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player ready...Mother Teresa Catholic Academy kindergartner Elsa Sayre was first in line to get her face painted as a local high school continued on Tuesday afternoon a 25-year tradition of hosting a children’s carnival.
Marian Catholic High School, 700 Ashland Ave. in Chicago Heights, opened its doors to kindergartners through second-graders from Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor, Mother Teresa Catholic Academy in Crete and Nazarene Nursery School in Chicago Heights.
It was a day filled with interactive carnival games designed and conducted by Marian student council members and student volunteers.
“The carnival is so much fun,” said Elsa, 5, of Crete. “The face-painting is my absolute favorite part.”
Marian Principal Steve Tortorello said, “This event benefits our local Catholic grade schools by giving their kids a fun afternoon, and it gives our student council members a chance to bring joy to young children through service. It’s a win for everyone. We always get great positive feedback from the guests because this is a unique event that allows the grade school students to mingle with high school students and experience a fun carnival atmosphere on a school day.”
The carnival was free.
“What makes the carnival so exceptional is the interaction between Marian Catholic students and the children from local grammar schools,” said Anthony DeCarlo, Marian’s student council director. “It’s not only fun for the younger children who attend every year, but the Marian students really enjoy it as well.”
After a month of planning, 150 Marian Catholic student council members and student volunteers supervised carnival-themed stations where more than 100 grammar school children enjoyed games, face painting and crafts.
Sporting activities like basketball and volleyball also were available for the youngsters.
“I love working with little kids,” said Marian Catholic junior, Kelly Mindak, 16, of Indiana. “It really warms your heart to see them so happy.”
Each Marian homeroom chose a carnival type game to set up and run for the children, DeCarlo said.
“This is an event to give our students at Marian Catholic an opportunity to give back to the local grammar schools and community (by) working with children,” DeCarlo said. “It is an overall great opportunity creating an entertaining environment for the kids.”
Marian students agreed with the school’s officials that the annual carnival has a positive benefit on everyone involved.
“What makes the children’s carnival so special is the fact that Marian students take time out of their day to lead the activities planned, which results in smiles on the children’s face,” said Marian senior, Phil Faso, 18, of Homewood.
“The carnival is a great experience to see all the kids trying the games that we created for them,” said Marian senior Julia Kapocius, 18, of Chicago Heights.