Tyrrell Elementary School hosted a busy Winter Wonderland Carnival on the night of Feb. 20.

Areas businesses sponsored booths at the event and 196 members of the community came out to show their support.

The Winter Wonderland Carnival was organized and hosted by the Tyrrell Elementary School Parent Involvement Committee.

“The mission of our committee is to discuss and coordinate ways to get our parents involved with their child’s education and school environment.  We plan events, with this being the biggest turn-out of the year,” said Audrey Curles, the kindergarten representative on the committee.

The committee does other events throughout the year.

Curles gave the example of the Parent Involvement Committee honoring Read Across America Day locally.

“We do that on the week of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. It is held nationwide. It puts an emphasis on reading in schools,” said Curles.

During this week volunteers come and read to the students.

The Carnival serves as a fundraiser for various activities at Tyrrell Elementary School.

“Last year we donated a lot of our money towards paying for a day at the 4-H Center for the children that made their AR reading goal,” said Curles.

The Carnival was designed to increase participation by the children.

In the lobby, there was a sign-in table, staffed with faculty members that handed out coins to each TES student.  Additional coins could be purchased at three coins for two dollars or eight coins for five dollars. Anyone that used their coins to play games in the gym earned tickets which could be redeemed for prizes.  Prize costs ranged from one ticket to twenty-five tickets.

Another offering at the Carnival included informational booths staffed by members of local businesses and organizations.

Past the seating area was the Media Center (to the right) where the Scholastic Book Fair was held.  All profit made at the book fair went towards the Media Center account, which is used to maintain supplies in the Media Center, make updates and repairs to books and other media, and purchase new materials for the media center.

• Informational Booths at the Carnival Included:

1. Boy Scouts

2. Hotline

3. Forestry

4. Pocosin Lakes Fish & Wildlife & Howard the Blue Goose

5. Tyrrell-Washington Partnership for Children

6. SECU & Fat Cat

7. Girl Scouts

8. PALS

9. DSS

10. Health Dept.

11. 4-H

12. Smart Start

13. EMS

14. Fire Dept

15. Pettigrew State Park

• Raffle Items (all donated by local businesses):

1. Kindle Fire 16 GB & 220 Stress Balls (Scott Weatherly: Nationwide)

2. Plum Pony Infinity Scarf

3. Swimming Lessons certificate

4. Just A Splash Carwash $35

5. 1 paint class (Sip, Dip, Dab: Barbara Fleming)

6. As You Like It Cabochon Jewelry: custom necklace (Susan Jackson)

7. Mesh Easter wreath

8. Crocheted items

9. The Spa At Waterloo massage package $100

10. Gift certificate 1 cake from Kim’s Sweet Tooth

11. Old Salt Oyster Bar $15 gift certificate and t-shirt

12. 2 fishing passes aboard the Crystal Dawn

13. Columbia Crossings Lunch Buffet

14. $15.00 gift certificate to Sandy’s Place

15. 3 gift certificates to Flemz

16. CT Nails gift certificate for Pedicure

17. Manteo Mermaid Jewelry – earrings and double wrap bracelet

18. Mike’s Kitchen $15 gift certificate

19. $10 Gift Certificate to Hwy. 55

20. Flower Power Potted Tulips

21. Handmade soaps