Fall festival at McIntosh Middle becomes more of a tradition

By Ian Swaby
| 11:05 a.m. November 10, 2025

Alyssa Rico and her twin Andrea Rico, 11, stand beside crochet items that Andrea made.

Sarasota
Schools

The fall festival at McIntosh Middle School, started three years ago, is "really like a tradition now," according to Principal McHenry Lerebours.

As visitors arrived at the school on Nov. 7, they could find everything from crochet animals made by a student to real animals from the school's agricultural program — and fun and games related to fall, including the Turkey Trot that preceded the event.

Lerebours said he believes that unless the community is involved in the school's activities, it won't be able to create the achievement that it wants to see from the kids who attend.

However, he said the school has noticed that since starting the festival, school-sponsored events encourage families to attend .

"Our reputation is about building our kids, building our families, and involving our parents in their child's education," he said.

Jade Vaquero, 4, watches a prize wheel after giving it a spin.

Halima Anderson of Capacity Faith Relief helps Matthew Servetz, 7, atop an exercise ball.

Alana Pouget paints a rock at the table of Flourishing.

Connie Newman, Lori Richards, Rob Loeffler and Mary Murphy helped support the Turkey Trot.

Teacher Brianna McClenathen times Christian Davis, 11, as he does the cakewalk.

Margie Pierrelouis founded Flourishing, which offers middle and high school girls services that include academic support, leadership development and resources.

Teacher Danielle Young, Arianna Howard, 12, Landyn Howard, 10, and Christyl Aira Villafuerte enjoy a race in which participants waddle like turkeys.

Rubi Barajas holds a Turkey Trot medal alongside daughter Sophia Sanchez, 11.

Vinnie Spelman, 11, and Aidan Watts, 11, have a swordfight.

Principal McHenry Lerebours poses with science teacher Schelly Shaughnessy.

Matthew Servetz, 7, pets Gretel as his sister Jade Servetz, 11, holds her. Gretel belongs to Eryn Gwatney, 12.

Sasha Kenyon of Big Cat Habitat showcases a boa constrictor, Zero.

Wyatt Gormley, 3, and his mother Jessica Gormley, play a game of Connect Four.

Jessica Gormley and her son Wyatt Gormley, 3, play a game of Connect Four.

Miguel Hurtado and his wife Dulze Hurtado look at the prize baskets.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.