McIntosh Middle Fall Festival celebrates the season and the school's offerings

During the first year of the McIntosh Middle School Fall Festival, over 400 families attended, said Principal McHenry Lerebours.

This year, as the festival began on Nov. 15, he said the school was hoping for even more attendees at the event, which is a showcase of the school's offerings and a fundraiser for staff and students. 

The event showcased departments of the school including its agricultural programs and its HAWKS Academy for Gifted and Advanced Studies, as well as vendors and business partners, and began with a Turkey Trot race through the woods.

Seventh grader Raelynn Bontrager, who is involved in 4-H and Youth Leaders in Production Agriculture, said the fesitval was an opportunity to showcase her lifelong passion for agriculture.

"People who come to these things don't typically get to have a weekly encounter with animals, so I like this because animals can get used to people. People get to meet animals," she said.

The event was created as part of the district's strategic plan, which includes the goal of increasing parent engagement and family involvement.

"As a school, we believe that one of the three pillars for student success is parent engagement, parent involvement," Lerebours said. "Of course, academic achievement is important, and then school culture, so all of that connected together helps us grow as a school community."