Second-graders rock Trash to Treasure fashions in Fort Kent
FORT KENT, Maine — Students in Miss Stacy Belanger’s Fort Kent Elementary School second-grade class received some star treatment during a Trash to Treasure Fashion Show held Friday at University of Maine at Fort Kent.
Each year, students in Belanger’s class design innovative costumes from disposable materials to honor Earth Day and demonstrate their creativity. The students then display their costumes at a public fashion show which is followed by the students reciting poetry. This was the sixth inception of the show, which was put on hold for two years due to COVID-19.
Audience members were on their feet at the UMFK Sport Center on Friday as the students walked the floor in their homemade costumes while DJ Brandon Hartt dropped some beats.
“We wanted to create a party-like atmosphere that was high energy and got everyone up and dancing,” Belanger said.
All of the FKES student body and staff attended the event, as did about 60 parents and family members.
Belanger said the students chose what costumes they wanted to create and wear in the fashion show.
“They were given full reins and they got to personally pick and fashion these along with a family member,” Belanger said. “I was in awe of the final products. They were all so creative and very unique.”
Fort Kent Elementary School students eagerly await the start of a Trash to Treasure Fashion Show for Miss Stacy Belanger’s second grade class. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)
Among the innovative costumes was a peanut butter jar created by Alana Kometic, a Fluff container by Khloe Jandreau and a Zamboni machine by Lucas McBreairty.
Belanger said she includes the poetry portion of the show to help students develop rhyme and verse, and to feel more confident about public speaking.
“We learn the importance of developing voice and being expressive while they are reciting their favorite poems. It’s a fun way to get others interested in poetry as well,” Belanger said.
The purpose of the show is to empower students and to end the school year in a positive way, Belanger said.
“It’s a great confidence booster,” she said.
Other students who participated in this year’s Trash to Treasure Fashion Show were Halle Jandreau (cupcake), Shelby Bourgoin (Rubik’s Cube), Hailey Gagnon (train), Dylan Pelletier (milk carton), Mia Jandreau (Pop-It), Calix Jandreau (iPhone), Hadley Wener (Barbie), Audri Pelletier (refrigerator), Liam Levesque (vending machine), Olivia Mulcahy (snowmobile), Weston Marquis (fire truck) and Lennox Guimond (popcorn box).