Their first real (sort of) snow

At the Lake View School’s Winter Carnival, kids get a chance to frolic in the white stuff and have their faces painted.For many of the children, the Lake View School’s Winter Carnival gave them a first chance to see snow.

While it may have only been a minimal amount of the man-made variety, the Dec. 14 event brought smiles of delight to the children’s faces, even as they waited in the seemingly endless line to take a short sled ride.

“We wanted to do something fun for the holiday,” said Huntington Beach resident Allison Palmer, Parent and Teacher Organization co-president. “It’s fun for the kids, that’s all it is.”

The PTO has organized the Winter Carnival for the past three years. And there’s more than just the sled ride and a snowman. Students and their families partake in a number of arts and crafts activities; get their faces painted; visit with Santa and take pictures; and shop at the numerous vendors selling gift items. The second-grade students entertained the crowd by singing Christmas carols.

Palmer called it a team effort. Many parents volunteer during the carnival, selling baked goods or keeping an eye on the children.

“We have a very active school,” she said. “Everybody participates.”

The carnival is usually scheduled on a Wednesday because the students have a half-day. Many families leave for vacation the week before Christmas, which is why they hold it a couple of weeks in advance.

Debbie Gendreau of Huntington Beach, whose daughter is in the first grade at Lake View, set up a table in the boutique area and sold Cookie Lee jewelry. She said she enjoys the festival and the children enjoy playing in the snow.

“I think it’s great; we’re having a great time,” said Huntington Beach’s Jodi Wiedemann. Her daughter, kindergarten student Taylor Wiedemann, was getting her face painted before having her photo taken with Santa.

“It’s really nice to see all the families coming to the school,” said Kellie Rathbun of Huntington Beach, whose daughter Hannah Rathbun is in second grade at the school.

Lake View Principal Colette Wright said she was pleased with the turnout for the carnival. She estimated that roughly 80% of the students and their families turned out to celebrate.

Though the carnival is in its third year, this is only the second year the school has had snow, Wright said.

“We added the snowman and now we’re having to guard him,” she said, gesturing toward the parent volunteer in charge of keeping the children from throwing snowballs at one another.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM covers education and public safety. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.

20051222irtwtmncDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Zachary Babinski, right, enjoys the rare opportunity to throw a snowball in Huntington Beach during the Winter Carnival at Lake View School.