Fall Fest set this weekend
Games of skill and chance, homemade cakes and assorted other scrumptious desserts, freshly prepared chili and beans, prizes, and children and adults dressed up as characters from video games, heroes, mermaids, animals, and clowns are all expected to be on hand for the annual Parent-Teacher Organization’s Fall Fest held at the Nancy Smith Elementary School campus on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Clear skies, temperatures forecast to range from highs in the 70s to lows in the 50s, and a moon that won’t rise until after 9:00 p.m. are expected to result in a star-lit, beautiful, cool, fall evening for the PTO fundraiser.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are still being sought to take shifts at the various booths sponsored by the different classes, according to overall coordinator Malarie Sutton.
“We should have enough people signed up to make it run, but we can always use more help,” said Sutton. “If your child is in school, please help us out.”
Those who have already signed up for a shift are reminded that everyone is depending on them to make sure and show up.
Room mothers and/or class officers are asked to turn in the completed booth shift schedule to the NSES office or the secondary school office by Wednesday at lunch time.
The class booth schedules are used to get the info for the master schedule, according to Tisha Wilkins, who coordinates the cafeteria with Michaela Smith.
“If you have a child attending Albany schools and have not yet been asked to help out, please contact your child’s teacher,” said Wilkins. “Any parents that have not signed up to work in their child’s home room, please do so. It takes everyone to make the night go smooth.”
Helpers are also needed to prepare food during the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 26, and during the day on Oct. 27.
“Saturday is mostly covered, but we still need three or four more people on Friday,” Smith said. “We plan to work from 1:30 p.m. to around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. If you can’t be there the whole time, please contact me and just come for a couple of hours.”
Cafeteria volunteers can contact Wilkins at 325-660-7443 or Smith at 214-883-5087.
Desserts Needed
“Each freshman and senior student is responsible for bringing two desserts to the elementary school cafeteria no later than 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27,” reminded Sutton.
The freshman should label their desserts “cakewalk.” The desserts from the seniors will be sold in the cafeteria.
Fall Fest Schedule
The Oct. 27 Fall Fest is sponsored each year by the Albany PTO, with proceeds funneled back into the school system in a variety of ways.
The Ministerial Alliance sponsored Trunk or Treat will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, between the Fall Fest booths at the grade school and the bus barn.
Fall Fest officially begins when the cafeteria opens at 5:00 p.m., and the booths and other activities are scheduled to be open from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The cafeteria food line will remain open until 9:00 p.m. or “until the food runs out,” whichever comes first.
An entrée at the Fall Fest will cost visitors $2 per serving. Foods include chili, beans, stew, baked potatoes, and hot dogs. Cold drinks, coffee, tea, milk, and a variety of desserts are priced at $1.
Costume Contest
One of the annual highlights of the Fall Fest is the costume contest, starting at 7:00 p.m. on the stage in the cafeteria.
Participants will be judged by age and grade in the same cate-gories as in previous years, with extra points for home-designed costumes and creativity. Ribbons will be awarded to winners.
A group contest open to brothers and sisters, cousins, friends, etc. will conclude the competition.
Game Booths
Numerous game booths sponsored by different classes, including junior high and high school classes, will be featured at the Fall Fest again this year.
Tickets will be used to play all of the games, and can be purchased for 50 cents each. All booths will require tickets to play.
The majority of the games will be set up as usual on the teachers’ parking lot and along the sidewalk to the cafeteria, with rides making use of the bus lane.
The bingo tables will be located in the band room at the old kindergarten complex, operating from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., or until all the prizes have been won.
Booth Setup
Booth construction for the 2018 Fall Fest was handled again this year by the Albany High School Future Farmers of America, making the task much easier for parents and volunteers. The students finished setting up the framework for the booths during the week.
Room mothers and those in charge of various games can decorate their booths Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. It usually takes about an hour to decorate and set up the games, according to organizers.
Members of the Albany chapter of the National Honor Society helped sort and bag the booth prizes last Sunday. Parents who are working the first shift at each of the booths are asked to pick up the prizes at the old Cub Mart room, starting at 5:00 p.m.
Anyone who hasn’t been contacted and wishes to contribute bingo prizes or cash to the cafeteria for expenses is asked to call any of the organizers.
