The band at Patrick M. Villano School has been working hard because they have an important thing to do. The sixth-grade band, which is the symphonic band, is selling chocolate to raise money to go play at Sixth Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. Sixth graders will get to also have fun and go on rides at the amusement park. Sixth grader Anaya Modi is trying to sell as much chocolate as she can.
“I have sold five and a half boxes so far, and I like to get the money because it makes me feel rich. I have been selling chocolate around my street in Emerson, Edison, and Park Ridge [New Jersey]. I am hoping I sell seven boxes, but I don’t think the band will reach their money goal,” Modi said.
This isn’t any ordinary chocolate. It’s jumbo-sized chocolate, and there are six flavors: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, almond, caramel, wafer, and crisp. The brand is called the World’s Finest Chocolate. Each bar is on sale for $2. Every band member has a box of 30 bars to sell. Theo Duffy, another sixth grader in the band, has already sold two boxes of chocolate.
“I sold all my chocolate in Emerson so far. I’m hoping I sell at least three boxes, and I do not think the band will raise enough money. I had milk chocolate and wafer, and milk chocolate was my favorite,” Duffy explained.
Joseph Gibbs, the school’s band teacher, is leading the fundraiser. He’s really excited about it.
“They are selling so fast,” Gibbs said. “I think the students are excited to win the many possible prizes that come from selling box after box.”
For selling one box, students earn three homework passes. For selling two boxes, band members can conduct for band for the day. For selling three boxes, Gibbs is allowing the student to toss a pie in his face. All these prizes only apply to sixth graders, even though Beginner, Concert, Symphonic, Jazz, and Rock bands are all participating in the fundraiswer. If the chocolate sells out, the sixth grade band will get a pizza party and the top three sellers will get Amazon gift cards. The first prize winner will get $100, second place will get $75, and third place will get $50. There are a total of 140 boxes of chocolate to sell.
Gibbs himself sold one and a half boxes of chocolate.
“I think the chocolate was a great idea. I think the company is super helpful and the students love to sell it. People are buying whole boxes of the chocolate so you know it has to be good! I have also tasted the chocolate and it was very rich and delicious,” Gibbs explained.
