Santa Festival Brings Etna Elementary Community Together

Hundreds of students and their families visited the elementary school from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, December 5 to shop at the Secret Santa Shop, play in the Bounce House, bid on themed baskets prepared by each class, enjoy the performances by Pam's Dance Academy, and play the carnival-style games set up in each classroom.

"It gets bigger and better each year," said Etna Principal Paula Englert of the festival, which began years before the school moved to its current building. "The Santa Festival is a fun community event."

Families purchased tickets from PTO volunteers at the door, and then used the tickets to play games set up in each classroom. Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, ring toss, cornhole games, plinko, giant bowling, and other games including the always-popular "potty toss" were operated in each classroom by the teachers. Spouses and significant others were brought in to help out as students and families poured through the doors. Player won tickets which could be exchanged for prizes in the prize room.

Face painting was available in an art class. Those with a sweet tooth could also participate in a cake walk to win goodies supplied by the PTO. For two tickets, festival-goers could lock up a friend in the "jail" in the gymnasium. The price of freedom was one ticket, all in good fun.

In the cafeteria, each class had assembled a basket to be part of a Silent Auction, and other items were offered for auction as well. The office personnel created a Pittsburgh Steelers-themed basket in honor of Mrs. Englert's favorite football team. Mrs. Drake's classroom offered a Columbus Blue Jackets basket, completed with tickets to a hockey game. A beautiful scarlet and gray crocheted afghan was also among the items offered.