Some tricks, treats and rhymes at P.S. 81

“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. They’re all together ooky, the second graders!”

It was the theme song of the morning as second-grade students from the Robert J. Christen School (P.S. 81) gathered in the auditorium for a performance of Halloween songs and recitations on Oct. 31. 

After a parade through P.S. 81’s courtyard, the children danced indoors as witches, zombie prom queens, dinosaurs, the Ninja Turtles and other superheroes to a soundtrack that included Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash.”

Seven-year-old Dania Sanchez, whose aunt Lisa Vasquez came to see the show, dressed up as Disney princess Elsa from the popular animated movie “Frozen.” 

“I was so excited that I was going on the stage in my costume,” said Dania, who could recall the first time she saw the movie (Sept. 28, 2013) with the devotion of a true fan.

She was not the only Elsa at P.S. 81 on Friday. By 10 a.m., Dania had already spotted four other Elsas in the second grade alone. 

“She has magical powers,” the student said, explaining the character’s popularity. 

Ethan Batista, meanwhile, dressed up as a “scary motorcycle guy,” complete with a black jacket with silver spikes on the shoulders. 

“I wanted to be the scariest at my after-school [program],” he said as he stood with his father Pedro Batista at his class’s party after the show. “I’m going to go trick-or-treating, and I’m going to scare people with my mask.”

Along with showing off their costumes, students recited whimsical rhymes about the wind going trick-or-treating and students becoming pumpkins. A number of them donned large gourds made out of construction paper for the latter performance.

“I want to be a jack-o’-lantern and make the children smile,” they chanted. “Won’t you come and get me, and take me home with you? Halloween’s a special time for pumpkins like me, too.”