 The disco ball is in place, the red, white and blue
stars are hung and the “first family” is ready
to take the stage for the Pepperell Elementary School’s
Inaugural Ball held on Friday, January 23, 2009. The
students at PES are celebrating the nation’s newly
elected President with a festive “ball” where
students dress in their finest attire (blue jeans to black
tie) and enjoy food, fun, and festive music! A brass
ensemble from Pepperell High School, under the direction
of Mr. Bob Steelnack, begins the event with their rendition
of “Hail to the Chief” as the students arrive
in the gym after school for the event.
Sain Alanis, a PES student portraying President Elect
Barack Obama, will address the students joined by Madi Wolfe,
a PES student, portraying the new first lady. These
fifth grade Kaleidoscope students were elected to serve as
the Democratic Presidential Nominee and his wife during the
Kaleidoscope students’ “Road to the White House” unit
studied in the fall. After learning about America’s
election process, the fourth and fifth grade Kaleidoscope
students presented a “mock election” for the
entire student body as their culminating project, complete
with campaigning on the daily morning news shows, speeches
from both Republican and Democratic candidates, registration
of all students, and campaign posters displayed throughout
the school halls. On election day, the students came
to the “polls” in the computer lab during part
of their activity for that day and voted for their candidate
of choice.
Not only will this be a lasting memory for all of
the students during this historical election year, it will
also serve as a fund raiser to help cover transportation
costs for students to attend the King Tut Exhibit in Atlanta
at the Atlanta Museum of Fine Arts. All PES 4th and
5th grade students will have an opportunity to view the King
Tut Exhibit this spring. Complimentary tickets were
obtained for the 500 students by Mrs. Kathy Steinbruegge,
principal or Pepperell Elementary, and Mrs. Linda Franklin,
4th grade teacher at PES. The two were one of the first
to requesting the “first come, first served” tickets
offered by the organization at www.kingtut.org. The
tickets are normally $15/student, but were obtained, at their
request and at no cost for all students at PES.
In order to raise funds for the transportation costs
(approximately $3,400), PES’ Kaleidoscope teacher,
Ms. Judy Rigas, suggested the idea of hosting the Inaugural
Ball. Rigas said, “The students are very excited
to be able to celebrate this historical election year with
a festive party complete with patriotic, sequined top hats,
strands of pearls, good food, and lots of fun and fellowship! It
will be a great way to celebrate with our nation and help
raise money for this extraordinary opportunity to view this ‘once
in a lifetime’ exhibit in Atlanta!”
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