By Robyn Rexin
Hallowe’en was celebrated all day long in Vavenby on Oct. 31.
There was a party at Vavenby Community Hall that night organized by Val Bellows and Kathy Cederholm. Doors opened at 6 p.m. and hot dogs and hot chocolate were served. At least 60 residents came out.
Costume judging began at 7 p.m. All contestants got a participation ribbon, a pencil, a pop, a bag of chips, and a small chocolate bar. Fran Johnson donated the pop, chocolate bars, and some of the chips.
Two special ribbons were handed out to each group of children and one to the adults. Specials went to:
Preschoolers: Juno Anderson and James Fontaine
Grade Kindergarten - 2: Zion Grant and Kelsey Rexin
Grade 3 - 5: Nathaniel Weber and Moira Chrystall
Grade 6 - 8: Gavin Prince and Matthew Lee
Adults: Brandon Ruttan
All family groups were winners. There was the “Bug Family” made up of Peter Anderson, Shannon Bymes, Fynn and Juno Anderson; Nick Dunne, Shanna Boyes, and Aurelia Dunne of the “Bone Family, and Kelsey Rexin as Dorothy and mom Christina Fillion as the Wicked Witch made an appearance from Oz.
After the judging everyone gathered around the bonfire and watched the fireworks. The volunteer firefighters were in charge of the bonfire and fireworks.
A thank you goes out to Marge Taylor for her past years of judging. We missed you.
When Taylor moved she did say, “What I will miss most about Vavenby is the Hallowe’en party.”
Costumes at school
That morning, the Strong Start children and some parents arrived the school in costumes. One was a paper-bag princess, another was Bob the Builder, and a third was the Energizer bunny.
A craft started the day off. Paper pumpkins and ghosts were made. The older children could use the special spring loaded scissors to help learn to cut. The younger students ripped out the features, another skill needing practice.
Then leader Mrs. Jody Phillips sprayed shaving cream on a pumpkin and gave each child a popsicle stick. She demonstrated how to use the stick to get some cream off the pumpkin. When the children copied this they then played in the cream.
After free play it was time for a healthy snack. Phillips had baked cupcakes to include as a treat and the children, with help from their moms, iced them. A lot of icing was consumed first, then the rest of the treat. Gym time ended the morning.
Mad trapper plays tricks on kids
The primary students also arrived dressed up for the day. Teacher Mr. Forsyth, who was a mad trapper, had told the children he would be away on Hallowe’en. He was unrecognizable. He said, “I like to play tricks on the kids.”
During the day there were Hallowe’en arts and crafts. The seeds from the jack o’lanterns were roasted and shared. The children received a treat from their teacher if they did a trick first.
Forsyth has been using a daily physical activity program in the mornings. It is usually dancing and the students follow the moves. The program is used to help activate the brain and Forsyth feels that it works. The music for Hallowe’en was Ghost Busters and Thriller.
