By Robyn Rexin
The last week of October was a busy one for Vavenby Elementary School students. On Oct. 30 a school bus showed up in the morning; the bus driver taught bus evacuation and how to react to an event.
All the children were given activity bags that contained a tag that said SD73 School Bus Safety Deputy. Most students clipped it on right away.
After the presentation it was time for recess and when the students came back there were fresh baked chocolate cupcakes prepared by teacher, Mr. Forsyth, plus vegetables waiting for them. Some vegetables had to be eaten first.
At 11:45 a.m. Blue River students arrived. There was a little free time, then everyone went into the main classroom. Forsyth explained to everyone that, “exterminators had been in the school for a couple of days to get rid of flies and the school had been changed.”
The students would be divided into teams. They’d need to look for clues to help them solve problems that would get them through the lock-out room and out of the school. The lock-out room was at the far side of the school and had a letter combination lock on it.
Children were also given rules of what not to touch such as fire alarms, light switches and fire extinguishers.
Before doing this team game everyone ate lunch then went outside to burn off some excess energy.
The children went to the gym next to play a game called Epic Battle of Rock, Scissors, Paper. The children were divided into four teams and had a colour put on the back of their hand.
Two of the teams were sent to one side of the gym and the other two to the opposite side.
There were hula hoops on the floor going from one group to the other. One child from each side hopped through the hoops until they met up. Then they did Rock, Paper, Scissors. The winner kept hopping until they met a new opponent. The loser went to the opposite team. This could be an everlasting game and the children loved it.
As this game was continuing a certain coloured team was being removed to go through the two haunted hallways to find the five clues to get through the locked room. Forsyth, with his jack o’lantern mask on, put the team into the first hallway.
The decorations, blinking lights, and scary music provided a spooky atmosphere. The final clue was three Scrabble letters found inside a pumpkin with its “intestines” left in. The students had been warned they might have to get messy!
It was great to see how well the Vavenby and Blue River school children worked and played together.
On Oct. 31 there was a class full of unrecognizable children and adults at the school—it was Halloween and everyone came dressed up for it.
That night was the Halloween party at the community hall sponsored by the Vavenby Trails and Recreation Society.
The doors opened at 6:30 p.m. There were hot dogs, hot chocolate, and coffee for everyone. People payed by donation. Rick Dee of Dee’s Store in Birch Island donated the wieners.
There was costume judging by age groups: 0 – 5, 6 – 10, 11 – 16, and 17 – 107.
Barb Pennell made 85 “witches cauldrons.”
These were covered baskets filled with different items. Everyone in costume got one, but the judges – Sandra Graffunder and Dave Stewart – picked the top three costumes for each age group. These winners received cauldrons with some special items in them.
For once it wasn’t raining or snowing on Halloween so everyone could go out to enjoy the bonfire put on and watched over by the Vavenby fire department.
The department also set off fireworks at the thrift store across the street. Sadly it was difficult to see the erupting lights because it was so foggy that night. The TNRD gave a donation towards the cost of the fireworks.
The Beware the Toilet ended up in the community hall as part of the Hallowe’en decorations. The total amount raised with this toilet was $495.
This money is to go towards buying more outdoor equipment for the school.
