Woodside’s wax figures bring celebrities to life

Photo

Timothy Shade (right) decided to impersonate Austintown native and NFL player Mike McGlynn for his project.

Photo

Ammorionne Calhoun wasn't alive in the '80's, but she received plenty of help from her mom in creating an outfit of Janet Jackson's from that decade.

Photo

Complete with clip-on facial hair and the bars and kisses of the famous chocolatier, Aiden Fitz-Patrick impersonated Milton Hershey for the wax museum project.

By SARAH FOOR

sfoor@vindy.com

Woodside Elementary welcomed Janet Jackson, Tom Hanks and Mia Hamm to their school on May 11, but managed to avoid all of the pesky paparazzi. That’s because it was the school’s second-graders that impersonated the famous figures in history as part of their wax museum event.

The program, organized by Woodside’s second-grade teachers, had the students research a historical figure, create a poster and costume, and write and memorize a speech.

“This program really helps the students grow,” Moretti shared of the wax museum. “The kids learn about memorizing, communication, and research skills, all through one project.”

Metts finds the event a fun end-of-the-year activity for the whole school.

“For our students, it culminates a year of learning in the classroom. For the school, it’s just fun to see. The first-graders get excited about a project they’ll be doing next year and the third-graders get to remember their characters from last year,” Metts observed.

Guests, including students of each grade and Woodside parents, were free to wander between the four second-grade classrooms and push a button in front of each wax figure to get them to come to life. The guests met wax versions of Mike McGlynn, Jim Tressel and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Second-grader Hannah Rucitti impersonated Amelia Earhart for the project.

“I learned a lot about Amelia. I think it’s really interesting how there is still a mystery around her death.”

Rucitti then paused to point at her aviator hat and leather jacket.

“But I liked the dressing up part, too. This outfit is really cool.”