The multi-purpose room of the Perry Elementary School filled with joyful youngsters Thursday for a fun-filled celebration of Lights on Afterschool by PACES students and staff.
PACES (Perry Academic Cultural and Enrichment Services) has served more than 10,000 local students through more than 200 academic and other programs since its inception in 2000.
Mary Hillman, PACES director, began Thursday’s program by introducing Perry Mayor Jay Pattee, who encouraged the parents gathered to vote yes for the local option sales tax in the upcoming Nov. 7 election. He noted several strong candidates were running for city office while reminding those gathered he would be stepping down as mayor.
One of his last mayoral duties was the reading of a proclamation praising PACES, pledging continued city support of the program and declaring Oct. 26 Lights on Afterschool Day in Perry.
Perry Community School District Superintendent Clark Wicks, the longtime principal at Perry Elementary, also praised the efforts of Hillman and her staff and encouraged the students to continue with their desire to learn and to remain excited about learning new things.
Julia Richards Krapfl of Blank Children’s Hospital Outreach discussed the value of health and nutrition lessons taught by PACES, with Iowa Public Television’s Trista Peitzman discussing the role of IPTV in educating children before presenting Hillman with an array of gifts for the program, including educational tools and aides, books and more.
Also addressing the assemblage was Suzanne Kestel of the Perry Public Library, who encouraged students to remain active readers.
Hillman noted a Jeans Day raised more than $325 and Wednesday’s Pledges for PACES walk-a-thon, along with recent donations, had generated more than $1,400.
A talent show was held, with the Pre-K and TK students performing, followed by the kindergarten class and the first grade, with grades 2-3 and 4-5 combining their efforts.
Winners and other honorees were introduced at the Pre-K and TK, kindergarten, first and second grade level, all of who participated in a light bulb coloring contest in keeping with the national Lights Out theme. Third grade students competed in an original poster contest, with both the fourth and fifth grade classes judged on essays they had written.
A beef burger dinner was held afterward in cooperation with Blank Children’s Hospital Outreach.
A total of 140 students are enrolled in PACES, and waiting lists exist for the popular program, whose stated goal is to keep kids safe, improve academic achievement, build character, introduce fitness and nutrition education and help support working families.
