School Parade Flies Balloons Over State St.

Aaliyah Staton cheered on her son, Kai, and her niece, Cherish, as they marched in Booker T. Washington Academy’s first-ever Balloons Over State Street celebration. 

That was the scene last Wednesday as K‑4 students and families from the 804 State St. charter school brought out the balloons and walked around their school building in true Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade fashion. The local parade was organized by science educator Kate O’Donnell, and had a theme of ​“Choose Joy.” 

Each class decorated balloons inspired by everything from Minions to the beach to Thanksgiving turkeys to Pokemon. Students then showed off their pieces of balloon art while parading around the building as 15 parents took photos and cheered.

“When you’re a kid you love support and can easily get discouraged when someone is not around for you,” Staton said, in reference to her son, who is in kindergarten, and her niece, who is in third grade. ​“I always wanted to be a parent and aunty that shows up because it helps them when they get older. Confidence needs to be built up.” 

She concluded that she’s enjoyed being a parent at Booker T. Washington Academy — a charter school now in its 11th year — because the school keeps parents informed and included in school activities. 

John Taylor, the founding principal of the school and its current executive director, told the Independent Wednesday that parent involvement is the school’s mantra. 

The best way to get the students excited and curious about learning, Taylor and O’Donnell agreed, is by encouraging parent partnerships with the school so students are motivated to excel. 

O’Donnell was inspired to host the event after reading the book ​“Balloons Over Broadway” with her students. Students decorated their balloons the day before. Families donated materials to their students’ classrooms for the school-wide activity.

This year is O’Donnell’s first year at the elementary school. She previously taught at Booker T. Washington Academy Middle School in Hamden. She’s been an educator working throughout Connecticut for a total of 30 years. 

Wednesday’s celebration was also a part of the school’s years-long efforts to reduce its student chronic absenteeism rate. The elementary school has been doing so by hosting fun learning celebrations the day before a school break to avoid dips in attendance. Last year, the school decreased its chronic absenteeism by 9 percent, Family & Community Engagement Manager Kenneth Joseph reported. 

This year the school hosts monthly STEM activities, particularly before breaks, to encourage students to come to class, and to urge parents to get their kids to school to avoid missing out on school-wide celebrations.