Schools

Fairfax Elementary Wins Grand Prize In Big Lots 'Lots2Give' Competition

Fairfax Elementary School in Cleveland Heights won the $20,000 grand prize in the Big Lots Lots2Give competition.

The students of Fairfax Elementary School are grand champions.

The school won the $20,000 grand prize in the Big Lots Lots2Give competition. The school will receive its check during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Big Lots store in Beachwood, 24295 Chagrin Blvd.

The school's PTA competed against more than 180 schools to share the $120,000 worth of cash prizes. To win, students created a video and brief essay to explain why their school needs financial support.

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The winners were decided by public vote this summer.

"I am thankful for all of the hard work the Fairfax parents, teachers, and PTA leaders put into making the video and promoting the video in the community,"  said Fairfax Elementary School principal Andrett Calloway. 

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The video, which can be viewed on the Lots2Give website, is about how Fairfax is inclusive of students of all abilities. The school asked for money to pay for an "adaptive play structure" so students of all abilities can play together. 

"This means our special education classes will not have to have recess in their chair, or recess separately, or just 'Oh, I'm just sitting and watching other kids play,' " Calloway said. "Now they can finally be on the equipment all together. 

"And it's not just for our school, it's for our community," Calloway added. "Even if you don't got to Fairfax, all children can join in and play together."

School officials thanked the PTA, who they said worked tirelessly on the video and getting the word out.

"We are so grateful for the support of the entire community in getting the word out about the competition and voting for and with us,” said Fairfax Elementary School Co-President Pamela Kelly.


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