Schools
Pets on Parade
The front lot at the Hadley School went to this dogs Tuesday morning, and the kitties, the fish and the turtles, at the annual Pets on Parade event featuring the first graders and their best animal friends.
The first graders were on parade Tuesday morning accompanied by their favorite pets, from a St. Bernard the size of Volkswagen to a little blue fish in his own private bowl.
“All the kids are encouraged to bring their animals to school, they can march with the kids or the kids can bring stuffed animals and march them out in front,” Principal Sandra Rivers said.
Ciara Gosselin was holding on to Big Boo, a large stuffed dog, while she waited for her older sister Lilian to come out and start the parade.
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The parade started over 10 years ago when first grade teachers Mr. Citino and Mrs. Farley began reading pet stories to their classes as part of the literacy program. Donations are collected at the event for “Pennies for Paws,” a program run by the New England Animal Shelter in Salem.
“Last year we collected over 60 dollars, we hope to get close to that this year,” Hadley’s Janelle Cameron said. “The kids will be incorporating the counting of this year’s donations during math classes later in the week.”
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George the cat was on a leash for the first time this morning, with Aaron Roddie on the other end. Aaron’s mom said that George was doing pretty good on the leash heading up to the parade. The Roddie’s adopted six-month old George after a friend found a stray cat with a litter near her home.
Principal Rivers had a stuffed animal that was given to her by members of the staff at Hadley.
“They said it looks like me,” River said of the dog with a cool pair of glasses.
“We’ve been doing this every year since I’ve been here, and it’s great, the kids love it and it’s really nice to see all the pets out here, and it’s a nice way to raise some money for the animal shelter,” Rivers said.
One-year old Guinea Pigs Basil and Clover made the scene with Maddie McDonald, who hopped in line with Lila Page and her turtle Shelby and they all waited for the their turn in the parade.
“It’s a lot of fun and we make an exception to the no animals on school grounds for today and the kids really have a good time,” Rivers said. “In the past we’ve had everything from cats, dogs and fish to everything in between.”
Lynne Farley the first grade teacher who helped get the parade going with Mike Citino said that snakes are always interesting, but the kids really got a kick out of two hermit crabs that showed up one year for the parade.
