Claypool Elementary's 'Knight To Remember'CLAYPOOL – It was a kickoff for a fundraiser so Claypool Elementary School can buy more books for its library. During the “A Knight to Remember” banquet at the school Thursday evening, the event ended on a high note with an unexpected $1,000 donation from the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust. John Elliott, 1st Source Bank, presented the gift to Claypool Principal Melissa Rees. Pfleiderer was the 1982 Woman of the Year. “Thank you. That will buy a lot of books, a lot of dreams,” Paul Berkey, Balloon Launch Committee chairman, told Elliott after the surprise donation. The banquet not only introduced the balloon launch fundraiser for Claypool, but also honored all the past Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce Men and Women of the Year award recipients. More than two dozen were able to make the invitation-only banquet, with some of the recipients having received their award in the 1970s. On May 6, the Claypool Elementary staff and students will celebrate the unity and generosity of its communities with a balloon launch. The Claypool PTO is seeking balloon sponsorships, which will allow the school to improve its students’ experiences and library inventory. Sponsorships are available in three levels. An orange balloon is $5, black is $25 and gold is $100. Sponsorship checks should be made payable to Claypool PTO. The travel of the balloons will be tracked on a map, based on response of balloon finders. For every sponsorship of $500 or more, a personalized tile will be given in recognition of the giver’s generosity. The tile will be placed at the school. During the banquet, PTO President Michelle Ransbottom made the welcoming comments and introduced all the PTO board members. She thanked everyone for coming. Rees talked about how 1-1/2 years ago, she approached Warsaw Community School Corp. Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz about becoming Claypool’s principal when it reopened for the 2010-11 school year. Rees was the Eisenhower principal. When Hintz asked Rees why, she told him because of “all the possibilities” in reopening a new school. Since then, she said, it’s been a whirlwind, not only for her but for all the teachers, staff and custodians. When Claypool reopened, it had staff members from across the school corporation, Rees said, but they all came together as Claypool Knights. “Everyone has done a great job and I appreciate that,” Rees said. Claypool Elementary took in all the students from Claypool, Silver Lake and the south side of Warsaw. Rees said 10 percent of the school’s population is English as a Second Language, and 59 percent of the student body are free and/or reduced lunch students. “Our kids getting opportunities by money raised by the PTO is huge because we want all our kids to have the same opportunities,” Rees said. After Pastor Duane Kline gave the grace for the meal, Claypool students gave a presentation similar to “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” It was all impromptu, and the students had no idea what questions they would be asked. PTO Secretary Amy Rice then spoke about the PTO’s efforts to raise money for the newly reopened Claypool School. The fundraising began in June, and the PTO had a bake sale, dunk tank, silent auction and a Nelson Golden Glow chicken sale. By the start of the school year, it had raised $5,600. They soon found out that wouldn’t be even so they looked at how they could raise more money for things like student recognitions, team uniforms and most important, books for the library, Rice said. It was during a meeting that Berkey came up with the balloon launch idea. Rees explained how when the school reopened, it was in need of everything. The Warsaw School Board was generous and provided a lot, but with hardback books averaging at least $20 each, Claypool wasn’t able to get all the books other elementaries in the Warsaw School Corp. have amassed over the years. Rees said they ask their students to read every single night. They may not have a lot of homework, but the students are asked to read every night - that’s their homework. Claypool has a reading program, Rees said, and they want to make sure the kids have the books at the school that they want to read. Berkey then introduced all the past Men and Women of the Year award recipients who were able to make Thursday’s banquet. Each was presented with a certificate of “knighthood” from one of the students. After the banquet, Bob List, of Bob List Photography, then took a group picture of the award recipients that will be hung at the school. The banquet was made possible through support from Bob Evans, Bob List Photography, Claypool Festival Committee, Claypool Lions Club, Dan Groff, Kent Ring, Mavron Inc., Our Father’s House Catering, Silver Lake Lions Club, Stephen Parker, Symmetry Medical and Weed Inc. For more information about the balloon launch, e-mail Berkey at ptberkey@hotmail.com For more information about the Claypool PTO, contact Rice at milesarice@hotmail.com
