A big night out to mark school year’s end

The township school district will celebrate the end of the school year with its annual big night out at Chestnut Branch Park on Wednesday, June 3, from 5 to 8 p.m.

“You do not need to be a student in Mantua Township School District, nor do you need to be a resident in Mantua Township to attend,” said Melissa Shulman, the district’s coordinator of student information and projects. “Everyone in the area is invited. There are activities for the children and vendor tables for adults and children. Most vendor tables are selling their merchandise or promoting their company.”

The event takes months of preparation and is the work of several local organizations, including the Mantua Historical Commission, which will have a table to represent it. The fire department will feature a vintage truck.

Students will also be able to get free T-shirts at the event that were announced on social media to draw businesses as sponsors. They will have their names highlighted on the shirts.

“The event is a large undertaking for the district, but the feedback from the event is always extremely positive, so we are happy to take on the task,” the district said in an online statement from March.

It also noted that the T-shirt sponsorships are the only way the district can afford to hold the event. The shirts will be worn by more than 1,300 people in the district as advertising for sponsors.

To build excitement among students for big night out, the district will host fun runs it hopes will raise $30,000 for outdoor enhancements at district schools. That effort began on May 21. The runs will take place on Tuesday, June 2, at Centre City Elementary School, and Wednesday, June 3, at J. Mason Tomlin and Sewell elementary schools.

Participants can register for the runs and fundraiser online at mybooster.com. The district promises every student will get “something fun” if they reach their goal, courtesy of fundraiser sponsor Great Wolf Lodge.