Students want ‘Animal Mania’

June 14 will be Animal Mania Day in District 13 schools. That is the theme day students chose when they went to the polls last week.

Each year, through its Democracy in Action program, District 13 children get to vote for a theme day when their parents come for the budget and Board of Education election. And just like their parents, children have to sign in and then get to use an actual level voting machine.

The other choices on the ballot this year were Crazy Sock Day and Nursery Rhyme Character Day. Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison said that crazy socks were favored at Howell Road and Wheeler Avenue schools. But Animal Mania Day won big at the James A. Dever and Willow Road schools to put it over the top.

This is the first year that the theme day will be held the same school year as the vote. Previously, it was always done the following school year. Lison said that sixth-grade student council members had complained that they voted for a theme day, but never got to celebrate it. “They had a point,” she said. “Now we’ll celebrate the celebrate the month after the vote.”

Past theme days have included Sports Jersey Day, Rock and Roll Day, and, most recently, Mystery Teacher Day.