Central Middle School students win challenge, principals kiss pig

EDMOND October 14, 2008 12:42 am

— “Is that lemon?” asked Jennifer Patton, seventh-grade Central Middle School teacher, as the second of four pies was thrown in her face. Teachers and administrators had to pay a price, which included pig kissing and pies in the face, after students exceeded a fundraising goal Friday.
The students won a school-wide challenge to sell 900 entertainment coupon books, said Principal Tara Fair.
“We asked every kid to sell two,” she said.
At the end of the fundraiser, the students had sold $11,000 worth of coupon books.
“We agreed that the administrators would kiss a pig and the teachers agreed they would take a pie in the face,” Fair said.
During each grade’s lunch, Fair and Brandon Kysar, assistant principal, kissed a pig. The top sellers in each grade got to choose one teacher in their grade to “pie in the face.”
Students laughed as Fair kissed Toby, a pig who was not a fan of her affection.
“His snout was slimy,” Fair said. “He didn’t like it. I was having to force the kiss.”
Luke Orvis, seventh-grade teacher, conveniently showed up late. However, his tardiness did not save him from the throwing arm of seventh-grader Abby Thomits.
The star of the event was Patton. The students conspired to make sure she got a big dose of sugar with a total of four pies thrown in her face.
Fair said the fundraiser was a success and the students really seemed to enjoy the payoff.
Lucas Barker and Eric Beck, seventh-graders, were two of four students who threw their pie in the face of Patton, who proved to be a good sport.
Beck, who sold six coupon books, said the experience was rewarding.
“I was thinking it’ll be really funny to pie a teacher so I’m going to sell a bunch,” said Barker, who sold eight coupon books. “I was surprised I was even up there.”
Fair said the money the students raised will be used for classroom materials, social events and other student needs.

Photos

Ty Crauthers | Special to the Sun Central Middle School seventh-grade teacher Marcia Moore tries one of the pies that was thrown in her face during the fundraising celebration.

Ty Crauthers | Special to the Sun Ricki Scheif throws a pie in the face of seventh-grade teacher Jennifer Patton during the fundraising celebration at Central Middle School.

Ty Crauthers | Special to the Sun Central Middle School teachers Luke Orvis and Jennifer Patton laugh at their situation during the fundraising celebration.

Ty Crauthers | Special to the Sun Tara Fair, Principal of Central Middle School, leans to kiss a pig during the school's fundraising celebration.