Porterville schools host ghosts and ghouls

From the tiniest of princesses to teenage superheroes, many Porterville students, attired in their best costumes, were treated to a variety of fall-themed activities on their respective school campuses Friday, as a precursor to the Halloween weekend.

Pumpkin patch

Throughout the week, pumpkin patches like the one located Friday at Westfield Elementary School festooned campuses and classrooms with costumed school children carrying pumpkins.

Westfield received 650 pumpkins from Changala’s Farms, all of which were taken home by students after they chose their favorite out of the picnic area where they were kept.

Each class walked through the pumpkin patch, learned about different kind of gourds and competed in an exercise competition with stuffed pumpkins.

The favorite aspect of the activity for second grader Lucas Walker was “getting the pumpkin,” he said.

He said he chose his specifically because he liked how it was covered in little bumps: “It has warts!” he said.

His classmate Erica Lopez said she chose hers because it “had less dirt” than the others.

Parent volunteer Monique Page, who has three children who attend Westfield, manned the gourd identification station where students were asked to identify the different vegetables through clues about their color and weight.

The event is sponsored by the Network for a Healthy California and tries to tie academic learning into the fun of picking out pumpkins.

“They’ve definitely turned it into something educational,” Page said about the pumpkin patch.

Westfield teacher Sue Qualseth, who played the lead organizational role in the fall fun day, said convenience is a nice aspect of the annual event.

“Now, our classes don’t have to take a trip to the pumpkin patch. The pumpkin patch comes here,” she said.

Preschool fest

Between face painting and a cakewalk, preschooler Angelina Gallegos couldn’t wait to explore the rest of the Happy Hearts Children’s Center October Fest.

“Can I go play?” she repeatedly asked her mother, Josephine, who was helping out in the room set aside for the cakewalk.

“Whatever they want me to do, I help out,” Gallegos said.

Each of the children got to bring home a cake, many of which were homemade by parent volunteers.

Angelina showed off a red and orange butterfly painted on her right cheek and the fur hand warmer that came with her princess costume.

Happy Hearts owner Holly Oliveira said the event is in its 10th year.

Though her students milled around in costumes ranging from a doctor to Superman, she said she doesn’t have a costume contest.

“I don’t have a competition so feelings don’t get hurt. Everyone looks perfect,” Oliveira said.

She said she likes to make the event a hybrid celebration welcoming the fall season and the Halloween holiday.

Spooky fundraiser

Volunteers also gave their time to put on a well-attended fundraiser at the Mathews campus of Summit Charter Academy.

According to parent Sherri Maita, the haunted house alone raised $1,100 last year.

She said the turnout this year looked to surpass the previous years’.

“Each class organizes their own booth. It’s good for kids to get to do,” she said.

Maita said the event was open to the Porterville community as a wholesome holiday activity.

“It’s safe. No poison candy or anything,” she joked.

Another parent volunteer, Rebecca Kirkpatrick, ran a miniature golf stand for a fifth grade class.

“It’s my third year [volunteering],” she said.

Kirkpatrick said the event usually draws a large crowd and is therefore a good fundraiser.

The money raised by each class is used to help defray the costs of field trips and class supplies, among other needs.

Tenth grader Vanessa Nuñez, a SCA, Redwood campus student, dressed up as an officer from the Department of Corrections for the festival.

She attended the night’s “spookghetti” dinner and said it was her favorite aspect of the festival.

-- Contact Sarah de Crescenzo at 784-5000, Ext. 1045 or sdecrescenzo@portervillerecorder.com.