Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Mannion Middle School celebrates Fall Festival

Mannion Middle Fall Festival

Heather Cory

Sirina Lavangnananda, left, and Breana Gersting, right, spray-paint Kristina Day’s, center, hair during Jack and Terry Mannion Middle School’s fall festival Oct. 8.

Mannion Middle School Fall Festival

Eighth-grader Jessica Raymond makes cotton candy for a long line of students during Jack and Terry Mannion Middle School's fall festival Oct. 8. Launch slideshow »

Joyce Wagner's day last Wednesday was as busy as usual for the sixth-grade reading teacher at Mannion Middle School. But instead of working with students on their literacy, she was making sure they painted pink and green stripes in their hair, played "Guitar Hero" and ate candy.

It was the school's annual Fall Festival, and Wagner was the organizer. It was her job to make sure fun was had by all.

Each of the school's 12 student clubs had booths set up in the courtyard with different activities and games. The festival is a way to introduce the different clubs to the student body, gain new members and provide a little startup money for the year.

Due to budget cuts, the clubs must do their own fundraising and often the advisers are not paid. The Fall Festival also raises school spirit and gives the students a chance to have some fun.

Wagner, who is also the adviser for the multicultural club, came up with the idea for a Fall Festival because she noticed many students were not getting involved.

"I wanted something that the kids that don't like to go to dances would enjoy," she said.

The cheerleaders hosted a cupcake walk and sold baked goods to raise money for the cost of competitions.

"This is a great way to kick off the year," Angela Tressler, cheerleading coach and language arts teacher, said. "The girls are having a great time."

First-time club Students Against Violence Everywhere held a "Guitar Hero" competition and sold Tootsie Pops. For $1, students could play 2 minutes of the video game. Club Vice President Carly Gebhart, a sixth grader, thought the carnival was a good way to get other students interested in joining the new club.

Scrapbook Club member Rachel Anderson painted about 10 faces for 50 cents each. Anderson said she joined the club because she had never made a scrapbook before and wanted to make one of her family's summer vacation.

The club raised about $30 at the festival, which art teacher and club adviser Jackie Compton will use to buy supplies.

"The carnival lets the kids meet members of the club and get to know each other," Compton said.

About 20 percent of the student body is involved in at least one club at Mannion.

Wagner hopes that in the future the festival will grow to an evening event where families can come together.

"It would be an awesome way for families to have an inexpensive evening together," she said. "We don't have enough family events."

Wagner would also like to see more volunteers start clubs and involve the community.

"We are a village," she said. "We need to have the mind set that it takes a village to raise the children."

Diana Cox can be reached at 990-8183 or [email protected].

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