École Connaught School in Medicine Hat celebrates over $12K in fundraising with staff fashion show

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The event marked the first prize assembly following the completion of fundraising for the school’s inaugural Connaught-A-Thon, with additional reward events still planned throughout the rest of the school year.

Principal Diane Cartier said the Connaught-A-Thon fundraiser was a new undertaking for the school community.

“Our parent council just stepped in and decided to try something completely new,” Cartier said.

The Connaught-A-Thon raised more than $12,000 for school council initiatives, including field trips and playground upkeep.

Cartier said the fundraiser expanded beyond the school’s longtime spell-a-thon by introducing a range of academic, athletic and creative activities.

“There was swing-a-thon, there was spell-a-thon, we had kick-a-thon, hoop-a-thon, science-a-thon, every-a-thon you could think of,” Cartier said.

Cartier said the fundraising efforts support programs and experiences that would not otherwise be possible.

“Fundraising is essential to schools; it really pours back into the community and enhances our students’ educational experiences,” Cartier said.

Cartier said the success of Monday’s event was made possible through support from parents, volunteers and community partners.

“This event could not have happened with the many, many hands behind the scenes, our parent community that came together just made it over-the-top amazing,” Cartier said.

Connaught School Parent Council treasurer Kaila Christianson said organizers wanted the fundraiser to be more inclusive by creating activities that appealed to a wider variety of students.

“We wanted to offer something to the sports kids, something to the music kids and the arts and the dance,” Christianson said.

Christianson said students embraced the event and showed strong sportsmanship throughout the fundraiser activities.

“You saw the big kids helping the little kids go to their events and helping them kick the soccer balls and all of the things, so everybody came together, and we’re really proud of the kids,” Christianson said.

The Connaught-A-Thon fundraiser will continue the reward events till the end of the school year, including a school-wide movie event and pizza parties.

by Jett Schwaier

École Connaught School in Medicine Hat celebrates over $12K in fundraising with staff fashion show

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