Drum Point School Becomes a Winter Wonderland

The Drum Point Road Elementary School PTA created a winter wonderland at the on Saturday. It included an afternoon of festive and inexpensive games, crafts, food and more in the spirit of the December holidays.

“This is the first year it’s been open to the public and kids from other schools have come out,” said Christina Kachersky, a Drum Point mom and event chair from the Lake Riviera section of Brick.

She and the other event chair, another Drum Point mom - Amy Font - expected nearly 500 people to attend. The event was free to attend with a few activities costing money, unlike the past years the event was held, Kachersky explained. In past years, there was an admission charge that included a breakfast with Santa. This year they did away with the breakfast with Santa and by not charging for some activities, it allowed attendees to pay as much or as little as they liked.

The gymnasium and various classrooms throughout the school had their own holiday inspired name and theme. Just to name a few, there was the North Pole Painters Room, the Make a Wish Room, Santa’s Workshop and the Tree Treats Room. In the North Pole Painters Room there was face painting and tattoos. In the Make a Wish Room children made reindeer food from oats and sparkles and wrote letters to Santa. In Santa’s Workshop children got to shop for family. And in the Tree Treats room, little crafters made ornaments and door hangers. The rooms with activities that were not free to utilize, cost just a few dollars.

Among all of the games and activities, the gymnasium with the Hamster Balls seemed to be the most popular. Kachersky explained that by not having the breakfast with Santa this year, the PTA had more space to bring in the Hamster Balls.

Brought in by game company Games2U, the Hamster Balls are giant balls that kids got to roll around in.

“We love the Hamster Balls, they are really cool. There are a variety of things for the kids to do here,” said Drum Point mom and Manchester school teacher Christine Darcy, who was with her 6-year-old, Shealyn Darcy. “There are enough free activities that everyone can enjoy.”

Drum Point PTA President Jennifer Culos said they wanted to give people the option to do what they wanted to do. The event was a fundraiser for the school, so they wanted to have things that cost money too.

Aside from the games and crafts, there were vendors.

“We never had big name vendors before” Kachersky said.

This year was different. They had NJ Gold and Installer Direct, among others.

Not only were the children enjoying themselves, but between the vendors that were lined up outside the classrooms and the games and crafts they participated in with their children, parents were able have fun and get some holiday shopping in too.