- April 18, 2024
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Kaylee Sehess and Brayden Baker at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Thomas Davis and Alana Janey play pumpkin tic tac toe at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Michael Schoenbrod and June Ridder man the Tomoka Trading Post at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nicole Bianchino and Ella Pender hold bunnies at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Teacher James Walter receives a bucket-full of water at the splash tank at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Landon Compton kicks a ball into a target at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Malik Othman and Tanner Harris play skee ball at the Tomoka Elementary Fall Fest on Friday, Nov. 15. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Tomoka Elementary Principal Julie Roseboom, Fall Festival Chair Elaini Harrell and PTA President Amy Graydon. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Fun, festivities and food: The three pillars of Tomoka Elementary's annual Fall Festival.
Families, students and teachers spent their evening on Friday, Nov. 15, at the event, a longtime school tradition that helps fundraise for the PTA. Featuring games like pumpkin tic tac toe, inflatable obstacle courses, local food trucks and music, the Fall Festival is one of the school's largest fundraisers. It's an event that PTA President Amy Graydon said brings unity.
“It’s not just a fundraiser," Graydon said. "It’s a time for our community to come together, and the parents and the kids get to play and have fun.”
The PTA begins planning for the Fall Fest every summer, and a lot of work goes on by student and parent volunteers to put it together. Over 30 volunteers helped on the day of the festival alone.
But, all their hard work pays off when they see the children running and playing around the school field.
“That’s what it is," said Elaini Harrell, Fall Festival Chair and PTA Treasurer. "It’s seeing the kids have a good time, just seeing them smile and laugh.”
The funds raised help pay for tutoring, classroom materials, books, extracurricular activities, arts programs, classroom furniture and teacher mini-grants. For example, this year, a teacher needed a new easel for large books after transitioning from teaching fourth grade to kindergarten. The PTA was able to lend a hand.
“That’s the kind of thing that makes us really happy to be part of the PTA because it’s a shame that teachers have to pay for so much of that stuff out of their own pockets a lot of the time," Graydon said. "We’re glad we can help.”
Tomoka Elementary Principal Julie Roseboom said this past week, the school was able to receive $10,000 for tutoring and books for classroom libraries thanks to PTA funds and a matching state grant. Roseboom was also able to purchase 40 iPads for classroom use. Without the PTA's help, the school would have only been able to purchase half of that.
“I couldn’t do that without our PTA and their generosity," Roseboom said.
