Third-graders hold own inaugural ball

President Barack Obama's inauguration may have had celebrities, but River Woods Elementary had the "Hokey Pokey."

Third-graders at the Naperville school had an inaugural ball of their own Tuesday.

Students dressed in their Sunday best for the affair, which featured appetizers, dancing and musical performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America."

"We were all dressed up and we had our opportunity to kind of have our dance and do all the things," third-grader Jake Pauga said.

"And we got to do 'The Chicken Dance,' which was really fun," Annie Rosenberg chimed in.

Several fifth-graders decked out in black clothing, sunglasses and wireless earpieces provided "Secret Service" protection for the gala and did their best to remain stoic as students swung each other in circles, though they eventually joined in for the "Macarena."

Third-grader Haley Paprocki, wearing a dress, hat and white gloves, said she had fun watching Obama's inauguration and attending the ball. She hopes the new president will "help everybody to have homes instead of living on the streets."

Principal Laura Peterson said the entire school did age-appropriate activities throughout the day and watched the inauguration ceremony but creative third-grade teachers made the inaugural ball possible.

"It's an important time, it's a fun time but most of all it's a time of solemnity," she said. "They did see that this morning and the pomp and circumstance of it and they're really understanding what the country is all about."