12 RI Students Selected As 'Safe And Spooky Halloween' Winners

PROVIDENCE, RI — More than 400 students from across Rhode Island submitted their ideas for a safe Halloween during the coronavirus pandemic. Of these submissions, the Rhode Island Department of Education selected 12 winners: three each from four categories.

"Our students showed the creativity and positivity that should inspire all Rhode Islanders," the department said in a statement.

Each winner will receive a $50 cash prize. Some ideas included trick-or-treating within a stable pod, having a Halloween-themed piñata and more.

The winners are listed below.

Early learning center

Azahri Sweeney-Ashby: Smith Hill Early Childhood Learning Center, Providence

• Halloween treasure hunt in her backyard with spooky clues and spooky treats and scary movies in the evening

Lily Recber: Warwick Early Learning Center

• Trick or treating in her backyard by setting up toys and playsets on tables, including Barbie at her dreamhouse, Mickey Mouse at his clubhouse, and Peppa Pig at her house

Michael Ribeiro Jr.: Captain Hunt Early Learning Center, Central Falls

• Halloween egg hunt and maze with witches, ghosts, goblins and cornstalks in his backyard

Elementary school

Ofelia Cantoral: Steere Farm Elementary School, Burrillville

• A fun, new tradition of watching a Halloween movie in her backyard with her friends who can wear their costumes and be six feet apart

Jack Hingorany, Weston Hingorany, and Finley Sheehan-Stewart: Nahant School, Barrington

• Built a candy catapult to launch candy from his front yard to the street

Alexander Komocar: Oak Lawn Elementary School, Cranston

• A full day of Halloween activities that include trick or treating, pumpkin carving, building a spooky fort and projecting Halloween movies in his backyard

Middle School

Arrianna Baez-Kingston: Villanova Middle School, Woonsocket

• Keeping family members safe by trick or treating in the house with each door decorated with a different theme and having Halloween-themed activities and dinner, including a mummy meatloaf

Fabiola Beene: Scituate Middle School

• Created a 20 question Halloween Zoom trivia party with everyone in costumes and will mail a prize to the trivia winner and costume contest winner

Rowan Manchester: Wilbur McMahon School, Little Compton

• Trick or treating with safety measures in mind, and Halloween activities that include driving by decorated houses, and a Halloween House party with family that includes playing music, watching Halloween movies, and dressing up pets

High School

Zoe Georgio: Johnston Senior High School

• Dropping off bags of goodies for friends and neighbors with a note to pass it on, a Zoom call with friends and family dressed up, and a Halloween bakeoff

Kiara Tassone: Charles Shea Senior High School, Pawtucket

• Online activities with friends, including opposite hand face painting, Halloween origami, a digital scavenger hunt, and Halloween bingo

Christiana Zaccaria: East Providence High School

• Having a Halloween party with her family in her house, that includes making a blanket fort, watching Halloween movies in animal onesies, and having Halloween themed food, including purple pancakes and spider pizza