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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

LA school mixes empowerment lesson with Halloween parade

The Halloween parade at Gratts Primary Center near downtown L.A. provided students a lesson in dress up and self esteem.
The Halloween parade at Gratts Primary Center near downtown L.A. provided students a lesson in dress up and self esteem.
(
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
)

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At one elementary school west of downtown Los Angeles, this Halloween provided a lesson in dress up and self-esteem.

Teacher Dolores Gallegos lined up 23 first-graders for the Gratts Primary Center Halloween parade. They’re wearing paper masks and capes in yellow, light blue, and pink.

"We told the kids to tap into their own superheroes and what special powers they have, so on their cape is their superpower," she said.

Some are fast as a lightning bolt; others are quick as a skateboard. Zelina Muñoz-Friedman shepherded her kindergarteners to the parade.

"It’s an important classroom lesson because it’s very important for them to know that there are different types of heroes, superheroes in the community besides police officers and fire people," she said.

Daniel’s in her class. He’s wearing a yellow felt mask.

"My costume is about a little bumble bee," he says. Muñoz-Friedman responds, "What’s this one, which one is this one, what did you do?" And Daniel says, "I did it with a sharpie marker."

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And with that he straightened his yellow mask and followed his other superhero friends.

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