HUGHESTOWN — Jack Sanguedolce, 8, had the opportunity of a lifetime Thursday. He got to smash a pie in his dad’s face.
The activity was one of many at the Race for Education event held at the Pittston Area Intermediate Center. The third-grader wasted little time coating his dad AJ’s face in whipped cream.
“It was cool,” Jack said of pieing his dad, who is also the school’s gym teacher.
Jack was one of 60 students allowed to toss a pie at not only AJ, but also third grade teacher John Lombardo and substitute principal Joe Oprendick.
The school’s regular principal, Dr. Coreen Milazzo, was at a training seminar and unable to attend the event.
The event was held to raise money for the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).
Kate Zielinski, president of the PTO, said funds are used to purchase school supplies and offset field trip expenses.
“Each student is asked to get as many names as they can,” she said. “Those names are printed on labels, and then the labels go on mailers and we send out those mailers to those wanting to donate.”
Students who collected at least 29 names were allowed to throw pies.
AJ took the majority of the pies, but did it all with a smile.
“It is a lot of fun,” he said. “I really thought the kids would enjoy throwing the pies in my face. They’re all smiling, so I guess they’re enjoying it.”
Students also danced in the gymnasium and walked around the school halls for a 15-minute period during the event.
The second, third and fourth grade classes rotated, so there was one grade in the gym while another walked the halls and the last one threw pies. Afterwards, they would switch.
Zielinski said the event was meant to be outside, but the wet weather forced it indoors.
“It’s more like a ‘Walk for Education,’” she said with a laugh. “We’re doing the best with what we’ve got. It’s a nice way for the kids to get some energy, get some exercise, build some school spirit and things like that.”
This year marks the first Race for Education done at the Pittston Area schools. Another event was held at the primary center in Hughestown on Tuesday.
Zielinski said both schools raised $35,000 collectively, and preparations for the events started back in July.
“It was a lot of work, but we have a really good team,” said Zielinski. “Our PTO officers and all of the volunteers were really, really instrumental in pulling this off. This is not an event one or two people can do; it really took a team. The principals were very supportive. Anything we needed, we got.”
Individual awards were handed out as well — some classes were awarded parties and students were given homework passes.
With a successful first year, Zielinski will be looks forward to a Race for Education next year, but hopes the weather will be more cooperative.
“Hopefully we get to be outside,” she said. “The way it rolls out is still open for interpretation. We already have a whole file on things we want to change already and things we want to improve on.”
