Friday, October 21, 2011
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .A group of kindergartners stopped to smile as they enjoyed teddy bear cake at their Teddy Bear Tea.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Kindergartner Jordan Fitts introduced her bear to some of her classmates during the Sept. 30 Teddy Bear Tea.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Kindergarten girls Kylie Kapics (left) Nadia Zarbaugh, and Gianna Sanchev showed off their unique bears during their Sept. 30 Teddy Bear Tea.
By SARAH FOOR
The teddy bears that invaded the Stephanie Mateja’s and Elaine Fabrizi’s kindergarten rooms at Dobbins Elementary on Sept. 30 weren’t all the brown and fuzzy kind.
Teddy bears in tutus, jewelry, sports jerseys, and with green, pink, and tie-dye fur all made an appearance during the afternoon Teddy Bear Tea.
“Throughout the school, our students are known as the ‘kindergarten bear cubs.’ Each year, we really embrace our nickname and enjoy a whole bear-themed day,” explained Mateja.
The event has been a long-time tradition in the school, since Fabrizi hatched the idea 27 years ago. Above the entrance to Fabrizi’s room, a sign reads “Bear’s Den: Caution!” The theme stretches throughout Fabrizi’s year, with special students being chosen as the ‘Bear Cub of the Week.’
However, the afternoon of Sept. 30 counted as the students’ official initiation as bear cubs when they completed a bear hunt inside the school, compared their bears’ sizes, weight and color to their classmates’ bears, enjoyed bear stories and watched a movie during their tea party.
Fabrizi and Mateja served a teddy bear cake and refreshments as the students cuddled with their stuffed animals.
“We enjoy a lot of learning during our teddy tea, but mostly it’s a fun time. They’re bear cubs now, but I can tell you, they’ll be full-grown before we know it,” said Fabrizi.