Harper Elementary fifth graders and Thomasville National Bank Financial Services employees take part in Halloween arts and crafts. 

THOMASVILLE — Harper Elementary fifth graders got to trick-or-treat early this year.

The city school’s 60 fifth graders took part in a Halloween-themed event at Thomasville National Bank (TNB) Financial Services Thursday morning.

Melvin Hugans, Harper principal, said the event was part of the school’s partnership with the financial institute to fund a field trip to Savannah for the fifth graders’ Civil War and U.S. History learning standard. The partnership goal is to send each fifth grader to Savannah, the principal said.

“We’re using it as an opportunity to build community relationships and develop our partnership with TNB Financial Services,” Hugans said of the event.

TNB Financial Services President Joel Barrett said the company has a raffle going to help fund the Savannah trip. “The response has been great,” Barrett said of the support from the community.

The goal, Barrett said, is to sell 1,000 tickets to fund the $20,000 trip expense.

TNB Financial Services also will provide a Thanksgiving meal to the Harper fifth graders in November.

“We’ve adopted the fifth grade class,” Barrett said.

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.