St. John’s Elementary School in Campbell’s Bay opened its door Thursday night for an evening of community fun.

The event, put on by the Home and School Association, featured a BBQ, face painting, a clown, and bouncy castles. Students, their parents and their siblings spent the evening enjoying the offerings.

The most popular attraction for the kids was the Shawville 4-H Club, which brought bunnies, two sheep and a pony for the families to pet and enjoy. Kids stood eagerly in line, waiting for their turn to ride the pony.

School principal Lorianne Bertrand said the event was the school’s way of giving back.

“This is when we open it up,” she said, referring to the school grounds. “This is for the whole community.” She said she wants parents to feel welcomed at the school too.

There were some big-ticket raffle prizes up for grabs, including four . . .

passes to the Museum of Nature in Ottawa, two tickets to an Ottawa Redblacks football game, and an MLB baseball signed by former Blue Jays player Santiago Espinal.

St. John’s student Isaac Crawford had his sights set on the baseball, buying 21 tickets. According to the young baseball fan, who had just finished learning about probability in school, he was “more likely than anyone else” to win the ball.

Bertrand was happy they were able to get such wonderful prizes. She said businesses were happy to oblige, and all they had to do was ask. She said MNA André Fortin sent them $500 to pay for the clown, making it that much easier for them to pull the event together.

“We didn’t have to pay for anything,” she said.

St. John’s teacher Amber Morris said the funds raised will go toward “an end-of-year school trip, outdoor play equipment and other student activities.” This year, the school is going to Mont Cascades, a water park outside of Gatineau.