Geist Elementary ‘Gallop’ and Fall Festival Oct. 17

Geist Elementary students will gallop, limbo, skip and walk a course mapped out at school as a fundraiser for the Geist Elementary PTO (Parent Teach Organization) on Friday, October 17th. Each student sent letters to 5 friends and/or family members asking for a monetary pledge of support. The Gator Gallop will take the place of traditional fundraisers such as cookie dough and candy sales and provide a healthy fundraising option for the students.

According to Kelly Jackson, principal of Geist Elementary, “the Gator Gallop provides a healthier and safer way for our students to raise money for their school.”

The Gator Gallop has raised over $50,000 for the school since its inception in 2006. The monies have been used to purchase a portable computer lab, which included eleven laptops for student use. Funds were also used to fill the balanced literacy library providing a variety of fiction and non-fiction book sets at varying levels which were used for all GES students. The Gallop hopes to raise $30,000 which will be used to add 12 more laptops to the portable computer lab and provide grade-level project grants to assist teachers in the classroom as well as supplement the balanced literacy library.

Carla Nugent, president of the PTO, says “the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) strives to provide opportunities for our children and school that given economic funding, wouldn’t otherwise happen. The Gator Gallop does that in a safe environment while also promoting exercise for our children.”

The Gator mascot will gallop with the children throughout the day. The Gator Gallop will be followed up that evening with Geist Elementary School annual Fall Festival
from 5-8 pm. This is open for all students and public. Children’s Activity Wristbands are $15 at the door.

Geist Elementary School is part of the Hamilton Southeastern School District located at 104th and Olio Road. Geist is home to over 665 elementary students.