On Friday, May 29th, the Marcellus Driver Middle School PTA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to gift the new basketball court to the Marcellus Central School District.
The idea for the new basketball court came from 7th grader, Joey Perleoni. Joey realized the need for a space where students at recess time could play basketball and other games like 4-square on a hard surface. Joey, along with his 6th grade teacher (at the time), Mrs. Pawlewicz, worked together to take the initial steps into checking whether or not a basketball court was feasible on the grounds. Joey then created a petition and had over 100 students’ signatures that stated the students wanted a basketball court for their playground. Joey took his petition and his parents to make a presentation at the Spring 2014 DMS PTA meeting. He addressed the PTA board members with a proposal requesting that the basketball court become a reality. The DMS PTA accepted Joey’s request and plans were put into place within a month.
In attendance at the ribbon-cutting were President and Vice-President of the Board of Education; Ryan Riefler and John Fuller, Assistant Superintendent; Trish McCarron, DMS Principal; Janet O’Mara, 7th grader Joey Perleoni along with his parents and grandmother, Basketball Court Chairperson and PTA Vice President; Kelli Worden, PTA Treasurer; Jennifer Darminio and PTA Secretary; Kathy Ciota, and many of the DMS 7th graders who came in support of their friend and fellow classmate during their recess time.
The DMS PTA could not have funded this project alone. The following local businesses helped with the building and planning of the court by donating a portion of their services or volunteering their time: Kasey Fellows Excavation, Saunders Concrete, Atlas Fence and the Donahoe Group Architectural Design. Also a special thank you to the head of Buildings and Grounds at Marcellus Central School, Keith Watkins, for assisting in the planning and implementation of the court and basketball hoop.
Along with the basketball court the PTA has been able to fund numerous field trips, classroom materials, band instruments, and gym equipment. The DMS PTA would like to thank the local community, parents, students and Marcellus teachers and staff for their continued support of our school. Raising money for the DMS with fundraisers like the Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Sale make giving back to our students possible.
