The Demopolis City Schools Foundation Annual Pancake Dinner Fundraiser will take place at Jack’s on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 5-6:30 p.m. The fundraiser will raise money for the classroom grants program, which awarded $50,000 for Demopolis classrooms this fall.

Demopolis City Schools Foundation Executive Director Amanda Barnes says the event is a great way for the community to get involved with their kids and the Demopolis education system.

“Through fundraisers like these, the foundation is able to support creative ideas in the classroom,” Barnes said. “From curriculum to technology, professional development to library books, the Foundation puts the extra resources into the classrooms of Demopolis to help all of our students achieve success.”

As a result of last year’s fundraising efforts, students with special learning needs got a boost with iPads in the classroom.

“Using the iPads has helped my students master and demonstrate skills that would have been much more difficult without the tablet,” said Demopolis Special Education Teacher Teila Lee. “While holding a pencil might not be possible for some of these students, using a touch-screen has made math and reading skills as fun and easy as a game. This grant has transformed our classroom.”

In addition, students at US Jones Elementary are still able to get some exercise on rainy days thanks to the Wii Lab, funded by the Foundation in 2011. Students may bowl, play tennis or baseball, practice archery or dance in the lab adjoining the school gym.

“This lab has really engaged many of the girls in physical fitness that before had no interest in other sporting activities,” said Physical Education Teacher Tammy Causey. “They leave the lab with elevated heart rates and smiles all around.”

The Wii Lab has attracted statewide attention and praise for engaging physically disabled students in physical activity. Students who are unable participate in traditional sports are able to participate and win at games in the Wii Lab.

The benefits are widespread. Middle school band students are composing music and learning about cooperation using a Smartboard, an interactive touchscreen that replaces the traditional chalkboard. Each instrument section writes a measure, and then puts it all together to see what it sounds like.

“My classroom is so much more efficient with the Smartboard,” said music teacher Matthew Fields. “I can save our work by period so we immediately begin where we stopped the previous day, and I can transition from our sheet music, to a metronome, to listening to the music, all with the touch of a screen.”

Jack’s is looking forward to again hosting this family-friendly event that provides families with an opportunity to raise money by having a good time.

“It’s going to be a fun event with pancakes that taste like the ones made in your own kitchen,” said Jack’s Area Manager David Denmark. “We’re excited to be involved with the community and the schools and hope everyone will come out.”

Jack’s will serve sausage and pancakes between 5 and 6:30 pm. at the restaurant, located at 801 US Highway 80 West. A pancake-eating contest among Demopolis football players will take between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and available in advance from any board member or by calling (334) 289-2226.