JACKSON, MI – Never mind that there was no sand and the only “sunshine” came from fluorescent lights, Parnall Elementary School students knew they were at the beach on Friday.
Beach Blast, which started out as Fun Fair, is a decade-old springtime tradition at Parnall. It’s planned by first-graders for students in kindergarten and the Young 5s program.
“It’s a day of fun,” said first-grade teacher Tracy Ledford.
Students from Kidder Middle School helped students navigate through 12 stations that included a beach ball bounce, face painting, making noodle necklaces, fishing and digging for treasure.
“I like the face painting,” said 6-year-old kindergartner Jade Grabenhorst, pointing to a rainbow on her cheek. “It’s tickly.”
Even though it’s all about fun, there was some learning going on. Students had to count at some stations, and they worked on social, organizational and problem-solving skills, Ledford said.
It’s the same for the middle school students, said Tina Delbridge, a life management teacher.
“We have a child care unit, and this reinforces what they’ve learned in class and lets them practice it,” Delbridge said. “Plus, they have so much fun helping the younger students.”
Kindergarten teacher Jan Bodenstedt agreed, adding that doing things like this makes Northwest Community Schools’ students feel like family.
“All the kids just love being together,” Bodenstedt said.
When the day was done, about 240 students had been to the “beach.” First-grader Ian Bregg, 7, had a ball, but that wasn’t the important thing, he said.
“It’s about sending smiles to other kids because it’s not all about you,” Ian said. “It’s about other kids having fun.”