The PTA sponsors many events throughout the year. Some events raise funds that are used for things like periodic replacement of playground equipment, ongoing A+ training for staff members, the school musical, classroom supplies, or meals for teachers during conferences.
Some events highlight and build on the curriculum students are learning at school. Others focus on expanding students' experiences and building the entire community at EFA+, including parents, families, staff, and others.
Make sure you're a member of the PTA to receive messages throughout the year about all of these events, including multiple volunteer opportunities. None of them would be possible without many people getting involved.
Fun Run
During the Fun Run students are challenged to gather pledges from their friends and family.
On Fun Run day, students run with their class during their PE time, and friends and family can come and cheer them on.
True to its name, there are special "fun" laps on Fun Run day, like a backwards lap, slow motion lap, and others.
The Science Fair is an optional event that students can participate in. They can perform an experiment, create an invention, or do a research project.
Then, on Science Fair night, they get to show off their science smarts and polish their people and word smarts by presenting their projects to their friends and family at the Science Fair.
Students have created unique and interesting projects like a homemade hoverboard, how tastebuds work (by tasting candy!), research on pet axolotls, and other fascinating topics.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is a great time for new and returning families alike to get to know each other.
Games, food trucks, face painting, and more invite students and adults to spend the evening socializing and reconnecting with each other. A Scholastic Book Fair is often held at the same time.
The SmART bowl is our spring fundraiser, where students are given a list of 20 grade level questions focused on things they've been learning. They collect pledges and study their questions (and try to stump others to earn prizes!).
On SmART Bowl day, volunteers join us at school and quiz the students on their questions.
Volunteers join us from many places to quiz students--friends and family, a group of volunteers from Midco, and some years, even Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken!
Spring Carnival is another fun community building evening and fundraiser.
Raffle baskets and food trucks set the festive atmosphere, and students love the carnival style games, which in years past have included a cake walk, chicken toss, duck pick, and lots more.
Reflections
Reflections is a program started by National PTA to provide recognition and access to the arts.
Students can create works of art in one or more categories of art including dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.
EFA+ students' work is often selected to continue on to the state and even national level competitions.
