96 floats, one big goodbye

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February 20, 2008

By Bethany Bray

For more than two decades, students have paraded through the hallways of South Elementary School on Valentine's Day, pulling homemade floats behind them. But this year, the parade held an extra-special meaning for Principal Eileen Woods — it was her last before she retires.

This year's float parade, with 96 different themed floats decorated by students, was dedicated to Woods who has led South for 15 years.

"It was very cute, very creative," said Woods with a smile as she watched students return to their classrooms. "Very emotional."

The first float in the parade was a tribute to Woods, designed and pulled by kindergarteners Jason Alesse, 5, and Lauren Jeffery, 6. Their cart had heart-shaped balloons, multicolored streamers and hand-made posters that read: "We love you, Dr. Woods!" They also had matching T-shirts with photos of Woods and the same message.

The duo could have picked any theme, but honored Woods "because we love South School," said Lauren with a shy smile.

Jason said he "felt proud" as they pulled their float through the cafeteria, as the first in the parade, and the students erupted with cheers. Woods gave them both a big hug as they reached her.

For the parade, which lasted over an hour, students in kindergarten through the fifth grade brought in floats they'd made at home, each with a different theme. The youngsters pulled them through South's hallways last Thursday, finishing their parade in the cafeteria.

Fifth-graders Sarah Czarnecki and Elizabeth Bambury were part of a group of four girls who designed a float they named "the ice cream shop." They put several of their favorite stuffed animals on the float, and taped ice cream cones they'd made out of paper to the animals' paws.

They thought long and hard about the theme for their float, they said, because it was their last parade at South before moving onto middle school.

"It's always fun looking at all the floats," said Elizabeth of the annual parade.

Sarah agreed, saying, "It's neat to see the younger kids' floats."

She said this year's parade was special because it was both her last and the last one for Woods, too.

Students cheered and applauded as each of the 96 floats entered the cafeteria. No two floats were alike, and themes ranged from "High School Musical" and Hannah Montana, to a jungle with stuffed animals and a tribute to a favorite professional sports team. Webkins and Lego toys were popular float themes.

Woods stood at one end of the crowded cafeteria, and the sea of parents, school staff and students left an open path so the floats could parade through the cafeteria towards her. She congratulated the designers and gave each student a pencil for their efforts.

One float had a fiesta theme, complete with an inflatable cactus. The two girls who pulled the float wore giant sombreros and faux black moustaches.

Another float, created by a group of boys wearing bright red pigtails, was a tribute to Wendy's fast food restaurant. The float had oversized French fries made out of foam — with ketchup for dipping.

After the parade, the excited youngsters returned to their classrooms for snack time, parking their floats in the hallways.

Woods said students look forward to the float parade every year, and she believes "it spurs productive thinking and creativity."