Published: October 27, 2009 08:30 am      

Educators take Halloween in stride

KINGSLEY -- A lion, bumblebee, princess, mime and a kid dressed as candy corn bustled excitedly around the gym at St. Mary-Hannah School.

The crowd of costumed revellers celebrated Halloween at the Catholic elementary school in Kingsley Sunday. The big party, complete with carnival games where children earned candy, was the 31st year for the event.

Sixth-grader Elizabeth Steed helped oversee one of the game tables, telling other children how to play and score some snacks. She loves her school, partly because often there's something "very fun" going on.

"This one doesn't happen every month, which is sad," she said, of the Halloween party.

Several local schools shared their plans to celebrate Halloween this week, working in the holiday in the middle of widespread flu outbreaks and standardized testing. St. Mary-Hannah Principal Lisa Medina said the students don't come in costume to class because the school celebrated on the weekend and invited everyone.

"We do this as a larger community, not as an individual school," she said.

It's a tradition the students look forward to. Some graduated students even come back and help work the games, Medina said.

Glen Lake Elementary principal Kimberly Wright said students may bring a costume to school Friday and then parade through the building. The parade ends in a gym, where parents can gather to see their children. A short assembly will include information on Halloween safety.

"(The) energy level gets pretty high a couple days ahead of time," Wright said.

This year, the actual holiday falls on Saturday, not a school day.

"Just like any activity, if the kids are up a little later, a little sugar from the candy -- it can make it difficult," Wright said. "It's still an instructional day."

Students at Traverse City's Central Grade School will participate in the annual Halloween parade Friday afternoon. The costumed children will travel the neighborhood streets before returning to the school. Once back, a drum corps will greet the students with a performance, said Principal Bob Peters.

He said teachers and students had not done too much Halloween decorating ahead of time because the school is in the middle of MEAP testing.