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Balloons spotted in Grizzly Country
The Vista Grande Elementary School community crowds the grass field to enjoy some hot air balloons.
RIO RANCHO — Vista Grande Elementary School, the home of the grizzlies, held its annual Balloons Aloft event the morning of Oct. 4.
At 7 a.m., hundreds from the Vista Grande community crowded the grass fields to watch some hot air balloons. Many students — and staff — wore pajamas.
"We have the best school, the best community, our students are amazing, and our families are so supportive; they show up and show out for anything that we need," VGE Principal Christine Prescott said.
Families set up lawn chairs, enjoyed Stripes' breakfast burritos, hot chocolate, and Scooter's coffee, which were being sold by the VGE PTO.
"This year all of our fundraising efforts are going to upgrade our library," PTO President Simone Mehta-Campbell said. "Buy some new furniture: tables, chairs, we're planning to do like a book mural inside, maybe some new flooring, and possibly some new books."
Students from the Grizzly Student Council also spent their morning selling snacks and drinks. The goal was to raise enough money for a new Elvis costume, but not the King of Rock and Roll.
"We are raising money for a new Elvis costume for our school mascot," fourth grader Madison Sherman said. "It's awesome to see that everyone took the time to just hang out and be with each other."
The two hot air balloons in attendance: an HF Sinclair hot air balloon, and a classic multicolor hot air balloon.
Due to weather, the balloons were unable to take off, but that did not stop the party.
"It's always a fun time here. This is a really nice school, and I love our principal," fifth grader Theodore "Teddy" Buhl said. "People call me 'Teddy Bear,' and grizzlies are a bear so that makes it pretty cool!"
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Parents stayed for as long as they could, students played games with each other, and older siblings had fun making TikToks.
Balloons Aloft is a tradition for all RRPS schools and is a fun appetizer before the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The next big event for elementary schools throughout RRPS will be the fall carnival.
"Our Fall Carnival is Oct. 18, and all of the proceeds go directly to the classrooms and to the students. Teachers run their own booths and are able to use any money that they make, through our PTO, to buy whatever they need for their classrooms," Prescott said.
