Halloween Marked With Parade and Pumpkins

By Tomas Lombardo
On October 31st, Bay Farm School held a pumpkin carving contest as well as a Halloween Parade. This was Bay Farm School’s second year hosting a Halloween Parade. It began last year due to Sienna Arroyo’s petition to the Alameda Unified School District to allow all students to wear costumes in celebration of the Halloween spirit. Sienna and some other students went to an AUSD board meeting, and gave their thoughts about why celebrating Halloween should be allowed at schools in Alameda. The board was unanimous in ruling for permitting the Halloween celebrations.
This year’s parade was a walk around the school, led by student council representatives. All students and faculty had a choice of whether or not to participate in the Halloween Parade. Students walked around the parade route that started near the office and looped around to the Tillman Park gate.
“I love being able to see all the creative costumes that people create,” said Gracie D’Amato, an 8th grader that participated in this year’s parade.
“I liked the parade,“ said Kathy Le, another 8th grader participant.
“We got to see other people’s costumes, and what they are dressing up as. I would like to see it again next year, but a longer route,” said a 5th grader who walked in the parade.
“I was in the back of the line, and I got to see everyone’s costumes…everyone’s. It was so awesome,” said Ms. Katie Sullivan, the 8th grade core teacher, who ran the Halloween parade and Pumpkin Carving Contest.