Harrison Central High decorates the hallways for Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras parades and festivities have been canceled along the Coast, but that did not stop Harrison Central High School from keeping the Mardi Gras spirit rolling.

Moon Pies, beads, and floats are what most people look forward to during Mardi Gras season, but due to the coronavirus that put a halt to everything this year, the teachers and students at Harrison Central High School decided to let the good times roll through the hallways.

Nicole Fikes, a teacher at Harrison Central, and Simone Holmes, a student, tell News 25 exactly how it started. “It started with house floats, which is what they are doing in New Orleans. So, my hall mates, my team here, really just brought it to the next level, decorating all of their doors and the ceilings and we put on Mardi Gras music during class change.”

Holmes said, “We started off with just the door and then building six takes it to the next level and does the entire building.”

Along with decorating, students learn about the origin of Mardi Gras and go in depth into the French culture. “We teach them some targeted vocabulary. How to say floats in French and then how to say ‘house floats’ in French which is a new word in French this year. But also talk about common Cajun expressions like Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler.”

Decorating the halls gives the students and teachers a pick me up to get them through the day. “It’s really just to improve the mood and the moral in our hallways. Students are walking by and bopping and dancing a little.”

“Just because it lifts everyone’s spirits here and they like to see how nice it is to walk through and have something other than just the feel of school.”