By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

FORT PLAIN — It was show-and-tell time at the Harry Hoag Elementary School last week as local students took their parents to school.

Angela Aney, who was present at the annual open house event last Thursday with her husband, Michael, said their three children were very excited about the classroom visits.

She said, “They bugged us for a couple days. They asked, ‘Are you coming? Are you coming?’ We stopped at every classroom.”

That was an oft-repeated sentiment. Jeffrey Van Auken, a first-grader in Mr. Lather’s class, and his brother, De’Shawn Congdon, a second-grader in Miss Ponticello’s class, both said they were excited to have their mother come to open house.

De’Shawn said, “I made her a picture of a car. I was able to do it during free time.”

In addition to a self-portrait, Jeffrey had a story to share about himself, his favorite foods, and his brothers and sisters.

Parents in Mrs. Van Gorder’s class had a scavenger hunt.

The mother of one of Van Gorder’s students said, “We went around the room and got to look for the stuff. If I couldn’t find something, my son helped me. It was kind of cool.”

“I helped her with most of it,” the child said.

Nelliston residents Mike and Carol Burns accompanied their pre-kindergarten son, Ian, to his classroom.

Carol said her son’s teacher had “books” for each of the parents: “They colored their favorite color and drew pictures of it. They had other drawings displayed,” she said.

Mike said, “Most importantly, we got to meet the other kids and the parents.”

Parents even had an opportunity to meet their children’s “specials” teachers. For example, library media specialist Jeff Jones said parents steered to the library by their children had an opportunity to learn about the interactive Smart Board. He also talked to parents about the location of books in the library as well as ways in which research is done on the computers.

Tracey Reese was one of the parents winding his way to the library. While his fifth-grade twins, Jenna and Ethan, were engrossed with the Smart Board, the 1990 Fort Plain High School graduate said, “The technology at the school is so different than when I went here.”

He said the highlight of the open house for him was “seeing how well the children are doing.”

Stephanie Rogers, the secretary of the Fort Plain Parent-Teacher Association, was selling memberships and spirit wear with group treasurer Becky Logan.

As the event was drawing to a close, she commented on the good turnout. “There’s been lots of parents,” she said.

More images in the Seen section.