Students dance the day away in Cookstown
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon A dance-a-thon was held at Cookstown Central Public School recently.

Several hundred students were dancing the day away at Cookstown Central Public School last week.

But there was reason to their funky movements and glow stick bracelets. The students were participating in the school's annual dancea thon, to raise money for non-curricular programming, equipment and materials for the facility.

It's one of the main fundraisers for the facility, says parent volunteer Alison Petrie.

In previous years, the money has been used to purchase sports equipment, a gymnasium scoreboard, take home and library books, a snack program and trees for the yard. The school council hopes to use this year's money to build a track around the school yard, she said.

"We raise money for noncurricular items in the school," said Petrie. "It's school enhancements that are extra, above and beyond what the board gives money for. The board will only give money for curricular activities, so this is for all the extras."

Students were asked to collect pledges from friends and family members over the last few weeks. In return, the students receive a dance party in the gymnasium, hosted by the entertainment company Presswood.

"It's a very important (fundraiser) for us, because it gives us all the extras and special things," said Petrie. "It makes the school that much better."

The music was pumped up, the lights were turned low and the students were given glow sticks to wrap around their necks and wrists. It gives them a fun and active way to celebrate a fundraising job well done, said Petrie.

"We're trying to have activities that get the kids active and doing something," she said. "It's just a fun day for the kids. They raise money, and everybody, whether they raise money or not, get to dance.

"We don't keep track of how much each student raises, it's by the school and for the kids."