Student Maria Macias, 6, was one of many kids enjoying the KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School Fall Fun Festival Saturday, playing a Fish-in-the-Bowl carnival game with her Uncle Ysael Santana.
“We are having a great time,” Santana said.
The Fall Fun Festival is the first of its kind for KIPP, but it’s something the school hopes becomes a yearly tradition, according to Fisher Fellow/Founding Principal Farida Graham.
“We were excited to invite our KIPP families and also anyone from the community to come celebrate and come together,” she said.
The Festival had a variety of different activities and entertainment including music, food donated from local vendors, yard games such as giant Connect Four and Jenga, an assortment of raffles, a petting zoo, and pony rides.
Latoni Thomas, 11, got to enjoy her first pony ride ever around the school’s parking lot.
“It was so great,” she said.
Also available was a green screen photo booth from Total Entertainment where kids could take a photo with a variety of different backgrounds including locations from all over the world and with celebrities and athletes like Tom Brady.
Nearby, Lynn Fire Lieutenant Edward Whittier taught kids about fire safety and the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before giving out plastic fire helmets.
KIPP teacher Kara Kennard was one volunteer helping with games and supervising kids, who was happy to see everyone together.
“It’s a great opportunity to get students and their families together outside of school activities,” she said.
The success of the inaugural Fall Fun Fest was something that made Graham and others excited for KIPP Academy’s growing future in Lynn and surrounding areas.
“All these things here, it’s a great way to get the community together and learn more about our schools,” Graham said.
