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- Dec 8, 2022

Mayes Parade kicks off Holiday Season

Ask anyone who’s attended both the Mayes holiday parade in Denison and the Macy’s one in New York City, and you’ll quickly learn that Mayes is by far the best when it comes to creativity, excitement and lots of down-home fun.

Mayes Elementary 2nd Graders recently hosted their annual “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade before heading off to Thanksgiving Break. The first order of business for the 2nd graders: to complete a book study on “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet. The book is a true story about the famous Puppeteer Tony Sarg and the history of the Macy’s Day Parade.

After a week of learning how this famous parade started and even going behind the scenes on the Macy’s website to see how the balloons are designed and created today, the second graders were instructed to design a balloon creation, a window display, or a float.

“Besides those instructions, the sky was the limit and these 2nd graders went above and beyond,” said 2nd grade teacher Lacie Lowing. “With all the other Mayes students, teachers and visitors lining the halls cheering them on & principals Natalie Hicks & Amanda Gunter serving as parade “announcers” …these students proudly displayed their hard-work down the Mustang Trails of Mayes Elementary!”

According to the kids, the parade projects were full of fun challenges. One student commented, “My mom and I popped A-LOT of balloons before we figured it out, but we just kept trying!” Another student said, “I tried to make my balloon with wooden sticks to hold it up just like the book said Tony Sarg did in the first parade!” Yet another student commented, “There were a lot of cool floats our classmates made with animals because the Macy’s parade used to have real zoo animals in it!”

Principal Hicks called it the perfect way to kick off the holidays. “It is just so heart-warming to look around and see all the bright eyes and happy smiles. This is what Christmas is all about…the true joy of the season reflected on the faces of our children.”

Mayes students radiated excitement as they prepared for their 2nd Annual “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade before heading home for Thanksgiving Break.

Cheers erupted throughout Mayes hallways as Santa waved to the throngs of students, staff and visitors gathered to enjoy the 2nd Annual “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade.

Mayes students displayed hundreds of balloon creations during this year’s 2nd annual “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade. The Mayes Parade concluded a week-long book study on “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet, which is based on a true story about the famous Puppeteer Tony Sarg and the history of the Macy’s Day Parade.

Mayes Elementary’s annual “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade featured dozens of hand-made floats, displays and balloon creations.

Two Mayes second graders proudly showed off their hand-made parade creations as they lined up for the “Balloons Over 2nd Grade” holiday parade. “This is what Christmas is all about…the true joy of the season reflected on the faces of our children,” said Mayes Principal Natalie Hicks.