BY ANNELIESE TURCK

Community School’s second grade will host a free movie screening to benefit The Senior Connection in Hailey as part of the class’s annual Wow-Students project.

The movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory will be shown at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in the Community School Theatre.

"For the fifth straight year, the second grade class is hosting a movie night to raise funds for their Wow-Students project partner,” said Elementary School Head Janet Salvoni. “This year's project with The Connection in Hailey provides a wonderful opportunity, not only for our students to engage in service learning, but also to build cross-generational relationships, which are so valuable to both the children and the seniors. I am so proud of the second graders' dedication and energy. Their excitement inspires other students to get involved and make a difference in their community.”

The original 1971 family-friendly movie stars the late Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and is an adaptation of the famed 1964 novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film is about 11-year old Charlie Bucket who finds a prized Golden Ticket and visits Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with four other children from around the world. This “scrumdidilyumptious” classic will be fun for all ages. Doors open at 2:45 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Students will sell popcorn and water with proceeds supporting The Connection and donations will be gladly accepted. 

Wow-Students projects encourage student philanthropy in partnership with Wow-students, a local program funded by the Wood River Foundation. Service learning opportunities, like the Wow projects, offer Community School students the opportunity to fulfill the school’s mission of leading impactful, purposeful lives. For the past five years, Community School has partnered with Wow-Students, reinforcing the school’s dedication to giving back to the broader community.