Time marches on for popular, end-of-school year tradition

Post date: Jun 26, 2018 12:55:28 PM

It probably doesn’t seem possible for many former students and others, but on June 15th, Wells Elementary School’s beloved Colors Day turned 31. As in previous years, there was a morning parade that moved in celebratory fashion around the outside of the school featuring hundreds of students organized by classroom and viewed by a crowd of parents, teachers, school staff and volunteers.

The parade was followed by a large gathering in the school’s courtyard for student recognitions precluded by numerous outside games, banner and songs, culminating a few hours later with a slide show in the school’s gym. This event is now largely organized and sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). This volunteer group, with fundraising, provided t-shirts to each of this year’s 500-plus students and made refreshments available for all attending and participating in Colors Day.

Begun modestly in 1987 by WES Physical Education Teacher Kathy Calo with assistance from then PTSA member Laura Subilla Bell, this event grew significantly over the years but always with the emphasis on the school's core values, teamwork, cooperation, and of course fun for all.

"Over the years, Colors Day has cultivated generations of planning, supporting, and participating. It is an event that truly exemplifies collaboration and highlights the heart of being a child,” commented Calo recently.

As school was being dismissed on June 15th, some of the Colors Day participants posed for a photo at the entrance to WES. With retiring art teacher Sandy Brennan, they are (left to right) Kailyne Twombley, Elliott Kennedy, Sofia Passaretti, Samuel Perry, Owen Zglobicki and Ella Caron. School for these students and their classmates ended for the summer on June 19th

A third-grade classroom of Donna Longley, marching in blue in the 2018 Colors Day Parade at WES. At left wearing a tie dyed t-shirt is Ed Tech Marci Haynes