Harding Students Treat Seniors to a Halloween Performance

First-grade students of Harding Avenue Elementary visited the senior citizens at the Lindenhurst Rainbow Center during the 24th annual Halloween show.

Led by their teachers, Jennifer Cavallaro and Donna Renieris, students paraded in costumes and sang songs including “I’ve Been Working on my Costume” to the familiar tune of I’ve Been Working on the Rail Road.” Students also recited poems such as Five Little Jack-o-lanterns. The senior citizens each received a small pumpkin from the children and were moved by the finale of “Proud to be an American” sung by the students.

“The seniors feel such joy from seeing the young people dress up and perform,” remarked Barbara Poldino, Director of the Rainbow Center, who with retired teacher Mary Pappalardi created the program, and kept it running for 24 consecutive years. “Many of the seniors have grandchildren and great grandchildren who live far away and this becomes the only opportunity they have to experience the excitement of a child on Halloween.”

Photo courtesy of the Lindenhurst School District