ELMHURST — Hundreds of students lined up in the hallways of PS 89 the day before Thanksgiving, proudly lifting homemade balloons over their heads for the fifth annual "Balloons Over Britton" parade.
There were Hello Kitty, turkeys and many, many Pokemon — all designed and created by the students in the school's 14 second grade classrooms.
Teacher Maryann Walter began the parade five years ago after her class read "Balloons Over Broadway," a book about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The school is on Britton Avenue.
In their first year, students made their balloons and had a mini parade on the third floor of the school. But each year it grew and now each of the second grade classes take part.
"It has gotten to be a big event, but everybody loves it," Walter said.
The Thanksgiving parade has a special meaning for the school, with the majority of the students being immigrants or the children of immigrants.
The Macy's parade was started by the immigrant employees at the store in 1924, who wanted to celebrate the holiday while incorporating some of the flair of festivals they celebrated back in Europe.
"We learned about the history of the Macy's [Thanksgiving] Day parade, and immigration, and it was just perfect for our population here because we're all immigrants," Walter said.
Many of her students aren't aware of the holiday and learn about it in their second grade class.
After their pair up with another classmate, they decide on a balloon design, building it in class with paper, crayons and large rulers.
And the parade itself is a major production, taking the kids inside and outside the school before their Thanksgiving break.
They first march out the large double-doors of the school, past their cheering parents and family members out on to Britton Avenue.
They hook a left down Hampton Street where they walk through their schoolyard, then through the halls of their school, lined with more cheering students.
"Balloons Over Britton" incorporates social studies and literacy, as well as an appreciation for the national holiday — which crosses all religious and ethnic lines, Walter said.
Parents come in the night before to help stuff the balloons, but also write out what they're thankful for.
"We're just trying to teach the student about our holidays, and they go home and teach their families, and everybody has a good time," she said.
