Freaky happenings unite a local school
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Hudson - Since Jodi Fortuna took over as principal at Forest Avenue Elementary School in Hudson this year, things have gotten, well, they've gotten just a little bit freakier.

Freaky Fridays at Forest Avenue are designed to get the entire school involved in a fun activity at the same time, something Fortuna said is perfect to increase school spirit and the kids' interest in learning.

"We want kids to view school as a fun, safe place that's enjoyable to be at," she said, "so we do wacky things and we have a lot of fun with it."

Among the Freaky Friday themes the school will see this year are Literacy Character Day, Crazy Hat Day, Backwards Day, Wacky Hair Day, Mismatch Day and "Book Out" Freaky Beach Party Day.

Looking around the school during Literacy Character Day, you would have thought the school was holding a Halloween party in February. But looking closer, you realize that gone are the monsters, vampires and witches; in their places are the Man in the Yellow Hat from "Curious George," Jack from the Magic Tree House series, and Alice from "Alice in Wonderland."

(l to r) Forest Avenue Elementary School Principal Jodi Fortuna, secondgraders March Calvanese, Brad Connor, Kayla Currin and Domenic Pashalian and secondgrade teacher Alexanne Whitney gather during Literacy Character Day Feb. 28. PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ

While some of the events appear more academic on their surface, Fortuna said, all are necessary to create well rounded individuals.

Showing up to school dressed like Chicken Little when a student has no idea what the response will be from classmates could be a terrifying experience for kids. But creating an atmosphere where children are rewarded for their creativity and willingness to be diff erent gives the kids a necessary safety net.

"With so much pressure on kids to conform, this pushes them out of their comfort zone and gets them to take a risk, which is a good thing," Fortuna said. "To be innovative, you need to be a positive risk taker, and this gives them a safe opportunity to take that risk."

The students can participate at any level they choose, so a child who is shyer may only wear a pair of glasses when he dresses as Harry Potter, while other more confident kids may show up in an entire costume, broomstick and all. Fortuna said there's no requirement to participate, but that most children become involved in some way.

Kids aren't the only ones who benefit from the Freaky Friday activities. They also give teachers something fun to look forward to each week, and give them an opportunity to show their students that they can be fun, too.

"This allows the kids to view their teachers through a diff erent lens," Fortuna said. "When kids see adults acting like kids it makes them more than just the person that's in charge of the class. They become part of the school community."

The Freaky Friday activities have been going on each Friday since January, but Fortuna said the freaky factor at the school has gotten just a little too high, so they'll be scaling back to one Freaky Friday a month starting in March.