WYOMING — The gym at the Wyoming Area Primary Center was filled with the colors of the autumn harvest on Wednesday for the school’s annual Apple Celebration.
The event, sponsored by Brace’s Orchard of Dallas, went beyond simply offering a variety of apples for sale but, instead, provided a chance for parents and students to buy a variety of fall-themed items which included jellies, jams, apple cider donuts and a variety of candy apples.
The event was open to first, second and third-graders, along with their parents, and more than one set of parents returned to the school twice, to accompany each of their children through the event.
Kayla Wallace, of Wyoming, enjoyed family time at the sale, as she held her 9-month old daughter Madison in her arms, while helping her third-grade daughter Briella choose between a variety of jellies and jams.
Wallace, who has made the market an annual tradition, said the family looks forward to the event each year.
Briella, who called the event “awesome,” said her favorite part was the candy apples.
Paul Brace, an owner of the orchard, was on hand to provide information about apples sold at the event.
Brace carefully detailed which apples were best for pies, which once had a crisp texture and which were absolutely the best to just sink one’s teeth into.
Karen Switzer, a first-grade teacher at the school, came up with the idea just over three years ago.
She said teachers and students alike look forward to the annual celebration, which marks the close of the harvest season.
Jerry Mancinelli, of Brace’s Orchard, said the celebration is not only an opportunity for children to enjoy a healthy food, but to learn math as they consider the cost of their purchases.
“We look forward to this day,” he said. “It’s great to see the look on the kids’ faces.”
Mancinelli said that, although items for available for purchase, no child was left out and each exited the event with an apple-themed treat.
Monies raised during the event are kept by Brace’s Orchard, but the business makes a donation to the Primary Center as a “thank you” for inviting it to the school.
