KENMORE — At first, they chanted “Spring! Spring!”

Then a few words from a classmate made the group of third-grade students from St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore think twice.

“I want to have more snow days,” chimed in Collin O’Bryan, 9.

There was a few seconds’ pause ... then a chant of “Shadow! Shadow!”

The boys were among dozens of people who flocked to the village green at Delaware Avenue and Delaware Road to see if the newly named “Kenmore Kate” would see her shadow — thus predicting six more weeks of winter — or instead proclaim that spring was right around the corner.

Attendees munched on doughnuts from Paula’s Donuts with little groundhog faces iced onto them, a Groundhog Day cake, coffee and hot chocolate, while children flocked to the steps of the municipal building, where the “groundhog habitat,” a life-size “tree trunk” constructed by Kenmore Village Improvement Society member John Hulley, waited for the moment of truth.

The sight was cause for awe for Griffin Struckmann, 2, who pointed at it and called “Look at that!” as he waited with his parents Katie and Mark and his siblings.

Margaret Struckmann, 6, predicted that the groundhog would see its shadow.

“I think it will see its shadow ... because a lot of people see their shadows,” she said thoughtfully. “And I want to make an igloo and build a snowman. I’ve never built a snowman before.”

However, her older brother, Thomas Struckmann, was hoping for a prediction of spring.

“No shadow,” he said. “I want to be able to ride my bike.”

Up by the steps, Meara Halt, 8, and Nolan Halt, 5, held up posters decorated with drawings of groundhogs and the slogans “Just say no to the shadow!” and “No shadow!”

“We love this winter with no snow,” said Eileen Halt. “We want to welcome spring in.”

As the moment arrived, Kenmore Mayor Patrick Mang, Clerk Kathleen Johnson, Police Chief Carl Lacorte and village trustees and other officials, all in top hats and scarfs, gathered on the steps for the event. Mang read a statement, then addressed the crowd.

“Do you think we should have six more weeks of winter — or do you want an early spring?” he asked, then rapped on the door of the habitat, which opened to reveal ...

... a rather larger than usual groundhog, which rubbed its eyes, stretched and selected a scroll from Mang, who unrolled it and proclaimed that there would be an early spring this year (to cheers and a few groans from the students).

KVIS founder Melissa Foster called the event a success.

“I think it was wonderful fun and a little silly,” she said. “We’re used to snow here in Kenmore and Western New York; we get a little anxious. It makes us feel that we need to get a little silly.”

Also in the audience Tuesday was Susan Kick of North Tonawanda, a retired teacher who wore a Groundhog Day hat and groundhog-themed jewelry friends and fellow teachers had made for her.

“I always did Groundhog Day activities with my students — we even sang groundhog carols,” she said.

That all began when Kick purchased a groundhog cookie cutter during a trip to Punxsutawney, Pa., where the most famous of the U.S. groundhog prognosticators resides. That also started a beloved tradition for her: Making Groundhog Day cookies, which she then distributes on the holiday.

“My mother and I always made them together,” Kick said. “She was able to do that until she was the age of 90. Now, I make them myself.”

On Tuesday, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. However, Dunkirk Dave joined Kenmore Kate in predicting an early spring.