventh-grader, tried his hand at football, while others looked on. Debbie Dick shows off some of the cash from the meal. <p>

Whether it was the ring toss, modified cake walk, guessing booth or other activities, some students couldn’t even hold all their prizes.

Michele O’Hare said her son, Kyson, 6, was making his second trip to the car to drop off his winnings so he had room in his hands for more.

One preschooler, Alex Hill, 4, came up with his own idea: putting his finger in the water fountain and watching how the water and his finger interacted.

Gratitude

Beavers said among the people she wanted to acknowledge were Nicole Suderman and Ben Schmidt, who played a huge role behind the scenes to get things ready before the carnival could happen.

“It’s truly a team effort to get everything organized, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of teachers and staff than we have at the elementary school,” Beavers said.A team of parents pitched in to help lead activities during the Hillsboro Elementary School Carnival.

Yoder said the parents, community members, Tabor College students, and Hillsboro High School groups, coordinated by Beavers, “were amazing.”

The HES teachers also con­tributed to the cause by helping run booths, preparing and serving food, or consenting to be dunked.

“We want to thank everyone who helped run the Carnival and those parents, grandparents and caregivers who came and spent money for a good cause,” he said.

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