The ISD 166 PTA's "Many Tiny Lights" event returns after 2024 rain cancellation
Feb 05, 2025 08:49AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Cook County ISD 166 PTA
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 5, 2025
There's no better way to begin Visit Cook County's Hygge Festival than by bundling up and gathering around a bonfire with candles flickering in ice luminaries along Lake Superior.
Since 2018, the Cook County ISD 166 PTA Fundraiser has hosted Many Tiny Lights, an event that invites people to gather and raise money for the PTA. Mila Horak, the district 166 art teacher, initially came up with the idea as a way to raise money for skates, skis, and snowshoes for the Sawtooth Elementary students. She pitched the idea to the PTA, who loved it, and it has been taking place ever since.
After a rained-out event in 2024, the annual event returns on Friday, February 7. Volunteers pre-fill balloons with water to create the ice luminaries. At 5:30 p.m., outside Drury Lane Books, volunteers will be on hand to light candles inside the frozen globes for a $5 donation. Candles can be dedicated in honor or memory of someone, used to make a wish, or lit simply for fun. Donations can be paid in person at the event (cash, check, or venmo), or at the ISD 166 office (cash/check only). Checks can be made out to the Grand Marais Campus PTA.
New this year, Britt Malec will host a song circle around the bonfire at 6 pm. Warm beverages donated by Java Moose and baked goods will be available. The event does take place outside, so organizers encourage attendees to dress for the weather (and being by the lake).
The ISD 166 PTA uses funds throughout the school year for a variety of things, such as teacher classroom supply requests, hosting special lunches for Sawtooth Elementary students, end-of-year ice cream treats for all PK-12th graders, hosting book twice-a-year book fairs, creating the elementary school yearbook, purchasing teacher/classroom/library books, field trips, teacher conference staff snacks, and more.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 5, 2025
There's no better way to begin Visit Cook County's Hygge Festival than by bundling up and gathering around a bonfire with candles flickering in ice luminaries along Lake Superior.
Since 2018, the Cook County ISD 166 PTA Fundraiser has hosted Many Tiny Lights, an event that invites people to gather and raise money for the PTA. Mila Horak, the district 166 art teacher, initially came up with the idea as a way to raise money for skates, skis, and snowshoes for the Sawtooth Elementary students. She pitched the idea to the PTA, who loved it, and it has been taking place ever since.
After a rained-out event in 2024, the annual event returns on Friday, February 7. Volunteers pre-fill balloons with water to create the ice luminaries. At 5:30 p.m., outside Drury Lane Books, volunteers will be on hand to light candles inside the frozen globes for a $5 donation. Candles can be dedicated in honor or memory of someone, used to make a wish, or lit simply for fun. Donations can be paid in person at the event (cash, check, or venmo), or at the ISD 166 office (cash/check only). Checks can be made out to the Grand Marais Campus PTA.
New this year, Britt Malec will host a song circle around the bonfire at 6 pm. Warm beverages donated by Java Moose and baked goods will be available. The event does take place outside, so organizers encourage attendees to dress for the weather (and being by the lake).
The ISD 166 PTA uses funds throughout the school year for a variety of things, such as teacher classroom supply requests, hosting special lunches for Sawtooth Elementary students, end-of-year ice cream treats for all PK-12th graders, hosting book twice-a-year book fairs, creating the elementary school yearbook, purchasing teacher/classroom/library books, field trips, teacher conference staff snacks, and more.
