Schoolapalooza launches academic year at St. Louise de Marillac
Samantha Vincent, 4, a preschooler at St. Louise de Marillac, enjoys a climb on a rock wall set up as one of the attractions during Schoolapalooza.
Gemma Roman of Canonsburg, a St. Louise de Marillac preschooler, gets ready to have have picture taken in a photo booth while wearing a distinctive pair of shades.
John Hyrb, at St. Louise de Marillac second-grader, enjoys a climb on a rock wall set up as one of the attractions during Schoolapalooza.
Enjoying icy treats at Schoolapalooza are, from left, Jayla and Harper Kendall.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 4 volunteer at Schoolapalooza. From left are Christian McClaine, Adam Kusluch and Paul Belak.
Graham Piner has his face painted by Abby Crookshank.
First-grader Kelly Hyrb climbs the rock wall at Schoolapalooza.
Marco Iafrate of Cecil Township and daughter Sofia, a St. Louise kindergartner, enjoy the evening at Schoolapalooza.
Rocco Romano makes progress on a rope course set up at Schoolapalooza.
Samantha Vincent, 4, a preschooler at St. Louise de Marillac, enjoys a climb on a rock wall set up at Schoolapalooza.
The smoke and accompanying appetizing aromas from a grill told the story that something special was happening at St. Louise de Marillac School in Upper St. Clair.
The third annual Schoolapalooza, a megaparty for students and their families, was held Aug. 26 to welcome everyone back before classes began a couple days later.
“We started it to get new families kind of oriented to our school and feel a little bit more familiar with it before they came in, and it wasn’t overwhelming for the new students,” Kristin Klein of Peters Township, one of the parent organizers, explained.
Her son, Nathan, a St. Louise seventh-grader, joined scores of schoolmates in trying out the activities and attractions that were set up in the back parking lot, from having their faces painted and photos taken to climbing on a rope course and rock wall.
“It has progressively gotten bigger,” Kristie Cobleigh of Canonsburg, another parent organizer, said about the crowd of 700-plus. “Word has spread. The kids who are here year after year, already, really enjoy seeing their friends.”
She has twin sons, Alex and Andrew, going into fourth grade.
“The families just really enjoy getting together and getting to socialize before that craziness of the school year starts, where we see everybody but it tends to be in passing,” she said. “It also gives the new parents an opportunity to meet some parents in their children’s classroom, which is nice.”
Volunteers staff the event each year, including Principal Ken Klase, who spent most of the evening working the grill. Boy Scouts from Troop 4, based at St. Louise, also provided considerable help. And the folks who lent their talents to painting faces included Peters Township High School student Natalie Klein, Kristin’s daughter.
“It’s just a great welcoming event,” Cobleigh said. “We really enjoy being here.”