2-12-10 TS Cooley's Mardi Gras Spirit
Friends:
On Friday, I visited T.S. Cooley Magnet Elementary School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was the Friday before Mardi Gras and the school was celebrating “Louisiana Day.” The school was decked out in Mardi Gras decorations and the students wore purple, green and gold.
I had two assemblies: one for K-2 and one for grades 3-5. First, it was the little ones. I told the story, “The Frog and the Cajun Princess,” a fractured tale and parody of “The Frog Prince.” Then, with help from audience members, I sang, “Thibodaux Lived Near the Bayou,” an adaptation of “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” I ended with Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach. The kids were so much fun and they loved the stories.
My next assembly was for grades 3-5. I told the same stories except that I replaced the song with a string story, “The Pesky Skeeter” and a demonstration of a string star. The students were so enamored of the string figures that they began using their Mardi Gras beads to form the figures. So I did an impromptu instructional session. They loved it!
2-12-10 A student creates a star from Mardi Gras beads
Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach was also a big hit with the older grades. Afterwards, they told me how much fun they had and that I was the best storyteller they had ever seen. I love my job!
2-12-10 Students grades 3-5 take a picture with Dianne
After my school visit, I had the privilege of lunching with a friend and fellow writer, Cay Gibson. Cay is a columnist with the Lake Charles American Press newspaper and children’s literature expert. She took me to a fabulous local restaurant called Southern Spice. They had the best fried green beans I had ever tasted. Wow!
2-12-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Cay Gibson
Then Cay and I were lucky enough to meet a Mardi Gras queen, the queen of Krewe de La Maison in Lake Charles.
2-12-10 Dianne with the Queen of the Krewe de La Maison in Lake Charles
I really enjoyed my day in Lake Charles. Thank you so much to T.S. Cooley Magnet Elementary, Principal Fritzi Fralick, Renee’ Stump, and Cay Gibson for your hospitality! Laissez les bon temps rouler! Happy Nardi Gras!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
