By Jessica Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

PTA members Kessa Stratton (far right) and Shari Lyman dish up the good stuff at an ice cream party held at Perkins Elementary School last week. Photo by Jessica Robison.

Students at Perkins Elementary School enjoyed an ice cream party last week as a reward for their fundraising efforts. The party was held on Monday, October 10 during the last thirty minutes of school. Ice cream and various toppings were served.

This year, instead of using the normal fundraising method of circulating a merchandise catalogue, the Perkins PTA decided to send a letter home with each student asking for a donation of at least five dollars. The students spread the word to friends, teachers, grandparents, and other relatives. This new method of fundraising resulted in $1,100 dollars raised within about three weeks.

“[The outcome] was impressive and we are very excited,” said Bonnie Walker, PTA fundraising director. “We had a really positive response. No one is sad to see the catalogue gone. This fundraiser has earned much more than usual.”

The money raised from these PTA fundraisers goes toward the school. It helps to pay expenses of putting on the school’s popular Christmas Program and funds other school activities. This year, the Clark County School District cut the money for these special events in half. So, the money raised was much needed, Walker said.

Local businesses provided about $950 of the money earned. Perkins received donations from Eagle View, Aquatics, Matheson Equipment, Sunbelts of Nevada, the Moapa Valley Telephone Company, Insulation Injection Technologies, Moapa Valley Water District and the Ryan Udall family.

As part of the reward for the students, Perkins principal, Ken Paul had promised to spend the whole day on his knees. He had told them that this way he could be their same height and better show his appreciation for them.

“Even with knee pads, by the end of the day he was so sore, but the kids loved it!” Walker said. “He has been such a fun principal, always up for what we ask of him.”

About fifteen members of the PTA served at the ice cream party. The PTA provided the toppings while Andersen Dairy provided eighteen gallons of ice cream for the party.