If you were out in Ridgefield one recent Friday night, you might have noticed a high percentage of Scotland Elementary School parents among the patrons. Teachers at Scotland donated their Friday evening to provide a fun night for students at school while parents enjoyed a night out.
The evening was a fund-raiser to provide money for The Best Day Ever! event in the spring, part of the Play It Forward Program with P.S. 104 in Far Rockaway, N.Y.
The event grew out of a relationship established with the school, P.S. 104, which was affected by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Scotland teachers Danielle Donovan, Wendy Hamann and Cheryl Osher wanted to do something to help the school, so they established a Play It Forward game and toy sale to raise money for school recovery after the storm.
More than $15,000 was raised for P.S. 104 through the sale and other donations from families and corporate sponsors. Fifth graders from the two schools became pen pals and met at the end of the school year for a fun-filled field day, including a picnic and other special activities. The relationship between the schools has continued, and fifth grade pen pals will meet again this spring for another Best Day Ever event. This year, to fund the event, Scotland teachers organized the parents’ night out with activities for the students and childcare at a cost of $25 for up to two kids in one family for three and one-half hours.
More than 100 Scotland students in kindergarten through fifth grade participated, playing games in the gym, doing crafts, and spending tickets” on snacks and joining in a sing-along with Scotland School parent and songwriter, George Brennan.
Mr. Brennan said he helped out because “I would be able to support the teachers, help a school community not far from where I was born and raised in New York, and do something special for my Scotland family all at the same time.”
Mr. Brennan played a 40-minute set featuring songs by popular artists Phil Phillips, Jason Mraz and The Lumineers. The highlights for the students were Let it Go from the movie Frozen and Mr. Brennan’s own Scotty Spirit Day Song. A short video compilation of Brennan’s performance with details about the evening and the relationship with P.S. 104 may be viewed on his YouTube channel.
Parents were able to go out, local businesses had extra patrons and enough money was raised for Scotland to host The Best Day Ever with P.S. 104 this spring.