Students at Whakatāne St Joseph’s School dressed up as their favourite storybook characters on Monday with the variety of costumes as wide as they were creative.

Excitement filled the air as students gathered in their class groups, beaming with smiles as they admired each other’s outfits for the annual parade.

One by one, each class paraded in front of the rest of the school while teachers kept a watchful eye out for potential winners.

Last year’s winners, the Dow family, dominated the competition again this year. Lewis Dow impressed with his “Snail on a Whale” creation, while Jude Dow roared into the top spots with a fantastic Aslan the Lion mask. Nath Dow followed with a well-crafted “Toad” from Wind in the Willows, and Lily Oats wowed the crowd with a finely made butterfly costume.

Mum and artistic guide, Kirsty Dow, is proud of the back-to-back wins and her children’s dedication.
“It was a rainy-day activity, and considering the weather we’ve had, we spent a lot of time creating these outfits. They’ve done an amazing job,” she said.

Principal Jo Brady was impressed with the variety of costumes.

“The students always embrace the day, and it always amazes me just how creative they are when making their costumes. We have great parental support at St Joseph’s so having them come along to support the school and enjoy the day is amazing.”