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Sussex Academy hosts Halloween Community Hero Day

Sussex Academy’s Halloween Community Hero Day Oct. 31, ends with a student costume parade outside the elementary school. Dressed as Superman is Emmitt Kosiorowski. To his left is Jayson Baeschlin. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTOS
Ellen McIntyre
November 2, 2025

Sussex Academy held a Halloween Community Hero Day for its elementary students Oct. 31, a chance for the kids to dress up as community or fictional heroes and thank real first responders.

The day kicked off with an assembly, during which the school announced the winner of its pumpkin-decorating contest, which benefited a local first responder agency.

Fourteen faculty members anonymously decorated pumpkins, and the students voted for their favorite with cash donations. The pumpkin with the most money was deemed the winner, and all the proceeds were donated to a randomly selected local agency.

Dean of Elementary Connie Hendricks won the contest with “Pumpkin on Fire,” which featured paper flames and first responder figurines. The contest raised a total of $335, which was donated to Georgetown EMS.

Students then rotated to different outdoor stations, where they got to go inside a fire truck and police car and meet some local heroes, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and emergency dispatchers.

Students’ families showed up for a student costume parade later in the afternoon.

 

Local first responders and costumed students are ready for the school’s pumpkin-decorating contest winner to be announced at the Halloween Community Hero Day.
At Sussex Academy’s Halloween Community Hero Day, Dean of Elementary Connie Hendricks, standing back left, is named the winner of the faculty pumpkin-decorating contest. The contest raised $335, which was donated to Georgetown EMS. Standing in back are (l-r) Hendricks; Captain Deanna Loeb, NREMT and FTP, Georgetown EMS; and school counselor Dr. Juliane Hein. In front are students Ella Todd, Willow Cohen, Reagan Morris, Aubrey Savage, Addy Reed, Quinn Albert, Nora Furlong, Kama Forester and Genevieve Gibson.
Sussex Academy Dean of Elementary Connie Hendricks decorated this winning pumpkin, “Pumpkin on Fire,” which features a house on fire and figurines of first responders and a fire truck at the scene.
Delaware State Police Cpl. Daniel Korenyi, left, holds his daughter, Kollins, who’s wearing a matching police officer costume.
Fourth-grader Caroline Krajewski holds a sign thanking the marine police after the assembly.
High school aide Makenna Blades, left, walks with elementary student Sadie Jacobs in the parade. To Jacobs’ right are (l-r) Teagan Hayes, Mia Rodriguez, Scarlet Taylor and Olivia Tattersall.
Jack Smith climbs across the back seat of a Georgetown Police car.
Gabe Greenberg is ready to save the day.
Standing together after the assembly are (l-r) Bryson Carmean, Rowen Duncan, Lucas Stevens and Falah Kayani.
You may not be able to tell from the disguise, but this is actually a pumpkin.
Spiderman gets arrested? Bryson Carmean sits in the back of a police car with Cooper Stevens to his right.

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Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.

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