1 of 5

HIS students show off their “Unique Me” projects on Tuesday, Oct. 31, as the school celebrated Parenting Day. (Reporter Photo/Keith McCoy)

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Halloween was an eventful day for students and their family members at Helena Intermediate School on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

In addition to celebrating Halloween, the school held a “Parenting Day” as October has been designated as Alabama’s statewide parent visitation month.

Teachers and administrators at Helena Intermediate cordially invited parents to visit the school on Oct. 31, as two parenting workshops were available, students showed off their “Unique Me” projects, a pajama read-a-thon book fair took place and a bloodmobile was on school property for anyone wishing to donate blood to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Second, third and fourth grade students displayed their “Unique Me” projects in their classrooms as the poster board projects depicted a student’s name, background information, hobbies and interests and what makes them special.

Parents and students rotated to different classrooms to find out more about each individual student and how they’re special in their own unique ways.

“The ‘Unique Me’ presentations are something that the students worked on at home and they just show how everyone is unique in different ways,” Helena Intermediate fourth grade teacher Lesley Whipple said. “The projects just show off their unique qualities.”

Poster boards depicted student interests in sports, dancing, video games, art, gaming, comics, ability to speak foreign languages, family traditions and more.

In addition to the projects, parents had the option to attend two different workshops. The first focused on a discussion of current trends in family values and parenting styles and their effect on children’s mental health led by Licensed Professional Counselor Alexis Sapp. The second workshop focused on fun ways for parents to read with their child to help them develop as a reader led by HIS Administrative Assistant Amanda Hamm.

In between the workshops, a book fair was set up in the school library as parents and students could purchase a wide selection of fiction, non-fiction and best-selling books, posters, notebooks and more.

Helena Intermediate School Principal Kathy Paiml came to school dressed in her ninja turtle costume and was seen giving blood and participating in all the day’s activities.

Helena Intermediate has another fun event planned the week of Oct. 30, as a food truck rally has been set for Thursday, Nov. 2 between 4-8 p.m.

More Helena

Shelby County Schools receives A on state report card

Chris VanCleave resigns from Helena City Council

Pelham asks Helena for $1.5M for flyover project

Inaugural Shelby County Schools Duals Tournament set for Nov. 16