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Fourth-graders enjoy last Hilltop hurrah
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Hilltop Elementary School fourth-grade students beat the heat and enjoyed a treat of Hawaiian ice during their class picnic May 31.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Fourth-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School had a blast while they enjoyed an afternoon of dancing with DJ John Lisowski during their class picnic May 31.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Hilltop Elementary School fourth-grade students, from left, Gianni Gaetano, Dominic Magliocca and Jake Petro, celebrated the end of their time at the school during their class picnic May 31.
By ABBY SLANKER
Fourth-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School celebrated the end of their time at the school with a class picnic and day of fun May 31.
The day is meant as a festive send-off to the fourth-graders as they leave Hilltop and enter Canfield Village Middle School in the fall.
“Today is a memory for a lifetime,” said Cathy Mowry, Hilltop Elementary School principal.
To start their day, the students gathered in the gym to watch a video of themselves which consisted of hundreds of photos from their first year at Hilltop to their last.
Later in the morning, the students enjoyed the nice weather with games and activities outside, which were organized by Linda Magyar, Hilltop physical education teacher. The students also drew sidewalk chalk murals at the entrance of the school.
After the fun and games, the children were given their last Hilltop Elementary memory book and had time to sign them and write messages to their friends.
Lunch, which consisted of pizza, watermelon, chips and dessert, was provided for the students by mothers of the fourth-grade students. A special lunch was also provided for the fourth-grade teachers.
“The mothers have been great. They have done so much for our fourth-grade students,” said Nicole Billak, coordinator of the event.
As a special treat for their big day, the Kona Ice truck arrived at the school and dished out Hawaiian ices for all the students.
The culmination of the day, which also closed the event, was dancing and singing with the help of D.J. John Lisowski. Lisowski played several favorites, including the “Electric Slide,” and involved the students in a round of limbo, crowning a boy champion and girl champion.
Lisowski also sang karaoke and asked the students to help him sing. He played all the popular songs while the children, teachers, PTO volunteers and even their principal danced the afternoon away.
Also provided for the students as a way to remember this day, was a photo booth where they could have their pictures taken with all their friends.
As a special gift, the students were presented with a Canfield Cardinals cinch bag which contained a copy of their fourth-grade video and a bag of candy. Fourth-grade student Meera Sethi’s artwork graced the cover of the video, as she won the label contest.
“To the moms and teachers, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for making this day possible,” said Mowry.