Gala raises thousands for elementary school

Parents celebrated their children's artistic achievements while raising funds for their school at Friday's Sisters Elementary School Green and Gold Gala at Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes Golf Course.

Each of the grades, kindergarten through grade four, created works of art to be presented at auction.

Gross proceeds for the evening reached $19,500.

"We surpassed our expectations, which is great, especially in this economy," said Melanie Petterson, school volunteer and founder of the event. "Not only did we surpass the numbers, but 150 people attended. It was a very successful event. The important thing is what the funds will do for the school. With the district budget's shortfall, we'll be hit with a lot of requests. Enrichment programs might have been cut if we didn't have these

funds."

Balloons full of prizes greeted the parents as they walked through the door. Several silent auction items lined the halls. Items varied from passes to Sisters Athletic Club, to a garage makeover including an oil change from Import Performance. Dentist Dr. Maureen Porter donated a tooth crown, and Gobeille Orthodontics donated an orthodontic treatment valued at $5,800.

Most items were bid at the retail price.

One of the offerings was for a student to spend a day with Jan Silberman, SES principal, to learn about her job, sit in her chair and have the privilege of being Principal For a Day.

Three parents competed so fiercely for the prize that the offering was expanded from one student for a day to three students, each with their own

day.

"We try to do the Principal for a Day when there's an assembly going on," said Silberman. "I give them options to pick the day. I always take them around the classrooms so they can evaluate a teacher and leave a note for the teacher they evaluate. They get to supervise lunchtime. The students buy into it too and call them 'Principal' all day."

Parents are proud to support the learning environment at SES.

Sabrina Gustat talked about what her son Robert is learning in kindergarten.

"It's not like it was in my day. They're learning how to read in kindergarten, and he writes, 'I am Robert.' The kids absorb it and the teachers pull it out of them. It's great seeing my kid coming home and going off on a tangent about words. I'm so enthusiastic. It's something I did not expect to see and he's learned addition and subtraction."