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DES cultural day, reading carnival draws crowd
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Posted on Jun 15 2011
Over 100 people took part in Dandan Elementary School’s annual cultural day and reading carnival celebration.
Principal Martha Kintol expressed her satisfaction on the turnout for last Friday’s event, which aimed to promote appreciation on the various ethnic origins as well as promote reading as an enjoyable and fun activity among children.
Kintol disclosed that the combined celebration was the first for the school, which usually held its biggest cultural fundraiser with a host of activities like the popular Tottotville King and Queen.
But due to the current financial shortfall and in consideration of the parents’ financial situation, the popularity contest was scrapped.
“So what we did was we combined our PTSA cultural fundraiser with our reading carnival. This week, we celebrated our book fair and we held many activities in classrooms such as peer reading, teachers’ reading, and we even invited parents’ guests throughout the week. We’re bringing all this activities into one final celebration,” said Kintol.
For the children to be able to play games and get a prize, they have to earn tickets and coupons from the “reading booths,” according to the principal.
Besides the cultural performances, various games and reading activities also highlighted the celebration.
Crowd-drawers among children were the “pick letters to spell a win,” “play boggle and win a prize,” “singing bee,” and other games.
In the past years, DES-PTSA targetted bigger amounts for specific school projects. This year, the group surpassed the $2,000 goal for the classroom supplies and students’ school uniform for the beginning of the school year.
Despite the “simple” celebration last week, Kintol said the school has effectively conveyed and met the events’ objectives.
Vice principal Reo Arriola said besides the outdoor activities, spectators were also invited in the school cafeteria where finalists for the door display contest were showcased.
Cultural day coordinator and PTSA secretary Elaine Cabrera said they also launched the Tottotville Talent Show this year where 11 groups signed in for the competition. This year’s top raffle prize was $250 from the PTSA and consolation prizes from private sector donors.
