This year’s carnival was a success in spite of the rain. It was a slow start but when the sun started to shine, the carnival attendees started to appear. There was a pretty good turnout for the costume parade and pumpkin carving contest. It was really great seeing all the kids dressed up in their costumes. The judges had a really difficult time selecting the winners for the costume contest because they were all so cute. And the pumpkins were all so very cleverly decorated with all sorts of props or precise cutting.

The kids enjoyed the new games this year. There were a few that really seemed to be popular; the Goldfish Pond and the Flush’em. The teachers, Principal Lisa Graham, PTA President Jennifer Fakharizadeh and our favorite supervisor, Mrs. McPherson, were all troopers for volunteering to sit in the Flush ‘em. The water was so coooooold! Miss Marston even volunteered and she doesn’t even work at Del Cerro any more. The kids most really miss her because she had a long line to get her wet.

This year’s "Drawing Opportunity" had lots of great items to choose, from complete hair service to car service and everything in between. There were so many winners, just not me. A big "Thank you" to all the kids who helped draw tickets out of the cans. Next year can you pick my ticket?

I hope everyone had a chance to visit the Fall Boutique held inside the MPR. There was quite a variety of vendors present. There was so much to choose from that it made it difficult to decide. We hope to have a lot more vendors next year because it is never too soon to start shopping for the holidays! We would like to thank the following individuals and companies for sponsoring our carnival as vendors in the Fall Boutique and donating to our opportunity drawing. Thank you for helping to make the carnival such a big success: Dianne Lannan, Christi Ann Millard, Marieken Penneman, Jennifer Fakharizadeh, Shannon Rojas, Linda Ingham, Erin & Jose Gama, Laurie Roberts, Score! Education, Maureen Davis, Marina Hills Animal Hospital, Tutto Fresco, USA Blackbelt Academy, Julie Ward, Julie Fretwell, Peggy O'Neill with Images Salon, Barry's Frozen Custard, Enjoy Birth, Melissa Kanawyer, Chuck E. Cheese, Baja Fresh and United Studios of Self Defense.

On behalf of the Carnival committee, I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the Carnival a great success. There were so many volunteers that I don’t dare try to name them all. However, I would like to express a special thank you to a few people who really stepped up to the plate; The Gruenbeck family who played a huge role by donating all the popcorn and cotton candy. After all, what is a carnival without popcorn and cotton candy? Phil Sheets who arrived at the school at 7:30 that morning and set up all the canopies, and came back at the end to take them all down. Who says you need a gym to get a good workout? Stephanie Ming, we couldn’t have done it without you. You did a fantastic job selecting prizes. They prizes were a BIG hit this year! And last but not least, my co-chair Carrie Maxfield. Thank you for arranging all the vendors and everything else you put into making the Carnival and Fall Boutique a success! The parents and staff at Del Cerro are the best. It is amazing what we can accomplish together!

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Carnival/Fall Boutique