NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifePre-K to 8ServiceFine Arts
Middle and Lower Schools celebrate Halloween with creativity
Nov 2, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Middle and Lower School students were treated to an eventful school day in celebration of Halloween on Friday, Oct. 29. As students arrived at school in their favorite costumes, faculty members partnered with parents to provide a memorable and fun time for all.
The Middle School’s annual Halloween Parade took place during break. Students paraded down the drive in their most creative costumes, which ranged from Pebbles and Bam Bam, to the Chick-fil-A cows, to a Fed-Ex package. Some costumes even played on words, such as eighth grader Isabel Bonnyman’s “white trash” costume, made of white trash bags, and sixth graders Emily Grizzard and Bonnie Tillman as “baby sitters” … literally.
As students displayed their costumes and paused for pictures, teachers took note of the especially imaginative ideas and met later in the day to decide upon the four most creative costumes from each class. Official rankings were not given, but the top four in each class received a $5 cash prize for their creativity. (Click here to see photos of the parade and read about the winners.)
“There were many others that were excellent, but these four won top honors,” said Diane Ogletree, Middle School administrative assistant Diane Ogletree.
Lower School festivities started with Halloween Scene at 8:30 a.m. According to Diane Lumpkin, Lower School assistant principal, Halloween classics such as “Ghostbusters” and “Witches Brew” played through the speakers as students walked across the gym stage to show-off their costumes to parents, faculty members and other students.
“Halloween Scene is simply a time for our students to enjoy the fun spirit of Halloween. We don’t want this to be competitive, just a fun event for all and a break in the rigorous academic schedule our students have,” said Lumpkin.
Some teachers even wore costumes, much to the students’ delight.
“I liked Mrs. Somerville’s costume the best because she was Raggedy Ann,” said third grader Amita Reddy.
Morgan Sidwell, Reddy’s classmate and friend, said Mrs. Cannon was her favorite. “She dressed up as a mom by putting her hair up and carrying a baby,” said Sidwell.
In keeping with the Halloween spirit, some teachers also passed out candy.
“I liked when my teacher gave us candy, because that doesn’t always happen,” said fourth grader Cameron Rohani.
When the school day ended at 3:30 p.m., Lower School students continued to celebrate with the annual Halloween Carnival, sponsored by Tiger PRIDE, the Lower School’s parent organization.
“[The carnival] is a lot of fun and a great time for parents to work together to make it happen ... if any profits are made, they are funneled back into the School,” said Lea Duncan, assistant director of admission for the Lower and Middle Schools.
At the carnival, students purchased tickets in order to take part in activities such as the haunted house, laser tag and an inflatable obstacle course. (Click here for more photos.)
“My favorite part of the carnival was getting my hair dyed red, because now it’s my favorite color,” said fourth grader Breck Tillery.
Activities were set up both indoors and outdoors. In the gym, kindergarten friends Claire Anderson and Farrin Mumpower made necklaces and friendship pins to wear while they played.
The haunted house, hosted by student actors and held at Thornwood, proved to be a favorite as students waited in a growing line for a chance to enter the mansion’s doors. The haunted house was aptly themed after Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion,” a favorite Halloween movie among many of the students.
“This event is our biggest ‘fun-raiser,’ because the kids really enjoy it. Our focus remains on the students, not on our ability to raise money,” said Anne Whilhoite, Tiger PRIDE president.
According to Rhonda Frix, chairperson of this year’s carnival, this event really brought the Darlington community together.
“Many of our volunteers came from the Upper and Middle Schools, and that really helped us out,” she said. “The carnival requires a lot of work, but everything seemed to go very well this year thanks to all who volunteered.”
*Written by Eric Molletta, public relations intern from Shorter College
The Middle School’s annual Halloween Parade took place during break. Students paraded down the drive in their most creative costumes, which ranged from Pebbles and Bam Bam, to the Chick-fil-A cows, to a Fed-Ex package. Some costumes even played on words, such as eighth grader Isabel Bonnyman’s “white trash” costume, made of white trash bags, and sixth graders Emily Grizzard and Bonnie Tillman as “baby sitters” … literally.
As students displayed their costumes and paused for pictures, teachers took note of the especially imaginative ideas and met later in the day to decide upon the four most creative costumes from each class. Official rankings were not given, but the top four in each class received a $5 cash prize for their creativity. (Click here to see photos of the parade and read about the winners.)
“There were many others that were excellent, but these four won top honors,” said Diane Ogletree, Middle School administrative assistant Diane Ogletree.
Lower School festivities started with Halloween Scene at 8:30 a.m. According to Diane Lumpkin, Lower School assistant principal, Halloween classics such as “Ghostbusters” and “Witches Brew” played through the speakers as students walked across the gym stage to show-off their costumes to parents, faculty members and other students.
“Halloween Scene is simply a time for our students to enjoy the fun spirit of Halloween. We don’t want this to be competitive, just a fun event for all and a break in the rigorous academic schedule our students have,” said Lumpkin.
Some teachers even wore costumes, much to the students’ delight.
“I liked Mrs. Somerville’s costume the best because she was Raggedy Ann,” said third grader Amita Reddy.
Morgan Sidwell, Reddy’s classmate and friend, said Mrs. Cannon was her favorite. “She dressed up as a mom by putting her hair up and carrying a baby,” said Sidwell.
In keeping with the Halloween spirit, some teachers also passed out candy.
“I liked when my teacher gave us candy, because that doesn’t always happen,” said fourth grader Cameron Rohani.
When the school day ended at 3:30 p.m., Lower School students continued to celebrate with the annual Halloween Carnival, sponsored by Tiger PRIDE, the Lower School’s parent organization.
“[The carnival] is a lot of fun and a great time for parents to work together to make it happen ... if any profits are made, they are funneled back into the School,” said Lea Duncan, assistant director of admission for the Lower and Middle Schools.
At the carnival, students purchased tickets in order to take part in activities such as the haunted house, laser tag and an inflatable obstacle course. (Click here for more photos.)
“My favorite part of the carnival was getting my hair dyed red, because now it’s my favorite color,” said fourth grader Breck Tillery.
Activities were set up both indoors and outdoors. In the gym, kindergarten friends Claire Anderson and Farrin Mumpower made necklaces and friendship pins to wear while they played.
The haunted house, hosted by student actors and held at Thornwood, proved to be a favorite as students waited in a growing line for a chance to enter the mansion’s doors. The haunted house was aptly themed after Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion,” a favorite Halloween movie among many of the students.
“This event is our biggest ‘fun-raiser,’ because the kids really enjoy it. Our focus remains on the students, not on our ability to raise money,” said Anne Whilhoite, Tiger PRIDE president.
According to Rhonda Frix, chairperson of this year’s carnival, this event really brought the Darlington community together.
“Many of our volunteers came from the Upper and Middle Schools, and that really helped us out,” she said. “The carnival requires a lot of work, but everything seemed to go very well this year thanks to all who volunteered.”
*Written by Eric Molletta, public relations intern from Shorter College
