Spooktacular Spotlight: A Student Teacher’s Kindness Brings Magic to Halloween

DELAWARE– This year, every kid at Wilbur Elementary will go trick-or-treating in a costume they love, thanks to a student teacher who brewed up a powerful idea. Alexandra Sweeny, a senior at the University of Delaware, stepped up when she overheard a homeless student wishing for a Ninja costume that his mother could not afford. Within hours, Sweeny raised $900 to buy costumes for the children in need.

When Alexandra Sweeny heard the child’s request at 11 am yesterday, she reached out to her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and the Pan Hellenic Association for help. Thanks to her efforts and the contributions from her family, friends, and sorority sisters, Sweeny was filling up shopping carts full of costumes at Party City that evening. Today, teachers at Wilbur are sending their students in need to a conference room filled wall-to-wall with costumes. Additionally, the leftover costumes that are not chosen will be shared with other schools with homeless students.

Undoubtedly, Sweeny‘s actions are a testament to the Colonial School District’s “Power of WE“ mantra. Her eagerness to help reminds us that teaching goes beyond lessons—it’s about listening to students and caring about their needs. Alexandra Sweeny’s spooktacular efforts put smiles on the students, one spooky mask at a time.

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