PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On Halloween, students at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School got a different kind of grade.
Superintendent Tony Watlington was there to judge their costumes.
“We’re not just focused on improving test scores, but we’re making sure that we’re having enriching opportunities for our young people,” Watlington told reporters before the event. “And one of our core values is joy.”
Students dressed as brides, cheerleaders, Super Mario, and even oversized animals crowded into the school’s Halloween assembly early Tuesday to watch Watlington evaluate the students’ costumes as they stepped up to the stage.
“Certainly I’m going to be looking at creativity — I’ll be looking at originality,” he said. “And then I just want to see if there’s anything unique and different from anybody else.”
Winners were chosen in four categories: Scariest, funniest, most creative and best group. The best costumes were determined by how loud classmates screamed and applauded. The crowd loved sophomore Gabe Hedgepeth’s living dead getup.
“I kind of wanted to do something with a zombie, like something dead,” Hedgepeth said. “That’s kind of what I based it off of.”
Half of his mouth was immobilized by a mask of fake torn-away flesh, making it difficult to speak.
“It’s kind of challenging; I’ve been playing, kind of like charades all day!” he said.
Gabe says the sacrifice is worth it, though, for a chance to have a little fun in school.
Ninth grader Olivia Carter, who dressed up as rapper Soulja Boy, received a deafening response.
“I had a summer intensive class and we did like a dance comp with Soulja Boy, and that really, like, inspired my costume,” she said. “So I was like, let me just be Soulja Boy this year and be funny and stuff.”
Watlington said academics are fundamental, but on days like Halloween, it’s equally important for students to just have fun.