At Family Night at Boothbay Region Elementary School May 2, 50 students participating in one charitable event, Jump Rope for Heart, received over $3,700 in donations for the American Heart Association. Organizer Lauren Brown, physical education teacher, said it was the most ever collected for the event, which has been held for 22 years. The total well exceeded the 2017 goal of $2,000, according to Principal Mark Tess.

Fifth grader Suzie Edwards won first place for collecting more than $1,000. Edwards, along with other top donation-getters Maria Michael, Clayton Splaine, Olivia Yakimo, Duncan Hardwick and Neil Baldwin, will participate in an all-school assembly at the end of the school year, when they will pull a prank on Tess, Assistant Principal Tricia Campbell and another teacher of their choice. “I guess I’ll be kissing a pig,” said Tess.  He hoped the pig would be small. 

Jump Rope for Heart was held in the  gymnasium. Brown and physical education teacher and organizer Tim Rice set up a number of fun, challenging obstacle courses including a “Bouncy House.” Students could hula hoop, leap over jumps, push themselves on skateboards while lying on their bellies, jump from a rope swing, slither underneath a set of stakes, and yes, jump rope. 

An annual ice cream social and the Parent Teacher Organization’s  Spring Book Fair were also big draws. Families shopped for a wide variety of reading materials set up in the lobby and kept PTO members Anna Giles and Peggy Slaine busy at the cash register. After paying for books, students and their families walked upstairs and stood in line for generous portions of ice cream. Siblings Xander Pepper, Kaden Bishop and Azara Bishop sat on a bench enjoying their sundaes. Xander reckoned he wasn’t too keen on the chocolate sauce, but Kaden thought it was the best part. Azara liked the sprinkles best. 

Before the Jump Rope for Heart event started, Brown gathered participants in a circle and spoke to them about the work the American Heart Association does for people of all ages who suffer from heart conditions. She thanked them for their efforts, saying, “Heart heroes, you hold a special place in my heart.”