What's a Musketeer?

We held our breath on Wednesday, October 31, hoping for some dry, sunny weather between bouts of heavy downpour so that the students could go on the annual costume parade. In the morning while we had some fairly nice weather, the preschoolers walked through the elementary school classrooms and gathered on the lawn for the Hokey-Pokey, then proceeded to Spooktivity Town for treats. Their parents planned a busy morning of Halloween activities back in their classrooms, including pumpkin carving.

By noon, the rain clouds parted revealing blue skies and an opportunity for the elementary students to go on their much-anticipated parade. Led by an aptly clad musketeer (“what’s a musketeer?” — most students thought I was a pirate sans eye patch) banging on a drum, a jovial crowd of about 350 characters walked to the Middle School. Every year the variety of creative costumes just gets better, from an astronaut to storybook Madeline to mighty Zeus bearing a lightning bolt and everything in-between (fairies, fairy tale and comic book characters, spider queens, super heroes, and Power Rangers, to name a few). And I’m including parents dressed in costume!  


After a round of the Hokey-Pokey in the quad area, we trekked back to the elementary campus for entertainment.  The MPI orchestra, directed by Elton Masaki, played two Halloween-type pieces, the latter called “Walk of the Zombies,” which was punctuated by the children screaming on cue for added effect.  Students from Holomua, an MPI service organization, performed a short skit, favorably received because of the choreographed “fight” scenes, more acrobatic and comedic in effect.  Then the students made their way to four different areas of Spooktivity Town to receive their treats. It was brilliant, sunny weather up to about 3:30pm, well after cleanup, when the rain let loose. Whew!

Several years ago when we were in Kaimuki, our costume parade was a short 5-minute walk from the parking lot, around the block’s corner, then quickly back onto the campus where we gathered on a small grass lawn surrounded by cottages. Or we’d walk to Kaimuki Park for storytelling.  Some of you may remember our favorite entertainment for the students — Steve O. the Clown and his antics. We had loads of fun then, and now this annual event has grown into a well-organized event for students and their families with much the same lively spirit and fun experienced in years past. Now, every faculty member and the office staff dons a costume of some kind!  
We are deeply grateful to key organizers Tracy McConnell and co-chairs Monique Todebush, Karen Kawamura, and Linda Hasegawa for such a well-executed event.  Many, many thanks to support from Vanessa Meyer, Kako Silvestre, Sheila Washio and many other parents for their team effort.  Kudos to T Kawamura and Cliff Cheng for their design of several Spooktivity houses. Thanks also to the preschool parents, organized by Andrea Stoebenau, who provided Halloween activities for their children. We are thrilled that so many of you stopped by for the event or helped with class activities such as pumpkin carving. Thanksgiving coming up!

Look for a flier in the Thursday packet about discounted ticket prices for the Hawaii State Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, December 14-16, at the Mamiya Theatre. Our discounted cost per ticket is $12 (regular price is $18-$27). There are no special prices for young children or senior citizens.  Please make checks payable to Mike Browning. The deadline for ticket orders is November 9, next Friday. Turn in the bottom portion of the flier and payment to our elementary school office. Note that there are NO refunds or ticket exchanges. This matinee or evening performance will make a festive holiday celebration for your entire family.  

Check the MPI website for front page news about Fifth Grader James Trowbridge. Appointed by Leonard Nimoy as a consultant for Star Trek, James has created his very own weblog on which he writes periodically about his interest in the series. You can even respond to James (his web address is noted on the MPI main page).

Although not previously scheduled on the monthly calendar, the next `Ohana meeting is November 14, 5:30pm, in the dining room.  I know that you are very busy parents, but I encourage you to attend at least one `Ohana meeting during the school year.  Most of the business is related to the organization of school activities, and all parents attending have an opportunity to raise questions and voice concerns.  I attend all meetings and report back to the faculty, though a few teachers attend meetings now and then.  

Don’t forget the next Parents-as-Partners session, November 6, Tuesday, 5:30-7:00pm, in the dining room.  Kathy Bentley returns to speak on Setting Limits and Appropriate Consequences for Your Children. A light dinner and childcare are available.  Please help us with our planning by calling the office at 441-3800 and indicate if you’ll need childcare.  

We’re glad to be “back to normal” on campus after a full day of Halloween excitement and costume overload.  But – what’s normal?

For our children,

Edna L. Hussey
Principal

Posted on November 1, 2007 1:16 PM | Permalink