Students feel extra special on Kentucky Kids’ Day

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009

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Students at Veterans Park Elementary dressed for the all-star theme on Kentucky PTA Kids' Day.

Students at Veterans Park Elementary dressed for the all-star theme on Kentucky PTA Kids' Day.

Students at Veterans Park Elementary dressed for the all-star theme on Kentucky PTA Kids' Day.Local police officers and firefighters came to the pep rally, along with UK mascot Scratch.Teacher Emily Harris rode an equiciser in a brief, simulated horse race. Special guest P.J. Cooksey, a Hall of Fame jockey, praised the VPE students: "If you're a Blue Ribbon school, you're the best in the race!" Rosa Parks Elementary hung a PTA Kids' Day banner in the cafeteria.Kids danced to the "Macarena" and the "Electric Slide" during lunchtime.Hat Day was a big hit at Rosa Parks Elementary, with students wearing everything from a coonskin cap to a wedding veil.Entering Stonewall Elementary, students knew right away it would be a special day.PTA moms prepared enough popcorn for more than 800 individual bags.PTA members gave out smiley-face stickers as children arrived at Stonewall.Kids enjoyed wearing baseball caps all day, even in class!

From all-star treatment to daylong pampering, students across this school district found out how special they are on Kentucky PTA Kids’ Day.

Kids’ Day, which was established by the state’s largest parent organization in 1985, sends the message to each child that he or she is a unique individual who is respected and loved. PTA members in Fayette County marked the day with banners and balloons, celebrating students in fine fashion.

At Veterans Park Elementary, the kids were engulfed by “all-stars” from the University of Kentucky, including the dance team, cheerleaders, softball and baseball players, the Wildcat mascot and women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell.

“There’s tremendous energy in this room, and to be an all-star, you’ll always need that fire,” Mitchell told students gathered for the pep rally.

He encouraged the children to apply themselves in school and follow the three paths of honesty, hard work and discipline.

“If you want to be an all-star, it starts in the classroom,” Mitchell said. “If you want to be a top-notch student, you’ll have to put time into it.”

Perseverance was also the watchword of special guest P.J. Cooksey, whose more than 2,000 career wins make her the second-winningest female jockey ever. She shared a story of how it took her years to break through as a respected rider.

“I learned if you keep working at what you truly believe and truly want, it’ll happen,” she said.

The Veterans Park crowd dressed for the all-star theme with football jerseys, cheerleader outfits and baseball caps. Across town at Rosa Parks Elementary, Hat Day was also a big hit as kids sported tiaras, coonskin caps, cowboy hats, wedding veils and stove-pipe hats, to name a few.

Their festive cafeteria was rocking, too, with the “Electric Slide” and the “Macarena” blaring over the loudspeakers during lunch.

“We try to set up an environment where they can have fun during the day and let down their hair,” said Rosa Parks Principal Leslie Thomas. “It’s all about promoting spirit.”

Stonewall Elementary’s PTA also pulled out the stops to bolster their kids, distributing colorful smiley-face stickers, popsicles and more than 800 bags of popcorn.

“We’re just trying to make them feel special – to give them a day of pampering with all the things they love,” said PTA president Robyn Johnson, adding, “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”