DeMello school puts the ‘fun’ in ‘fundraiser’
A child walks around with her cotton candy. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Kids use the bouncy obstacle course.
Kids play in the Duck Pond game.
Ella and Addy DuBois show off their outfits for the photobooth.
Bridget Mullane shows off how she got her face decorated with gems.
Katie Tavares holds her friends child.
A child walks around with her cotton candy. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Kids use the bouncy obstacle course.
Kids play in the Duck Pond game.
Ella and Addy DuBois show off their outfits for the photobooth.
Bridget Mullane shows off how she got her face decorated with gems.
Katie Tavares holds her friends child.
Kids typically can’t wait for the weekend to leave school, but kids didn’t want to leave Joseph DeMello Elementary School during the Fall Festival Library Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27.
This event was organized by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to expand and improve the library. Since DeMello recently expanded to include kindergarten, the library no longer meets the needs of the students. They hoped to raise $40,000 and raised $10,000.
Friends Adilynn Scotts and Kennedi Whitfield, both 10, were focused on having fun and enjoying the popcorn and cotton candy made on site.
There was more than just cotton candy, although it was a fan-favorite. Kids could play on a bouncy obstacle course and slide, and there were carnival games like potato sack races, and STEM games like an airplane flying game to learn about airplanes. Kids could also have their faces painted or bedazzled with gems, or do some arts and crafts.
Bridget Mullane, 6, enjoyed having her face painted and playing the games. When asked what she thought of the fair, she replied, “Good.”
There was something for parents too, including a silent auction with donations from local businesses and organizations. Some of the prizes included a bike, coolers, gift cards and a pickleball set.
Katie Tavares, the president of the PTO, ran the ticket booth. Tickets were $1, and could be used for food or the photo booth. The line was almost non-stop throughout the event.
“It’s seriously heartwarming to see the community come together and support us as we try and make things better for the kids at school,” said Tavares.
Tavares said that this event isn’t just a fundraiser, but also an opportunity to connect the DeMello community. A lot of these children were born and raised during the covid pandemic. The fifth graders were in kindergarten when covid started, and the kindergarten class was born in 2020.
The day was filled with children screaming in joy and running around the field. A common sentiment to hear while walking around the fair was "I don't want to leave.”
