Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS) Librarian Erin McCall was perched precariously on the seat hovering over a Dunk Tank. Gleeful students lined up to hurl balls at the target that would trigger her to drop into the drink. The crowd groaned with each miss and then THUMP - SPLASH, followed by a delighted chorus with one child exclaiming, “We dunked Ms McCall!”
Joy and laughter filled the air of the grounds of the Manchester Community Library as students celebrated the end of the school year with the return of the annual MEMS Carnival. To manage the crowd, the elementary students spilled into the midway in the morning to partake in games of chance, as well as munching popcorn and scarfing up snow cones. After a break for lunch it was time for middle schoolers to relish the carnival spirit.
“The idea was to build fun, joy, and community into the end of the school year as we gear up for summer,” said Cristina Maddocks, one of the four members of the MEMS Parent Teacher Organization that managed the carnival along with Carolyn Rohde, Kayte Waters, and Kait Zwagerman. “We wanted to have the Carnival happen during the school day so the whole school community could join in the celebration.”
The draw of the Dunk Tank was matched by long lines of shoe-less students eagerly awaiting their turn in the Bounce House. Other attractions included raffles, glitter tattoos, guessing games, a bean bag toss, lawn games, a coloring tent, a sensory play area, and much more.
“We are thrilled to host this event for MEMS,” said Carson Schafer, Children and Youth Services Librarian for MCL. “What better place than the local library for kids to come together to celebrate the end of the school year.”
In addition to the Manchester Community Library, other supporters of the MEMS Carnival include: Zippy Chicks, Barnstead Inn, Heritage Family Credit Union, Mother Myrick’s, Manchester Fire Department–with thanks to Rupert Fire Department for use of their dunk tank, Manchester Police Department, Advisors Mortgage Group, Berkshire Bank, and many parent volunteers.
(Photo above: MEMS Librarian Erin McCall drops joyfully into the water, earning "good sport" accolades for time spent on the perch over the Dunk Tank.)
Students sat in the shade and enjoyed snow cones at the MEMS Carnival.
Good times inside the Bounce House at the MEMS Carnival.
MEMS glitter tattoos were all the rage at the school Carnival at the Manchester Community Library.
The crowd watches as this student winds up and throws a ball at the target for the Dunk Tank.
MEMS students kicked off their shoes and lined up for the Bounce House.
Dinosaurs in the land of play-doh at the MEMS Carnival.
The kindergartners head back to school with bags of swag after spending time at the MEMS Carnival.