Struthers Elementary School gets spooky

By Sarah Lehr | October 31, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

Ghouls, witches, princesses and superheroes set the scene Friday afternoon outside Struthers Elementary School.

Students in kindergarten through fourth grade put on their scariest or most-whimsical costumes for Fall Fest. The festivities kicked off at 12:30 p.m. with a parade.

Relatives lined the sidewalks and cheered as the children marched from Ninth Street to Lincoln Avenue and then down Elm Street back to the school.

Some of the most-popular costumes were firefighters, police officers and characters from the Disney movie “Frozen,” but outliers included a boy dressed as a slice of pizza and girl dressed as a present while wearing a bow atop her head.

Cassie Sturgis joined the onlookers to cheer on her 6-year-old son, T.J.

T.J., who dressed as Wallop, a character from the video game Skylanders, had been counting down the days until Halloween.

After the parade, students returned to the building and celebrated with activities and treats.

Rachel Ziccardi, president of the Parent-Teachers Association, noted that Halloween is a time when silliness can reign supreme.

“It’s out of their routine,” she said. “It gives them a chance to just be kids, and it’s exciting for them to see their teachers dressed up.”

Heather Sebest, a kindergarten teacher, donned a Little Red Riding Hood costume, replete with a basket of goodies. To complement their curriculum, all the kindergarten teachers dressed up as storybook characters.