On Friday, Nov. 6, the students and staff of Hunsicker Elementary School, located in Cedaredge, hosted their annual Fall Harvest Festival, in part, to help raise food for the Surface Creek Community Services, Inc. (SCCS) food bank.

The gym at Cedaredge High School was a packed house of movement under the direction of Mary Beth Lithsheim. The energetic gathering enjoyed the activities of the Fall Harvest Festival, including a canned food drive, games and dancing.

Students brought cans of food, to be donated to the food bank, in order to take part in the games and dances.

According to Hunsicker’s equally energetic (apparently tireless), K-5 Physical Education teacher, Mary Beth Litsheim (Miss Mary Beth to the students), impresario and choreographer for all of the activities for the evening, the students at Hunsicker have been taking part in this event for at least nine years, with each year getting bigger and better.

Now, as a canned food drive for SCCS, this year’s donations filled more than 55 shopping bags.

Litsheim was “really happy” that this year’s event took place at CHS. “We were running out of room,” she laughed. She explained that the event is compatible with the school’s physical education and music curriculum, “and, it’s for the kids.”

According to Miss Mary Beth, the students learn five new dances every year. Kindergarten students start off dancing (choreographed) to music from “Men in Black,” while the students in grades 1-5 have the opportunity to choose their own dance music such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

The event also gives the students the opportunity to play games, dance and perform in public, while having fun. “They’re exercising and getting in shape, and they don’t even know it,” she laughed.

This year’s event also included a meal and a silent auction, raising more the $250 for the SPA.

Miss Mary Beth offered kudos to other Hunsicker Elementary teachers, including Mrs. Waehner, Mrs. Stratman, and School Principal, Mr. Wayne Frazier, for their all their help and support, adding “It would be a total flop without the support of all the parents.”

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