Schools

PHOTOS: Van Cortlandtville Students Dress as Famous Figures to Host Government Tea

The students shared interesting facts about the characters they dressed as with parents and local government officials.

Getting into character requires an actor to study his subject well, which is just what students did Tuesday morning.

Five classes of fifth graders hosted two government teas at the school Tuesday morning. Parents, teachers and local government officials enjoyed tea, cookies and learning about famous historical and present day government figures from the children. 

"It gives them a chance to live history," said Vice Principal Robert Bergmann, who started the program with another teacher about 12 years ago. 

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"They get psyched to wear the costumes and dress up and find out interesting things about the lives of the people that they otherwise wouldn't know," Bergmann said. "And the girls learn about women's rights and the struggles they went through."

"It was really fun to learn about his childhood," said Nick Puff who was dressed as John F. Kennedy. Puff found it interseting that Kennedy had two brothers and five sisters. 

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Puff's classmate Momar Sarr was dressed as Barack Obama. He chose Obama because, he "likes that he accomplished many things and is very successful."

The kids sent about 100 invitations to local government officials inviting them to the tea. Cortlandt town supervisor Linda Puglisi and assemblywoman Sandy Galef's communications coordinator Sara Rubins attended the tea. County Executive Rob Astorino could not make the event but visited students a few weeks ago to talk about county government, Bergmann said.

The Vice Principal also noted that parents are a big help with this event because they helped the kids with their book reports and with memorizing facts.

Click through the photos above to see some of the students dressed as Eleanor Roosevelt, JFK, President Barack Obama, Benjamin Franklin, Madeleine Albright and more. 

Was your child dressed up for the tea? Add a photo by clicking the upload photos button beneath the photo above.

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