White Oak PTO event fun for all

MORRIS – White Oak Elementary School in Morris was filled with students Saturday when the school was transformed into a fun zone encouraging kids to jump, throw and walk in circles, all in an attempt to earn a prize.

“I really like Fun Day,” third-grader Branden Matthews said. “I came last year, and it has all sorts of fun games and prizes.”

Matthews said his favorite event is climbing the rock wall hanging on the west side of the small gym, where students can test their skills to see if they can reach the top.

PTO President Jen Goebel said the money raised from the annual Fun Day event benefits White Oak Elementary School’s accelerated reading program.

The event brought in just under $6,000, of which $1,800 was from ticket sales on Saturday alone.

“We’ve held the event for at least 10 years,” Goebel said. “It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work.”

She said parents, teachers and honor students from Shabbona Middle School and Morris Community High School show up each year to do everything from man the games to stuff 428 bags of tickets.

Goebel said the work is worth it to give families a place to spend the day together having fun.

“I see grandparents and parents with their kids today. It’s good family bonding time,” Goebel said. “The kids also enjoy seeing their teachers outside of the classroom.”

Heather Smith brought her son Ethan, a kindergartener, for the first time.

“This is our first year at the school, so we came to support the school. He’s loving it,” Smith said.

She said it’s a great outlet for the kids.

It isn’t just White Oak students who enjoy the day.

Sisters Sophia and Emma Geiss, who attend kindergarten and second grade at Nettle Creek School, said they came to the event to have fun. They’d never attended before, but were having a good time as they finished the golf game and headed off to another.

Their mom, Lindsey Geiss, said White Oak parents have supported events at Nettle Creek, so she thought it was important to support their school. It’s an added bonus that the support comes in the form of a great day together, taking part in activities they enjoy, she said.

Matt McCullough of Marseilles brought his 5-year-old son Hunter for the second consecutive year.

“There is not a lot of other indoor activities to do,” McCullough said. “This is awesome.”

Hunter said his favorite event was the rock climbing wall.

Those attending could purchase tickets, used to buy food and play games, for 25 cents each, or six for $1, making the day affordable, many parents said.

Every person playing a game was rewarded with chips they could turn in at the prize tables to take home something to play with.