Jerabek Elementary plans 44th Ranch Round Up
By John Gregory
Jerabek Elementary School is preparing for its annual western-themed Ranch Round Up community celebration and fundraiser, scheduled for May 17, 3:05 to 7 p.m. on the school campus blacktop and adjoining open space.
The Jerabek Family Faculty Organization (FFO) produces the event. Co-chairs for the second year in a row are Caroline Han and Leslie Roach.
“I originally got involved because it’s both my sons’ favorite Jerabek event and I just wanted to make sure it was a success,” Han said. “Leslie was excited about it again, too. We know what we are doing, so we’re very excited to come back and make it happen again.”
The Round Up will offer 10 inflatables for kids, pony rides, Musical Cakes, opportunity boxes, a silent auction, food and a Jerabek student talent show.
The entire Scripps Ranch community is invited, and admission is free. Tickets for any of the activities can be purchased once inside the event. Those attending can pay for tickets and wrist bands using cash or Venmo.
Wrist bands for unlimited access for the 10 bouncy inflatables will cost $25 on the day of the event.
As always, there will be an abundance of booths offering fun activities. A highlight will be the pony rides. There will also be an area in which children can brush the ponies and decorate them. Tickets for carnival games or pony rides will cost $10 for 15 tickets.
Teacher Date tickets for Jerabek students who want to enter the raffle to spend extra time outside of the classroom with their favorite teacher will be $5.
Cake walks have been a longtime hit at American community and school carnivals over the years. The Ranch Round Up offers Musical Cakes, which is similar.
“We have had that since the beginning, I think, and it has been a favorite event. If you win Musical Cakes, you get to pick whichever cake you like,” Han explained. “The cakes are donations from students and others in the community.”
These aren’t bland cakes, either.
“If you look at them, they are incredibly creative,” she said.
One of the more popular and fun events of the Round Up is the Jerabek student Talent Show.
“It’s really great. The students get to perform their best talent. It’s everything from dancing to singing, and some kids have done martial arts,” Han said. “So, it’s really exciting to watch and to give kids an opportunity to showcase their talents.”
Attendees will also be able to enter raffles for Opportunity Boxes, which have included tickets to Padres games and wine nights in the past. Tickets for the Opportunity Box raffles will cost $10 for 10 tickets.
In addition, there will be a silent auction available for people to bid on baskets of fun items which each classroom has provided.
“It’s our 44th annual event. It has grown over the years,” Han said. “It starts with our volunteers … They are the heart of the organization for the effort, but we couldn’t do it without community groups.”
Coordinating a huge event such as this is no small task. Approximately 75 to 100 volunteers are needed to make it a success. This includes the committee chairs for the talent show, food, teacher dates, musical cakes, carnival game prizes, silent auction, sponsorships, opportunity boxes and the very important money runner who makes change throughout the day.
“Honestly, on the day of, we’re busy, but we’re making our kids happy,” Han said.
Proceeds from the Ranch Round Up go to Jerabek’s FFO which supports Jerabek programs, including art programs and the STEAM Lab.
For more information or to volunteer, visit jerabekffo.org/events/ranch-round-up.