
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.An attendee of the C.H. Campbell Elementary School Spring Fest had a hair raising experience on the inflatable slide set up in the gym on March 22.

Neighbors | Abby Slanker.C.H. Campbell Elementary School students could visit the school library for a lesson in popular 1950s dances from Youngstown State University students Emily McConnell (left) and Kaitlynn Kurdziel (right) during the school’s annual Spring Fest sock hop on March 22.

Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A C.H. Campbell Elementary School student had her face painted by a Canfield High School cheerleader at the school’s annual Spring Fest on March 22.

Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Two C.H. Campbell Elementary School students checked out the photo booth, and its props, at the school’s annual Spring Fest on March 22.

Neighbors | Abby Slanker.C.H. Campbell Elementary School third-grade student Nyah Navarro got into the spirit of the theme of Sock Hop for the school’s annual Spring Fest on March 22.
By ABBY SLANKER
C.H. Campbell Elementary School students and their families went back in time to the 1950s during the school’s annual Spring Fest with lots of games, food and fun on March 22.
With the theme ‘Sock Hop,’ the school was decorated with cut out jukeboxes, musical notes and vinyl records hanging from the ceilings throughout the school.
Students and their families could visit the school library for a lesson in popular 1950s dances from Youngstown State University students Emily McConnell and Kaitlynn Kurdziel.
“We’re ready to teach the kids The Hand Jive, The Twist, The Mashed Potato, The Stroll, The Jitterbug and The Wah Watusi,” Kurdziel said.
The evening also offered a DJ playing music and bounce arounds in the gym, a photo booth, face painting and a Chinese auction, which featured baskets donated from local businesses and classroom baskets with items donated from students and their families.
Sticking with the theme of the evening, the classroom baskets had such names as Great Balls of Fire, featuring an assortment of sports balls; Pink Ladies, featuring items for girls; T-Birds, featuring items for boys; Tuttifrutti Tailgate, featuring tailgate supplies; Shake, Rattle and Roll, featuring family fitness items and Mouseketeer Movie Night, featuring everything needed for a family movie night.
“We wanted this event to be for everyone, not just the kids. We wanted to include the parents a little bit more. This is probably some kids’ first encounter with a sock hop, but probably not their parents. We think the parents will notice, and appreciate, many things that go along with our sock hop theme, that the kids will not notice at all,” Spring Fest chairperson Brittany Horton said.
Spring Fest is a fundraiser for C.H. Campbell and, according to Horton, proceeds from the event will go to fund the purchase items to further the education process of the students.
“This year, we are looking to purchase things such as non-traditional seating and furniture to be able to further the education process of the children. We hope to provide different educational opportunities for them to learn,” Horton said.
Along with all the fun and games, Cocca’s Pizza was served in the cafeteria. Numerous PTA volunteers helped in all aspects of the evening, from selling raffle tickets to taking and selling tickets at the door. Several C.H. staffers also donated their time to help with the festival.
Canfield High School National Honor Society members also helped with the event and Canfield High School cheerleaders volunteered at the face painting booth.