Posts Tagged ‘Halloween’

A Hurricane Happening and Delmar’s First Halloween

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

School is reopening after being closed for a week due to Hurricane Sandy. Coach Campbell is out front, taking big bags of garbage out to the dumpster as some of the “Can Do” Kids walk up and call out…

“Hey Coach! Whatch’ya doing?

“Hey guys,” answers Coach. “I am just about finished cleaning up the yard out back, lots of tree branches came down during the hurricane. The yard had to be cleared, and made safe, before we can go back there and play.

How are you guys? Did you make it through Hurricane Sandy OK?”

Hector answered first, saying, “Yeah, I’m OK. We lost electricity for a while, that was horrible. No computer, no TV. Ugh!

Arthur J. added, “My grandmother’s basement flooded, but she is OK.”

Then Katie chimed in, “The hurricane ruined our Halloween trick or treating!!”

Coach smiled and said, “Well now, I am glad you all made it through OK, and if missing Halloween trick or treating is the worst of it, then you were lucky. Lots of folks lost everything.”

Annie asked, “What about you Coach? WHAT ABOUT DELMAR?!? Was he OK?”

“Delmar was fine, said Coach. “He didn’t like the big winds too much, but once he was back inside, he settled down and was his normal self.

Orrie asked, “Did Delmar have Halloween?”

Coached chuckled and said, “As a matter of fact, he sort of did. No trick or treating, but he went to a local kids Halloween parade. He wore his special pumpkin sweater too.”

Bobby butted in asking, “Did he have fun? Did he get any treats?”

Coach answered, “Oh sure, tons of fun, but no treats. Candy is no good for puppies, and chocolate is a huge NO-NO. Dogs are allergic to chocolate, so no Halloween treats for Delmar.

But, that’s OK, I think he enjoyed sniffing all of the downed tree branches a lot more than the parade. I mean, when else can you sniff the top of a tree without having to climb the tree?”

“Ha, ha…good one Coach,” said Bobby. “Did you take any pictures?”

Coach nodded saying, “Oh boy, you bet I did.”

Bobby looked at Coach’s pictures and said, “Wow, that’s a lot of kids at the Halloween parade. Sure wish parts of my Halloween weren’t cancelled.”

Coach nodded and answered, “Well, that is tough. Halloween is a real fun holiday, but sometimes we don’t get to do what we want. Sometimes, we lose…and I don’t just mean losing as in playing a game.

You lost part of Halloween, but there will be next year, and many years after that of Halloween. Try to remember how lucky you are that you did not lose your home, your toys, or even you entire neighborhood.”

Hector nodded saying, “Yeah, I saw some pictures on TV. It looks real bad.”

Coach agreed, “It is, and in the coming months there will be lots of chances for you to help. Next week we are collecting clothes to send to those who lost their homes. Also, starting next week, you may see some new faces around here. Some kids that lost their schools will be coming to schools near here.”

The “Can Dos” all looked at each other and then seemed to all say at once, “Really, new kids?”

“Yup, and they will need new friends to help them out,” answered Coach.

Annie added, “Maybe we could have a Hurricane-Halloween Party?”

“You know, that might not be such a bad idea,” said Coach.

Coach left them with something to think about, asking, “What other ideas do you guys have about what we can do to help out the new kids coming to our school next week?”

Story by: Ned Campbell

Tags: back to school, Can Do Kids, Coach Campbell, Good Choices, Halloween, Hurricane Sandy, trick or treat
Posted in "Can Do" Kids, Annie, Arthur J, back to school, Bobby, Delmar, Good Choices, Halloween, Halloween fun, Hector, Hurricane Sandy, Kathy, Orrie, trick or treating, Willie | No Comments »

The Halloween that Almost Wasn’t

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

There was no school on the day before Halloween and the electric company said there would be no school on Halloween.

When Hurricane Sandy hit “Can Do” Street, everyone was prepared to be safe and they were. Oh, there were problems…some streets flooded and a few basements of houses, some homes even lost electrical power for a day or so. But all in all, most problems were fixable. Well, almost all problems. You see the school had to close, because the lights went out.

The Can Dos” were really disappointed! No school! Most times they would be happy to hear…No school, but not on Halloween.

What about the costume parade, the prize for best costume, the Halloween games?

Not only was there no school, there would be no house to house trick or treating. The mayor had announced that some of the streets were in darkness and some streets had trees down…not safe conditions for walking from house to house.

Miss Sue, the director of the “Can Do” Street Community Center, came to the rescue. The day before Halloween, some of the parents came in to decorate the center. The seniors club made up treat bags and made Halloween cupcakes and punch.

Halloween Day dawned gray and misty, but the “Can Dos’ were glad they had somewhere to go to celebrate a favorite holiday.

The festivities began at 2PM with a costume parade all around the center. After the parade the judges gave prizes for the best costumes. Willie won for being an M&M. Maria won for being Dora the Explorer. Bobby thought he would win for coming as Sponge Bob Square pants, but there were several kids who wore that costume, so…he didn’t win.

After that there was a Halloween play staring Nellie and Hector.

Then it was time for the cupcakes, the fruit punch and Halloween songs and poems.

Just as they were getting ready to leave, the “Can Dos” were told to line up and pass in front of the line of parents grandparents and neighbors standing by the door. Imagine how surprised the “Can Dos” were when each adult dropped a Halloween treat in the baskets!

Well…it sure was a different kind of Halloween but all the “Can Dos’ agreed it was a good one.

Tags: Can Do Kids, community center, Good Choices, Halloween, Halloween poems, Halloween songs, punch and cupcakes, trick or treat
Posted in "Can Do" Kids, Bobby, can do kids in school, community center, cupcakes, Halloween, Halloween fun, Hector, Hurricane Sandy, Maria, Miss Sue, punch, senior center, treat bags, trick or treating, What Can a "Can Do" Do? | No Comments »

Halloween in the Olden Days

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Grandpa John and Grandpa Dooley were carving pumpkins for the Halloween party at the “Can Do” Street Community Center.

They didn’t notice a few of the “Can Dos” coming into the room. They were busy talking about what Halloween was like when they were kids.

Once the “Can Dos” realized what the grandpas were talking about, they ducked behind a pile of decorations so they wouldn’t be seen but could hear what the grandpas were saying.

“Do you remember the Halloween songs we used to sing and the poems we used to recite in the Halloween plays and skits we had in school on Halloween day,” asked Grandpa Dooley. “Hmm,” said Grandpa John, “I don’t remember any poems but I do remember a song we used to sing.”

That’s funny,” said Grandpa Dooley,”I don’t remember any songs, but I do remember a poem.”

Just as they were starting to share what they remembered, one of the “Can Dos” coughed. “Whose there called out Grandpa John ?” Hector, Willie Nellie and Annie came out from behind the pile of decorations. Grandpa Dooley asked, “Were you eavesdropping on us?” “HUH,” said Hector,”What’s that?”

Grandpa Dooley answered, “Eavesdropping is doing what you just did. It’s when you hide out so you can hear what someone is saying and they don’t know you are there.” The “Can Dos” got red in the face and looked embarrassed. Hector spoke for all of them when he said, “We’re sorry. We just wanted to hear what Halloween was like in the olden days.”

Both grandpas smiled at each other and Grandpa Dooley said, “Grandpa John, should we share the song and the poem we remember from when we were their age?”

Grandpa John said, “I’ll go first. Every Halloween we would have an all day event at school. There would be square dancing, storytelling by the teachers and the principal would give each child a small box of Halloween candies. Then certain children were called on to recite a poem or sing a song.

I sang Pumpky Pumpkin. It went like this…

The candlelight inside him makes his eyes light up and gleam; he shines right through the window at you for a happy, happy Halloween.

Oh, Pumpky Pumpkin is a happy pumpkin and do you know why, cause he’s a Jack’o Lantern instead of being a pumpkin pie.”

The “Can Dos” all clapped and asked him to sing more of the song. “Sorry,” said Grandpa John, “But that is all I remember.”

Then Grandpa Dooley recited his poem.

“It must be Halloween.”

It must be Halloween, for when I passed him by

A Jack’ o Lantern smiled at me and winked his yellow eye.

He grinned with all his teeth, from high upon the shelf

I didn’t feel afraid because I’d cut him out myself.

“Wow,” said Willie. “I guess you did have Halloween fun in the olden days!”

A message from Grandpa John and Grandpa Dooley, Why not ask your grandparents and parents what they did on Halloween?

Tags: Can Do Kids, community center, Good Choices, Grandpa Dooley, Grandpa John, Halloween, Hector
Posted in "Can Do" Kids, decorations, Good Choices, good manners, Grandpa Dooley, Grandpa John, Halloween, Jack' o Lantern, listening, olden days, Pumpky Pumpkin | No Comments »

Be Safe and Have Fun on Halloween

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

The “Can Do” kids want to share their Halloween safety tips with you so you are sure to be safe and have fun on Halloween.

Be sure to have a snack or dinner before you go trick or treating so you won’t be tempted to eat anything from your treat bag until you get home
Don’t complain when your parents want to add some reflective tape on your costume. It will help drivers see you as you walk along a dark road
Wear face paint and a hat and not a mask, since masks can make it hard to see, especially on dark roads.
If you are with a group, with one or two parents, stay with the group, don’t wander off
Don’t go into someone’s house unless your parent goes with you.
Be respectful…say thank you for the treat, whatever it is, even if it is not a favorite of yours. You can always trade with a friend later or the next day.
Once you get home, let your parents inspect everything you have in your treat bag to make sure it is safe to eat. They will check to make sure that all the candies are popular, well known candies that they recognize from the grocery store and they are all unopened and well sealed.
Be sure not to share any small treats or toys with a younger brother or sister, as they might choke on them.
Don’t eat too much candy at once. You will only have tummy troubles later on and that is no way to end a fun Halloween.

Tags: Can Do Kids, community center, Halloween, Halloween Candy, Halloween costumes, trick or treat
Posted in "Can Do" Kids, Be Safe, candy, Halloween, Halloween fun, safety tips | No Comments »

Halloween Computer Matching Games

Friday, October 19th, 2012

The “Can Do” Kids, burst into the computer lab just as Miss Pat was putting the finishing touches on the Halloween games she promised them in home room that morning.

“Take your seats at your computer stations and beginning playing the Halloween matching games,” said Miss Pat.

The “Can Dos” scrambled to get to their seats and followed Miss Pat’s directions to find the Halloween games.

Why not play along? Just go to the “Can Do”: Club House, choose games and choose Halloween games.

Have fun with the Halloween Games!

Tags: Can Do Kids, games, Good Choices, Halloween, Halloween games, matching games, miss pat, teacher pat
Posted in "Can Do" Kids, can do kids in school, computer, computer games, decorations, Good Choices, graphics, Halloween, Miss Pat, Teacher Pat, Uncategorized | No Comments »