By: Melissa A. Kay

The end of the school year is exciting and momentous as is, but the friendly folks from the Mendham Boro HSA (Home and School Association) made the milestone even better (and wetter) with their recent Boro Bash event on June 14th. The HSA is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for all students in Mendham Borough public schools. 

What is sure to become a long lasting tradition that began just last year, this spectacular summer celebration kicked off the sunny season with tons of fun for families, friends, students, and supporters of Mendham’s Mountain View Middle School’s 8th grade graduating class at Hilltop Elementary School. 

The current HSA President Nancy Rodrigues shares, “I was Co-President last year and just loved the idea (of the Boro Bash) and the smiles on the kids’ faces.” Bringing back the Boro Bash for another go-round was a no-brainer, being that the first celebration was so successful and well-received by local residents. 

Rodrigues further explains, “The Boro Bash was started last year by a group of moms of the current 8th grade Mountain View Middle School class. The event was a fundraiser for the 8th grade Washington, DC trip—a long tradition for our Mountain View Middle School 8th graders. The HSA was asked to support the initiative and we instantly saw this event as the perfect opportunity to celebrate our students’ hard work during the school year and to bring together our community before departing for summer break. When we saw how much fun the kids had last summer, we decided to start a tradition.”

The Boro Bash went off without a hitch, with plenty to see, do, and explore. It was open to the public and the event was held at Hilltop Elementary School in the back field on Friday, June 14th, which was the last day of school. 

What did attendees to the Boro Bash enjoy? In a nutshell, lots of entertainment and plenty to eat. There was a live DJ to keep things upbeat with music to fill the air, a fun-filled obstacle course, a creative game truck, a dunk tank, water slides, tons of games with take-home prizes, face painting and temporary tattoos, and lots of kid-friendly food like popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and popsicles. Food was included in the admission price and donations are still welcome, even in preparation for next year.

Those who attended the Boro Bash are sure to return again next year for another summer kick-off as only HSA can bring. For first time Boro Bash guests, this year’s event was the start of a summer tradition to return to year after year. What better way to close out the school year and get into “fun mode” for the less-stressed days of summer? 

Rodrigues was happy with how the Boro Bash turned out, “This was a fun event for the kids and the community. We loved that our township and Chester kids could come since all the children play on the same sports teams, etc. The area schools end on different dates, so it is not always possible to get everyone together on the same date for the event. But this year, the township got out the day before, so we were happy that could work out. It was lovely to see many Mountain View Middle School students volunteer to assist at the event — doing face painting and tattoos, running games for the “little bashers,” etc. It was very sweet to see young kids helping and playing with the littlest ones,” she shares. 

The entertainment and energy the event brought to the graduating students and other Boro Bash attendees was amazing. Food, fun, and an all-around friendly atmosphere made the celebratory afternoon so special, sending the graduating students into the summer with a smile.