The debut Jefferson Elementary School Duck Fest and Derby paddled and waddled into Emmaus Community Park Oct. 18.

Jefferson's PTO, led by President Brandi Bazella, has put the fun back into fundraising.

Instead of sponsoring the usual catalog sales of wrapping paper, jellies, candles and the like, Bazella and company developed a student/parent/community interactive plan to generate monetary support for the school.

The project began when each class received a duck bank to decorate.

During the week before the fest, students, teachers and administrators fed the ducks with spare change. The banks were then displayed at the fest and visitors voted for their favorites by dropping in cash contributions.

Fest attendees also purchased tickets which entitled them to play games such as Tic Tac Duck and Which Cup Hides the Duck at the event.

As Bazella explained, one of the main goals of the program was to "let our families have fun."

At 1:30 p.m. attendees gathered for the preliminary race to be followed by the main "waddle."

Earlier in the week each class received a small, buoyant theme duck. Through a variety of activities students earned extra theme ducks to represent their class in the initial swim.

A duck swimming for afternoon kindergarten took first place honors and won a bowling party at AMF Parkway Lanes for the students and their parents.

The main attraction was preceded by the sale of racing ducks.

At $5 per duck, participants purchased duck entrants for the final race. Each duck was marked with a specific number which also appeared on the purchaser's receipt.

Prizes were lucrative: first place, $1,000; second $500; third $250; fourth $125; fifth $75; sixth $35; last duck to finish $15.

The ducks were released. Cheering ticket holders crammed streamsides and the footbridge at the finish line. Some ducks became stuck on rocks; a few spun helplessly in eddies. Most cascaded down the stream. And the winners were – first #23; second #225; third #1014; fourth #152; fifth #295; sixth #41; and last duck home #724.

After expenses, the fest garnered approximately $4,300. The proceeds will be used to underwrite assemblies, field trips, school improvements and teacher allotments.

Jefferson Elementary School's Duck Fest and Derby was a great success, and, as Bazella emphasized, more than just a moneymaker; a time when "families are doing things together."