The Berean Carnival was held on Friday, November 5, 2021. It was great to host the event without Covid restrictions, and the community “showed up” to enjoy the food and fun planned for the evening!
The carnival serves two purposes. First, it provides a fun evening for our students and a time of fellowship for our parents, which helps to promote the strong sense of community and family that is characteristic of Berean Academy. Second, the carnival is a fundraiser for our elementary program, plus the junior high and high school classes that chose to participate. The funds raised through the sale of tickets and the silent auction go towards the "extras" that enhance our elementary department.
The week of the carnival, several elementary teachers and our elementary principal, Dr. Nuce, had a competition to see who could raise the most money by offering to have their hair made CRAZY the night of the carnival. Students placed money each day in designated jars and raised over $75, with Dr. Nuce taking the lead in donations! He was such a good sport and offered his beard and eyebrows for coloring too!
The on-site silent auction returned this year, after a few years, with only online auctions. Teachers, along with their room moms, helped create and provide fantastic items for the auction. There was pallet yard art featuring Kansas colleges and the KC Chiefs; assortments of food, coffee, games, décor items, and more! Several area businesses and parents also provided a variety of items for the auction. Indeed, there was something for everyone!
The high school gym was filled with all kinds of activities. Children lined up to get their faces painted, and their hair made up like a princess or painted crazy. Each elementary class hosted a booth with fun games and candy. Kids couldn't get enough of the 74' obstacle course, nor enough time jumping in the bounce house. Secondary students also got involved and provided booths to raise funds for their classes. They sported Uber Rides, corn hole, a photo booth, and a bake sale. It is safe to say that everyone left the event full of food, candy, great memories, and of course, tired.
The carnival was a great success, with over $5,500 raised for the elementary department! Of those proceeds, $1,500 will go towards the future purchase of a new playground. This brings our playground fund balance to $5,600! We want to thank everyone who attended and who provided items for the auction. We also want to thank the many helpers who came together to provide a fantastic event for our Berean families and community.