Every year the community rallies around the Plant City Relay for Life to make it one of the most successful in the state. Area schools play a big part in not only the fundraising but also in the spirit aspect.
So far, Tomlin Middle School, Bryan Elementary and Plant City High School are in the lead for most money raised. However, not all schools have reported their status, and totals won’t be revealed until Bank Night.
Tomlin Middle School
CURRENT TOTAL: $9,529.92
Tomlin Middle School has its tricks up its sleeve when it comes to raising money for Relay.
“Our students are really good,” team captain Heather Colding said. “They are really supportive and really get into it a lot.”
Tomlin has put a sweet twist on some of their events. Tomlin’s business is in cookies. The school has partnered with Sweetbay to have a cookie-decorating day. Sweetbay supplied all the decorations for three different events during Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
“They really, really love it,” Colding said.
And several fundraisers don’t cost a fortune for students. For just $1, students can participate in P.E. Fun Day, Hat Day and Pajama Day. On P.E. Fun Day, students don’t have to dress out for P.E. class and can just have free time with their friends. On Hat Day and Pajama Day, students can wear hats and pajamas. Both articles of clothing are not part of the school’s dress code on regular days.
“Pajama Day is a good hit,” Colding said. “They love wearing their pajamas to school for some reason.”
The Homeroom Challenge gets the whole school involved. For one week, classes bring in as much change as they can and are given incentives. Some teachers will match what their students donate. The top homeroom scores a pizza party.
With 1,500 students at Tomlin, the Homeroom Challenge is quite successful, bringing in $3,603.76 this year. The top three all raised more than $200. Dianne Stevens’ seventh- and eighth-graders brought in $444.74; Kim Gifford’s seventh-graders raised $225.39; and Cindy Petersen’s class raised $203.40.
During Colding’s first year with Relay for Life, the school raised about $15,000.
Bryan Elementary
CURRENT TOTAL: $9,450.52
Teacher of the Year Marcy Philpot was a dedicated fifth-grade intermediate teacher who was loved by the faculty and students of Bryan Elementary. So when she died from lung cancer, it shocked the campus.
“She was a fellow teacher (who) was close to our hearts,” Relay team captain Randi Goodman said. “Right after she passed away, we just went running with Relay.”
The school has been involved in Relay since 2001 and has a long history of winning spirit awards and raising thousands. This year, the school has raised $9,450.52 so far. With all their Relay experience, the faculty and students have figured out which activities are most successful.
One of those activities is selling Jolly Lolly Lollipops. The sales have only been going on for two years but have been popular. Students line up every Monday outside of teacher Karen Beck’s classroom to purchase a treat. Some come with as much as $20, while others have cried when the lollipops run out. The sales rake in about $50 per week and are sold throughout the school year. They are also sold at Relay and pull in about $500 that night.
Jolly Lolly Lollipops also teaches the children about how to run a business. Although designed for Relay, Beck uses it as part of her curriculum. The students make the lollipops once a week out of Jolly Ranchers, a recipe Beck found on Pinterest. They even have their own bank account to help manage the proceeds.
In addition to Jolly Lolly Lollipops, the school also raises a lot of money through their nacho and drink sales during conference night. In just that one night, the school raises about $500.
“The kids love their nachos,” Goodman said.
Every year, the school hosts Santa and the Easter Bunny for photos. Parents can purchase a picture for $5. Santa raises about $1,200 and the Easter Bunny raises about $800.
Plant City High School
CURRENT TOTAL: $2,868
Although Plant City High School is most known for being the host school for Relay for Life, the Raiders have done their fair share to raise thousands for the cause. Possibly one of the most popular booths at Relay is the school’s Fairy Princess booth.
For just $10, children can get a makeover complete with nails, hair and makeup. The Florida Strawberry Festival Queen meets the newly manicured participants at the end of the booth and transforms them into fairy princesses with the wave of her wand.
The booth has become so popular that little girls come already dressed in princess dresses and costumes.
It’s a fun night for the cosmetology department that runs the booth under Relay captain and teacher Laurel Ritenbaugh. But it is also bittersweet. The booth honors of Megan Carpenter, a former cosmetology student who died at 17. She was diagnosed with cancer while still in elementary school.
“We’re excited about the booth and hope a lot of little girls come out,” Ritenbaugh said.
Before Relay, the school holds many fundraisers, including T-shirt sales, kickball tournaments, donut sales and more.
This year, the FFA student had a vote for Kiss the Pig. Students could vote with their dollars to decide which teacher would have to kiss the barnyard animal. Much to the disappointment of the students, Assistant Principal Colleen Car, who was picked, wore a surgical mask before planting a wet one on the hog. The event raised $500.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT THIS STORY
In the weeks leading up to Plant City’s Relay for Life, the Plant City Times & Observer will spotlight different organizations and residents who make the local Relay one of the largest in the state.