By Katie Ward
Community News Writer
Ganns Middle Valley Elementary’s Parent Teacher Association recently accepted a check for $2,000 from Tennessee Valley Authority.
The PTA has held several fund-raisers this year and rallied for support to raise funds for school supplies and ongoing educational needs.
“We did 320 T-shirt sales this year,” Ganns Middle Valley Elemenary PTA president Gaylan Smith said. “Students got to use points earned to go on field trips. In K-2 we have 103 kids going to Play World Down Under and in grades 3-5 we have 123 kids going rollerskating.”
Marsha Hennessey, of Ganns Middle Valley Elementary, was happy to receive a substantial check on behalf of the school from TVA at the meeting.
“The Chickamauga Hydro Plant has been involved with Ganns Middle Valley for 14 years,” Sharon Wallace of TVA said. “Money is tight, but we have not stopped giving.”
Mr. Smith explained that Ganns Middle Valley raised $4,500 in its recent basket sale and Carrabbas Italian dinner fund-raiser. Wal-Mart matched funds raised making it an actual gain of $5,500 raised.
According to program director Chris Counts of GMVE, the school’s carnival also raised $3,000 for the school.
“This summer they will be working on windows in the original wing,” Mr. Smith said. “We are remodeling.”
Ganns Middle Valley will also continue to recycle ink cartridges, he said, adding that a box will be placed in front of the school for people to drop off cartridges.
“We have made $300 with this project,” he said.
The grand finale of the PTA meeting involved handbells and the school’s choir. The fourth-grade handbell players played “Simple Gifts,” while the fifth-grade handbells followed up with “My Grandfather Clock” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Ganns Middle Valley Elementary Choir sang “Music Brings Us Together,” “Music Music,” “To Music,” “Peace Round,” “Young People of the World” and “If I Had a Hammer.”
Principal David Testerman explained that these last few years at Ganns Middle Valley Elementary have been hard times but he enjoys being in charge of the school.
“I have had two tragedies,” he said. “Last year my house caught on fire and this year my father passed away. He told me something that made me feel pretty good when I was 23. My father told me that he could not be prouder of me if I was the president of the United States.”
Mr. Testerman told the parents of Ganns Middle Valley Elementary that they have a wonderful community, a wonderful school and wonderful children.
E-mail Katie Ward at kward@tfpcommunitynews.com
