From garbage to glamor

HAYDEN — The students of Hayden Canyon Charter School are thinking twice about litter they find on the side of the road.

Where some people may see old newspapers, pieces of trampoline, cardboard boxes or plastic bags, Hayden Canyon's students see endless possibilities for upcycled styles and innovative designs.

"I learned that trash can be recycled into something new," fifth grader Levi Hawkins said Monday.

The school hosted its inaugural Trashin' Fashion Show in honor of Earth Day, a global celebration that is annually held in support of the planet and its environment.

Hayden Canyon students picked up street trash and turned it into wearable wonders, modeled by about 15 teachers during the fashion show. 

Second grade teacher Nicki Osborne was hailed as royalty as she sashayed onto the stage in a garbage bag dress and paper accessories. Students roared as Osborne gave a queenly wave.

“It was awesome,” she said with a huge smile after the show. “It was super fun.”

Some students began preparing for the big show last week. Eighth graders Estera Drobkov, Addison Karoblis and Jocelyn Rodrigues were on the team that designed middle school English language arts teacher Kristin Gibney's upcycled outfit.

"It was pretty fun," Estera said. "It was another way to get out of class!"

Jocelyn said she would like a bit more time to work on the project if the school hosts the fashion show again next year.

“We all took different designs, and then we regrouped, and then we thought of things we liked and things we didn’t like, and we put a dress together,” Addison said. "It did show that you can take trash and you can make something unique out of it. When you look at a trampoline, you don’t think, ‘Oh, I could make a dress out of this’ until you sit down and think about it.”

Students howled and cheered at their teachers, who strutted in a variety of creatively crafted costumes. Gibney, who was on the committee to create this new Hayden Canyon event, said she thinks the students really enjoyed the show.

“They worked really hard on their designs and it showed in the cheers for their teachers or their past teachers,” she said.

    Second-grade teacher Robin Curtis struts in a colorfully upcycled dress and hat Monday during the Trashin' Fashion Show at Hayden Canyon Charter.
  

    Hayden Canyon third-grade teacher Tammy Karoblis rocks Earth Girl garb Monday afternoon during the school's Trashin' Fashion Show.
  

    Middle school English language arts and social studies teacher Heather Lundy models a newspaper dress Monday at the Hayden Canyon Charter School Trashin' Fashion Show.
  

    Middle school English language arts instructor Kristin Gibney showcases an upcycled trampoline dress Monday at the Hayden Canyon Charter Trashin' Fashion Show.