Having a fair bit of fun
By Chris Simon

Students at Cookstown Central Public School celebrated Halloween last week, with an annual fun fair featuring games, treats and a costume parade. Parents Photo by Chris Simon and staff also had an opportunity to participate in a silent auction, with proceeds being donated to the school. The event is one of the school's largest fundraisers.

Tykes to teens appeared in their Halloween costumes at Cookstown Central Public School last week, as part of the school's annual fun fair.

Several hundred students, parents and staff participated in the event, by playing games, marching in a costume parade or bidding in a silent auction. Kids paid money to play mini putt, colour, get tattoos or pumpkin bob, as adults bid on a variety of items ranging from sports tickets and jerseys to gift baskets and business services.

The event is one of the school's largest fundraisers, said Grade 5 teacher and organizer Amanda Emerton.

"It's just basically a fun day where we have students come to school, if they want to dress up in their Halloween costumes, they can. Otherwise, they just walk around the school and participate in fun activities," she said. "Our goal is to raise money for the school. We've got no target goal, just to raise money to help out in various areas."

Photo by Susan Stein Colin Partridge stands with a sculpted cougar at Cookstown Central Public School last week.

All auction items were donated by community members, said Emerton.

"The adults (were) invited to come in," she said. "They (could) bid on items. It's a huge fundraiser for us."

School appeared to be the last thing on the students' minds, as many were just hours away from trick or treating.

Some dressed as comic books heroes like Wolverine and Superman, others donned princess and skeleton attire.

Thus, the event gives students a chance to have fun, and positively release their pent up excitement for the evening ahead, said Emerton.

"It's a good way to spend their energy for the afternoon, she said. "They go home, a lot of them are already dressed in their costumes.

"They just have to have dinner and off they go again to get more sugar."