The Shadow
On the morning of Thursday, February 1, the Virginian Review sat down with Mountain View Elementary School principal, Mallory Thompson and parent/PTO treasurer, Chris Tingler. Tingler also owns/operates the “Car Shop” in Covington and had been brainstorming for an idea to assist Mountain View’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) when he came up with the idea for a Car Show to benefit all local PTO’s.
According to the flyer, the Car Show will include “entertainment, food, vendors, games, prizes, a silent auction, cake walk, 50/50, and more!” Additionally, they plan to include a chinese auction, bouncy house, music, information for parents, local fire department and EMS, local police, and maybe even a live auction. An emcee is also expected and will be announced as soon as the role has been filled.
All local schools are invited to help participate in this event however they can, if they can. The general idea behind this fundraiser is to have the schools all work together for the greater good. While this, their 1st annual Car Show “will be at Mountain View Elementary this year,” Principal Thompson said. “Next year, it’ll be [held] at a different school. We want all of the money to go toward PTO’s… Any school or PTO that helps with this is going to benefit from it.”
Because this is an area fundraiser, the school who will be hosting next year’s Car Show will be another school in the community with a PTO in place and all the monies made will again go to benefit local PTO organizations.
“What we’re trying to do is bring about some positivity… Just get everyone working together on this project,” Chris Tingler said.
This event is also meant as a bookend to “Teacher Appreciation Week,” which will be celebrated from May 6th-May 10th.The Car Show will be held on May 11th from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with registration beginning around 8 a.m. Many of the details are still being finalized and fine-tuned by Thompson, Tingler, and PTO President, Cheryl Milton, but it’s expected to be a fun event for the whole family while simultaneously revering community spirit and raising money for a worthy cause.
“It’s a celebration of our kids and staff. Not just a fundraiser,” Thompson added. Thompson and Tingler agreed the school enjoys spoiling their staff: teachers, janitorial, bus drivers, etc., as they all work hard to support our children’s education in some way. Part of the money made from this event will be going towards that very thing: spoiling the hardworking staff who daily shapes the lives and minds of our children.
If you wish to contribute to this very special event, financial contributions can be sent to Mountain View Elementary School at 100 Gleason Dr., Covington, VA 24426. Alternatively, or if you have additional questions about the event, please call Chris Tingler at 540-679-0200, Cheryl Milton at 540-968-0075, or Principal Mallory Thompson at 540-863-1737.
