BRIDGEPORT – Elementary and middle schoolers were moving to the music Feb. 27 during their first-ever danceathon fundraiser organized by the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Parent/Teacher Organization.
Younger students danced in the cafetorium and older students in the gymnasium. Both groups were exuberant as they took their cues from the performers on screen. They also raised an impressive sum for the new playground equipment that will be in addition to the current playground.
PTO President Jennifer Syrylo said this was a new option to explore as the current PTO leadership’s children approach graduation and the parents prepare to hand over the reins. She added the PTO’s annual quarter auction is their main fundraiser for their many activities throughout the year.
“We wanted to come up with another fundraiser that could possibly take the place of the quarter auction should they decide not to continue it. We wanted to try something different this year, so we came up with the danceathon idea.”
She added that other school PTOs have fundraised using “fun runs” and outdoor events, but with the ongoing construction of the multipurpose facility on the district campus to be designated “the Bridge” not scheduled for completion until summer, the PTO wanted an indoor event they could hold during winter. The Boosterthon company had the perfect answer in their danceathon.
This year’s quarter auction is still set for March 7. Syrylo said the funds raised from this initial danceathon are an addition that will go toward equipment for the playground that will be part of the Bridge’s construction.
“We’re going to work with the school to see what we can cover with the amount that we’ve raised.”
The PTO’s goal was $10,000. As of Friday, they had raised $7,500. Syrylo said they will leave the donation link up for another week on the PTO Facebook page. Information is posted on the district app and on mybooster.com.
The prospect of the danceathon generated interest soon after it was announced and students took home information. Families registered their students online.
“Friends and family were able to pledge either an amount per minute for how long the student danced, or they could do a flat amount, and then we were able to track all of that.”
Boosterthon has a website that allows them to track how much each student is raising. For an incentive, they could earn points to purchase prizes in a prize store.
“The teachers even had a page they could log into and see how much their class was bringing in.”
Pre-K through sixth graders were the target audience, and seventh and eighth graders could join in. Syrylo said about 47% of students across the school registered, or more than 150 out of about 350.
“That was a really great percentage.”
She thanked the school district for working with the PTO and providing space.
“We always work well with the principals at the elementary and the middle school and the high school,” she said. “We were able to meet with the principals ahead of this and plan everything out. We provided information they could share with their teachers so their teachers could promote this in their classroom.”
Syrylo said this extends to the administrative assistants in the offices.
“Everybody has been great to work with,” she said. The PTO has heard considerable positive feedback from other parents, and many local businesses donated. “This is great for seeing our community come together.”
Elementary Principal Kamaron Sabinski said the PTO was always welcome.
“Our PTO is absolutely amazing. They work so hard to provide for the children at Bridgeport. Our children love recess and to be able to have additional equipment is so deserved. Our students work hard every day, not only on academics but on following the school’s behavior expectations of being kind, safe and responsible. We are blessed to have a PTO that is unstoppable when it comes to our children.”
Music teacher Ashley Krieger was among the educators cheering on the kiddos. She commended the PTO’s fundraising efforts and dedication to the students.
“We’re really lucky and we really appreciate our PTO for all they do for our teachers and the students.”
Syrylo said the PTO is hard at work.
“We’re getting to our spring events, so we’re working with the teachers to plan all of our end-of-the-year trips and just make sure that the rest of the year is a great time for our students.”
Meanwhile, the public is invited to the quarter auction March 7. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at the school cafetorium. The auction has been active since 2020 and more than 300 people normally attend. Events include venders and a food court.
“You can win things for as little as a quarter,” Syrylo said. “It’s an overall great time. Great community support. The amount of donations that we’ve received, the quality that we’ve received, it’s really amazing to see the community come together. We look forward to this every year, and we invite everyone to come out. If you haven’t been there before, we guarantee you’ll have a great time.”
Anyone interested can learn more on the PTO Facebook page. Guests do not have to purchase tickets ahead of time. They are invited to wear their St. Patrick’s Day green. A Best Dressed Award will be given.
