Into the spirit

Deirdre Newman

Hannah Hagemann radiated royalty as she gracefully sashayed around

the Eastbluff playground in her Renaissance maiden dress.

Dressed in a long gown of deep purple and rich pink with

long-flowing sleeves that flowed in the wind, Hannah participated in

a Halloween parade Thursday with other Eastbluff Elementary School

students.

The school’s parade let students revel in their costumed glory and

parents enjoy the kid-oriented holiday.

“I thought it looked pretty, and I haven’t been a princess for a

long time,” Hannah said.

After the parade, the decibel level in Maggie Kenney’s classroom

resembled a heavy metal concert. Her 33 fourth-graders couldn’t wait

to decorate their ghost-shaped sugar cookies with various decadent

toppings. Some of the students quickly unzipped, dismantled and

tossed aside their costumes so they wouldn’t be encumbered while

decorating their cookies.

“They were really contained until they went out,” Kenney said.

“They’re excited from the beginning of the day because of the

parade.”

Samantha Gail did not waste any time with the intricacies of

decorating her cookie. As other students at her table were grabbing

for the raisins, M&Ms; and other toppings, Gail, 9, was content to

give her cookie a good slathering of frosting and dig in.

“It’s yummy,” Gail enthused.

Kenney said the creative atmosphere of the day was important for

the kids.

“For the spirit, and for allowing kids to be kids,” Kenney said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.