Brundrett Middle School eighth-graders are looking for some help in making it to Washington, D.C. this year.

Parents and backers (no students) will stage a fundraising silent auction during a poker tournament at Bernie’s Beach House on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m., and they need donations – “just about anything,” said Javier Munoz, father of one of the youngsters. All proceeds as well as tournament entry fees will go toward the trip, Munoz said.

Students will be involved in two other fundraisers – a spaghetti dinner at the Pollock Center behind Community Presbyterian Church at noon on Sunday, Feb. 27, with students cooking the spaghetti, and a chicken dinner sale in the parking lot of Islander Souvenirs, 600 S. Alister St., on Saturday, March 19. No time has been announced yet for the chicken dinner sale.

Bake sales are also scheduled at the Family Center IGA on Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m. to noon, during Spring Break, and Saturday, April 23, 1 to 4 p.m., on Easter weekend.

The Washington trips have become something of a tradition for eighthgraders, who go each year in June to see first-hand what they’ve learned during the school year. It is called a “oncein a-lifetime opportunity to discover American history first-hand and to fully grasp the meaning of the lessons taught in the classroom.”

Students will travel with an accredited student travel organization and will be accompanied by parents and teachers. Since it is not a school-sponsored trip, teachers will not be going as Port Aransas ISD employees.