Fall Fun at Woodhull School
It's been a fun fall at Woodhull Intermediate School, from a Halloween festival and collecting candy for shipment to U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan to raising money for UNICEF – the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
"We had a Halloween celebration outside this year with 'Julius Caesar' (teacher aide Rich Signorelli) being the D.J," Woodhull Principal Mary Stokkers said. It was a fun day all the way around.
Fifth graders at the school cut out jack-o-lanterns a few days earlier during a 'pumpkin math' lesson and then danced in costume with parents and staff during the festival. The youngsters played roll-the-pumpkin games and participated in "mummy wrap" activities. "The PTA painted faces, applied tattoos and created a spooky café," Mrs. Stokkers said.
Sixth graders marched out to the open fields surrounding the school while wearing their Halloween costumes and later challenged various staff members and PTA officials to dance-off contests. "There were football and soccer games going on with Frankenstein and other characters running down the field," Mrs. Stokkers said.
In the Scariest Halloween Stories writing contest sponsored by Sweeties Candy Store, student Emma Pipolo won for her short story, "The Game That Turned into a Nightmare."
"Fun was had by all and Woodhull parents, staff and students had a great time together," Mrs. Stokkers said. The principal sponsored a costume contest and the winners gathered together for a photo near the end of the day.
Woodhull faculty and staff members came dressed as butterflies, veterinarians, professional sports players, to name just a few themes. Suffolk Police officer Drew Fiorello visited classrooms to discuss how to go about enjoying a safe Halloween.
Student council faculty advisors Christine Barresi and Scott Armyn coordinated a fundraising activity that benefitted UNICEF. It was the student council's first community service project of the year.
In the days following Halloween, Woodhull parent Debbie Chin spearheaded a project that involved collecting leftover candy and giving it to Huntington's dentists along with greeting cards. The dentists are paying the costs of shipping the candy and cards to U.S. servicemen in Afghanistan.
"Woodhull knows how to have fun while learning and giving to others," Mrs. Stokkers said.