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RCPE: Elementary students kick off Halloween right with 'Storybook' parade
The lights dimmed. The students marched. The “Ghostbusters”
theme played softly over the public address system.
Superheroes, princesses, angels, historical figures and several miniature policemen took to the Rayma C. Page Elementary School hallways Wednesday in the second annual Storybook Halloween Parade. The parade gave the school’s more than 700 students a chance to show off their costumes and get an early start on the day’s candy haul. It also gave their parents and grandparents a chance to drop by the school and participate in the big show. Some stretched the storybook theme to its breaking point. While ninjas are likely featured in some storybook somewhere, the theme didn’t seem to matter much to second-grader Tavarrez Russell, 7. Peering out from the veil of his ninja costume — his two swords criss-crossed behind his head — Russell gave the reason for his costume. “They’re cool,” he said of ninjas. His mom had the idea, however. Not wanting to disappoint her three students at the school, Latanya McSwain, 36, slapped on a Tinkerbell costume for the early-morning hour of festivities. She said the kids pressured her into it. But several teachers got in on the act, too. One teacher dressed like a Crayola Crayon box, another pair went as a farmer and cow. There was a teacher dressed as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” and another dressed as a reindeer. Caleb LaLande, 11, said his favorite teacher costume was a fisherman. The teacher brought his baby, who was wearing a lobster outfit. The fifth-grader was dressed as Abraham Lincoln. “He did a lot ... he freed slavery,” said LaLande, who also liked another student’s Frankenstein outfit. Elementary students kick off Halloween right with 'Storybook' parade
The students had varied opinions of the candy selections, LaLande is a fan of Kit Kat bars. Russel likes Sour Skittles. Kindergartner Johnpaul Bermudez likes lollipops. The five-year-old dressed as Mr. Incredible, a superhero similar to the one he said he’s going to be. The superhero power he wants most? Blazing fast speed. “Part of the fun is the anticipation,” said Principal Susan Caputo, adding that students were abuzz with questions on Tuesday, the day before the parade. She said they wanted to know if they could wear their hair funky or paint their face. “It’s all the build-up,” said Caputo, “and then today.” As the students came to school, said Caputo, they all wanted her to recognize their handy work. She said one student approached her with an eye patch and said, “Mrs. C, I’m Alex. Do you know me?” McSwain said she loved the opportunity to let her kids experience Halloween in a safe and controlled environment. She planned on taking them to the mall later in the evening. LaLande said he chose Lincoln not just for his historical significance. He wanted to wear fake facial hair. His beard wrapping around his chin, LaLande said he liked seeing the other costumes during the parade. “This school’s pretty fun,” he said.
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17000 S. Tamiami Trail Fort Myers, FL 33908 Phone: 239.432.2737 Fax: 239.432.2749
| © 2006 Rayma C. Page Elementary |
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