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Schools

Carnival Hits St. Michael School Tomorrow Night

Big Woods Elementary will welcome families, students and friends to its annual PTO Fall Carnival Friday night.

The second annual fall carnival has a line-up of games and activities for tomorrow night that will keep the kids busy for hours while supporting local education at the same time.

Running from 5 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow evening at Big Woods, PTO president Kirsten Bansen Weigle said the carnival takes the place of the traditional school fundraiser.

“It's … our way of raising money without asking students and families to sell anything,” Bansen Weigle said, “a much appreciated perk of the event!”

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Instead of going door to door, students can head to the school to play a variety of games, jump in inflatables and even take a try soaking their favorite teacher with a wet sponge. Face-painting, tattoos, sparkly crowns and balloons are for sale. Tickets for these games and activities cost $1 for three tickets.

Additionally, each class at the school put together a themed gift basket for a silent auction, and carnival-goers can eat at the concession stand or find a treat at the candy shack, which is staffed by Big Woods graduates.

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New to the carnival this year is a raffle, where for $5 families will be entered for a chance to win free school lunches for one child for an entire year or a free family membership to the for one year.

PTO vice-president Karen Throndset said an estimated 50 student volunteers from the middle and high schools will be helping with the carnival, along with 130 teacher and parent volunteers. Many local businesses contributed to the cause as well, donating items for the silent auction or sponsored the carnival in other ways.

“It creates a sense of community,” she said of the event.

Last year’s carnival brought in nearly $9,000, which the Big Woods parent-teacher organization used to purchase books for the Big Woods Media Center, brought down the cost of field trips for all students, purchased instructional materials and paid for speakers, assemblies, and special events at Big Woods, among other items.

“The carnival helps us to strengthen relationships within the school and to raise funds to support our mission,” Bansen Weigle said. “Last year the school was packed!”

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