Tokeneke Students Participate In Groove-A- Thon

From Darien Schools:140 students filled the Common Room of Tokeneke Elementary School, excited to dance for a great cause at Tokeneke Kids Care Club’s fourth annual Groove-a-thon on Monday, May 22. At the same time, over 150 children at Tokeneke’s sister school, the Read School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, were treated to their own special dance party.

Tokeneke Kids Care Club’s fundraising event was the culmination of a year-long effort by Tokeneke students to offer support to its sister school in Bridgeport. Earlier in the year, Tokeneke’s Student Council lead a school-supplies drive for Read and more recently Tokeneke students collected playground equipment including jump ropes, chalk, balls and hula hoops that were presented to Read School by members of Tokeneke’s Student Councilon Monday along with the Groove-a-thon donation of $3,900. The student council then joined 155 Read students and danced in the school’s gymnasium as DJ Jones, a Read Teacher, played songs. Meanwhile, DJ Dale kept the party going at Tokeneke with Doreen Godfrey and Linda Cicero from Dance on the DL on hand to teach the crowd some fun dance moves.

Diana Lipman, the Second Grade teacher from Read School who helped to facilitate the dance party at Read, said the day was one that won’t soon be forgotten. To the Kids Care Club and the Tokeneke Student Council she wrote, “I want to thank each and every one of you for making today such a fun, memorable afternoon, and for your generosity. Every student had a huge smile on their face from start to finish and cannot wait to use the playground equipment! The entire Tokeneke community has shown so much compassion and generosity towards our students and teachers over the last few years and it is so appreciated.”
In total, 310 students enjoyed an afternoon of dancing, snacks, prizes and good times. The Read School received new supplies and a sizable donation which will go towards items in need at the school and Tokeneke students learned that community extends beyond the Darien borders and that making a difference in someone else’s life is equally rewarding and fun.

Images Courtesy of Tokeneke School