Christmas fashion took over the halls of Rhodes School Friday as teachers trotted out their best ugly holiday sweaters.
Rhodes School Superintendent Jim Prather and two police officers judged the school’s fifth annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest. On the morning of Dec. 16, the judges went to the classroom of each teacher who participated in the contest — which was the majority of the school.
The sweaters were judged on everything that makes a holiday sweater ugly, including color, stitching, buttons, noise and lights.
Frank Monacella, who teaches science, math and technology classes at the school, had small holiday lights blinking on his sweater. He also had a Christmas stocking sewn to his sweater, which was filled with small candy canes that he passed out willingly.
“I bought this at the secondhand shop and my wife helped put the stocking on it,” he said.
Matt Downs, who teaches the sixth grade at the school, turned the sweater he purchased at Goodwill into sheet music, attaching felt music notes and actual bells to the sweater.
“The notes are from the song ‘Silver Bells’ and I safety-pinned down the various ‘silver bells’ on the sweater,” he said.
Elmwood Park Police Officer Julie Tsagalis has judged the contest since it started at the school. She said competition was stiff in this year’s contest.
“It was hard,” she said. “They have to stand out to me. I like the bling, the lights, the noisemakers.”
After a bit of deliberation, the judges decided on the winners. The first place winner takes ownership of a trophy, which will be passed down to next year’s winner. Everyone who placed also received gift cards.
Fifth-grade teacher Aaron Dembrowski took first place, physical education teacher Sean Sheridan took second place, and first-grade teacher Katie Bryk came in third place.
Monacella and physical education teacher Jim Arendt received honorable mentions.