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ENLARGEParent Volunteer Tina Rockwell watches as 7-year-old Diego Torres hurls a ball in an attempt to trigger the dunk tank at the Monfort Elementary School Carnival on Friday night. Rockwell has a first-grader attending the school in southwest Greeley.
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With the help of her daughter Susan, 16, parent volunteer Stacy Sparrow gets prizes ready for purchase at the Monfort Elementary School Carnival on Friday night in Greeley. Students could purchase the toys and games with Monfort Bucks won at some of the carnival booths.
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Ah, a carnival. A place where games are played, prizes are won and only a few tickets -- and a carefully-aimed throw -- can sink someone in the ever-famous dunk tank.
Indeed, finding one's favorite game in this wonderfully chaotic place can be a bit tough. For 8-year-old Riley Fuhrmann, however, the answer to this important question was simple: "All of them," Riley said moments before stepping up to try her hand at the bean-bag toss.
The quick answer was exactly what Stacy Sparrow and the dozens of other volunteers at the Hoe-Down Carnival were looking for. The event, which took place on Friday night at Monfort Elementary School, 2101 47th Ave. in Greeley, was organized by the Monfort School Association and featured dozens of games and subsequent prizes for students of the school.
Stacy Sparrow, who's daughter Sarah, 9, was that lucky person perched atop the seat on the dunk tank, said the stress of organizing the event is something she can gladly deal with.
"I do this for the kids," Sparrow said. "I like making the kids happy. I don't do it for the parents, I don't do it for the MSA, I don't do it for the teachers -- I do it for the kids."
Yet, these days, the association is about a little more than putting a smile on a child's face -- though it is still an important job. The group meets once a month to decide where to allocate money from any fundraisers that the association holds over the course of the year -- much as a school's Parent-Teacher Organization would.
As a result, the organization often relies on parents to volunteer and help staff events. While such a process can often push people away, Angela Arvola, president and volunteer coordinator for the association, usually does not have much of a problem finding a helping hand.
"We want people to be connected to the school, but we don't want to make them feel like they're obligated," Arvola said in a telephone interview. "Just because the best kind of volunteer is the volunteer that gives from the heart."
Arvola was also quick to note that the organization helps keep parents informed and connected with what their children are doing at school -- such things as the Battle of the Books, Chess Club and a program that prepares fifth-graders for middle school.
"Well, I think the biggest benefit -- really, in my situation -- is just getting to know your kids, having an opportunity to know what's going on in the school so that when you get in the car, you kind of already know what's going on," Arvola said.
Throwing her last bean bag and getting two of the four she threw into the target, Riley looked on anxiously as she waited to hear what prize -- if any -- she would receive for her efforts. With a motion of her hands, the person in charge of the game invited the young girl to step to the side and claim two prizes from the bin.
<strong>LEARN MORE</strong>
Call the Monfort Elementary School office at (970) 348-2100 or Angela Arvola, president and volunteer coordinator of MSA, at (970) 339-0017.
<strong>ABOUT THE SERIES </strong> "Coming Together" is The Tribune's new weekly series that explores the different ways -- big and small -- that people in Weld County are building community. From the neighbors who come together once a month for a barbecue or game night to the parent who volunteers in the classroom every week, this series is about people who are engaged in their community. "Coming Together" runs on Tuesdays. |
And with that, Riley smiled as she managed to get the only information she wanted to hear -- courtesy of the association that may help guide her through elementary school and beyond.
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