Students and their families were invited to Conestoga Christian School (CCS) on Feb. 5 for a Winter Carnival. This is the third time that CCS has hosted a Winter Carnival, although it was canceled in 2021 because of the pandemic. Attendees at this year's event enjoyed snacks and interactive games and were also given an opportunity to visit with pets that were brought in by CCS families for a "puppy snuggles and kisses booth."

"There were fun games and activities for our preschool and elementary students and their friends," explained Michelle Parris, CCS admissions director. "The Winter Carnival was created so our families and community could socialize and enjoy time together."

Attendees purchased tickets to participate in the various activities, which included a moon bounce, a cake walk, face painting, a basketball toss and a snowball toss. Other games reflected the winter theme, including Feed the Snowman, Arctic Bowling, Igloo Soccer and Polar Hockey.

There was also a "pie in the face" station, where students could throw a cream pie, which was actually made of shaving cream.

"Ken Parris, head of school, had a long line at his carnival booth, where students gave their tickets for a chance to hit him in the face with a cream pie," Michelle noted.

The puppy component of the carnival was new this year. Christina Kurtz brought her puppy, Kona, to the event. "As a parent of a (CCS) senior, it was so sweet to see all the elementary students and their families enjoying a morning of fun," said Kurtz. "They loved holding and petting the dogs."

Members of the CCS National Honor Society worked at the event and ran the games as part of their commitment to complete service hours.

The carnival was presented by the Junior Cougars. "Our school mascot is the Cougar, and the Junior Cougars are the elementary-level grades," noted Michelle, "Our elementary principal, Susan Brenner, helped plan the event and also brought in her dog." Also helping out with the planning was Deborah Kurtz, CCS events coordinator.

While it was a social event, the Winter Carnival was also an opportunity for prospective families to visit the school. "It's meant for our students, but they can bring friends, and we did have families visit that day who either wanted to learn more about the school or were interested for their children," Michelle added.

The event was documented in photos taken by CCS student Analiese Schreier for her independent photography class. Her photo album was posted on Feb. 11 at http://www.facebook.com/conestogachristianschool.

CCS, located at 2760 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, offers a Christian educational program for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. To learn more, visit the aforementioned Facebook page or http://www.conestogachristian.net. To schedule a personal tour of the school, call Michelle at 610-286-0353, ext. 402.