Twenty-four National Honor Society members volunteered at the West University Elementary Centennial Parade around the surrounding neighborhood on Saturday.
The volunteers supervised students walking in the parade, monitored the inflatables and managed barriers along the parade route. For senior and NHS volunteer Lela Izaddoost, pitching in for her old elementary school’s 100-year celebration was a meaningful experience.
“I used to go to this elementary, so why not help out?” Izaddoost said. “Seeing all my old teachers and everybody around me, hanging out with my friends. It’s great.”
West U Elementary first-grade teacher Ally Sarvadi started teaching at the school last year, but has been part of the West U neighborhood for 20 years.
“Walking with my students this year [and] seeing them with their families has been really fun,” Sarvadi said. “I’ve seen some of my students from last year, some of my students from this year, and everyone’s been so kind and friendly.”
After the parade, the West U Parent-Teacher Organization set up inflatable activities and food trucks for families. Second-grade parent Peinar Whaley’s favorite part of the parade was seeing other parents and families she knew.
“It was nice to get together,” Whaley said. “This was better than expected. There [were] a lot of people joining, and I saw [volunteers] talking to people, showing them where to go, so I think it worked out pretty well.”
The West U PTO planned the parade and organized NHS volunteers into their respective roles. Parent and PTO Volunteer Erin Kaplan was one of several PTO volunteers at the event. It was Kaplan’s job to keep the parade route fluid, take care of volunteer check-in and distribute wristbands for student participants.
“I think everyone did a fantastic job,” Kaplan said. “[The parade] was super well organized and put together, and it’s just a great way for the community to get together, support each other and celebrate the school.”
NHS will host its first meeting of the year on Wednesday. To stay updated on its events, follow @bellairenhs on Instagram.
