January 9, 2007

Kindergartners chase and pluck principal in annual rite-of-passage

By Susan Camp
Special to the Times

Former UCLA football player and current Campbell Christian Schools Principal Shawn Stuart flees from kindergarten students who are trying to pluck his feathers in the annual CCS Thanksgiving tradition.

Shawn Stuart, principal of CCS and former UCLA football player, is a model of good sportsmanship in his annual turkey plucking tradition.

Dozens of giggling kindergartners dressed in self-made Pilgrim hats and Native American Indian headbands recently celebrated the day before Thanksgiving vacation by chasing their 6’4” Campbell Christian School principal who was dressed like a turkey. They proceeded to pluck the feathers from his costume in the hilarious annual event that kicks off their classroom Thanksgiving feasts.

“This is a funny and memorable way for kids to understand that Thanksgiving turkeys don’t come from supermarkets,” said Stuart. “The Pilgrims and Native American Indians worked a lot harder than we do on their feasts. And what children wouldn’t laugh at seeing their principal dressed up like a turkey, then delight in chasing him around and plucking every feather off?”

Cheering on the kindergartners are their fellow classmates in first through fifth grades as well as their teachers and parents helping with the day’s Thanksgiving celebrations.

Kindergartner Pilgrims and Native American Indians also competed in sack races and a tug of war. First grade classroom activities include making butter, Native American Indian God’s eyes and Pilgrim pasta necklaces.

“It’s a rite of passage for the kindergartners to get to pluck the principal,” said Stuart. “It also shows that although I’m an authority figure, I can also be silly and fun with the kids.”

Photos by Julie Davis Berry