NEWBURYPORT — Historic figures like renowned primatologist Jane Goodall and legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh as well as modern icons like Taylor Swift and the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team were on display Wednesday at the Immaculate Conception School’s ninth annual student “Wax Museum.”
“A wide variety of athletes and artists and certainly a lot of Taylor Swift eras were represented yesterday for sure,” ICS Principal Joan Sullivan said.
The event kicked off at 2 p.m. in the school gym, with the atmosphere “pin drop quiet” as parents came in to see their kids dressed up as influential figures they admire.
“So they were all frozen in their stance yesterday for 20 minutes, and then at the end I close the door and I say, OK, we’re done. And they all generally fall on the floor out of exhaustion. It’s kind of a fun thing to see,” Sullivan said.
One student dressed as Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, posed in his famous batters stance. Another student, depicting Jim Carrey’s movie alter-ego Pet Detective Ace Ventura, stood with a pile of exotic stuffed animals at his feet.
Students ranged from second to eighth grade, with Sullivan estimating they had 45 participants.
“They choose if they want to be part of the museum and then they pick somebody, either a present or past person of interest. Whether it’s a historical person or a scientist or an artist, or an athlete, somebody that they admire,” Sullivan said.
She said the event serves as a chance for students to educationally explore something they are passionate about that may not have come up in the curriculum otherwise.
“Last year, some of the third-grade boys, they all got together and represented Iwo Jima. From the parent’s perspective, when they come in to see some of the mature choices that kids make, it’s really inspirational,” Sullivan said.
Fourth-grade student William De Bernardo, who was among the students in the Iwo Jima group last year, participated in this year’s museum as Green Beret and songwriter Sgt. Barry Sadler.
Serving as a medic during the Vietnam War, Sadler is best known for his song “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” He died in 1989 at age 49.
De Bernardo said he wants to attend West Point and be a Green Beret when he grows up, which is part of why he chose Sadler.
“I just got camo pants and a camouflage shirt and my Green Beret hat that my parents gave me for my birthday, and also a World War I outfit,” De Bernardo said.
Discussing his classmates, he said he enjoyed seeing what they all came up with.
“It was really cool seeing all the fascinating historical characters,” De Bernardo said.
He said his parents were proud of his display, before joking that they said he “wiggled a lot.”
Asked what it is about the event that gets the students eager to participate, Sullivan said the kids love getting dressed up.
“We wear uniforms, so anytime that it’s a day where you don’t have to wear a uniform, that’s always a popular event,” Sullivan said.
She said the personal choice element is also a big draw.
“It’s a way for them to honor somebody that they really admire,” Sullivan said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.