On the Town: PTA and Booster Club partner for fall fun
With fall officially in full swing, members of the Parent Teachers Assn. and Booster Club of Burbank’s Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School welcomed the season with their annual Fall Festival Picnic fundraiser last week. Transforming the grounds of the North Cordova Street campus into a fun zone of food stations, games and face-painting booths, families staked their spots on the grass to enjoy the eclectic mix of edible offerings.
“This is one of our big PTA fundraisers that will support our arts program,” said Roosevelt Principal Jennifer Meglemre. “Because of their support we have been able to have an arts and theater program for our K through five students. We also have instituted a musical program that gives every first-grader weekly violin lessons with the help of Sam Engel and the Burbank Community Band.”
Last week’s festival, emceed by Tim Conway Jr., son of the legendary comedic entertainer and father of Roosevelt student Sophia Conway, who was celebrating her 7th birthday, also offered attendees the opportunity to win a magnificent selection of raffle prizes.
Roosevelt’s Fall Festival Picnic is one of the annual fundraisers the school’s PTA and boosters stage along with their Winter Wonderland Holiday Boutique, a science fair, a father-daughter dance and a variety show in which students are encouraged to sing, dance, play instruments or showcase whatever their special talent may be. Each year, the school also presents their extremely popular Reflections Contest. A part of the PTA Reflections program, the contest is designed to enhance a quality arts education by providing an opportunity for students to explore their artistic talents and receive positive recognition for their efforts. Every Roosevelt student is invited to submit an original work that reflects on a theme in the categories of literature, the visual arts, photography, musical composition, film production or dance choreography.
This year’s Fall Festival Picnic, chaired by Nicole Kvarda, was made possible with the help of her committee that included Kim Boucher, Michelle Howick, Kimberly Schrupp, Lawrel Demmert and Roosevelt PTA President Gema Sanchez.
“I am so grateful to the chairperson, school staff, room parents and all the families and individuals who attended and supported this lovely evening,” Sanchez said. “Their help, during these difficult economic times, allowed us to have a wonderful event.”
Others who gave their time and talents to make the festival a success included Linda Walmsley, Jen Conway, Pam Nichols, Greg Demmert, Kenneth Nolls, Amy Lawrence, Rey Sanchez, Kathy O’Mara, Donna Gibbons, Jen Lurie, Joseph Krueger, Sean Lurie, Elena Carter, Charlotte Mazzeo-Comeione, Evelyn Hernandez, Joe Crabb, Jules Ford, Tina Lay, Joy Pieri, Jeremy Lay, Juli Mahoney, Annette Ivey, Julie Crenshaw, Amanda Medina, Lisa Paredes, Chez Mohler, Nicole Butler, Chris Hobson, Shannon Graniel, David Gwennap, Toby Black, Tracey Muga, Virginia Hoyle, Yolie Romano, Shelley Bates, Kelly McGowan, Alisa Sabshin, Alima Virtue, Michelle da Motta, Michelle Marcellino, Leigh Reason, Cheryl Cottrell, Undine Petrulis, Loretta Coha, Kari Petrulis, Shari Vanole, Andrea Nasfell, Amy Jensen, Stefanie Kahn, Barbara Roy and Nancy Johnson.
DAVID LAURELL can be reached by email dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
