PTA Carnival brings out the festive and the fun

The PTA’s annual carnival was held in the Middle High School on October 21st from 8:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon. There were a variety of different booths, including families selling old books, promotions for educational institutes, local bakeries and music shops, a recycling station for old electronics and clothes, a Chinese barbecue, and even a student band.

The fair encompassed the entire concrete stretch in front of the school, each aisle bustling with parents, students, and teachers as well. “In a festive atmosphere, providing kids with a chance to sharpen their entrepreneurship and marketing skills, allowing kids, students, and parents to utilize a strong sense of teamwork, using the carnival as a chance for students to employ their creativity and learn to do business–this is why we do the carnival,” said PTA director Mrs. Vivien Chen.

“The festivity of the event attracts more and more people, and the money comes in!” Caleb Wai (8A) joked. The excitement of the event was apparent, though, with children scampering about the soccer field, overcrowded lanes of people shuffling past each other, and the constant loud conversations and powerful smells.

“I had to sort out all my old books, set prices for them, and display them at the booth,” said Max Zhang (10B), a booth-tender. “It felt so rewarding to have people buying my stuff.”

“In many meetings with the parents of the PTA, we deliberated and planned. The parents…worked hard together,” said Mrs. Chen. “Teachers and parents worked to create a welcoming festival. We had to deal with many logistical matters, such as getting the venue, preparing the umbrellas, getting assistance of more workers, mapping the area, and the like.”

Each booth was distinguished by a large standing umbrella for shade. The occasional strong wind blew some umbrellas off their stands and into the alleyways, though no serious injury occurred. In fact, the only noticeable mishap of the event even made it more entertaining — a real success by the PTA.

Photos Courtesy of Benson Lin