As the Gateway Middle School girls mentorship group racked their brains to determine their yearly community service project, they came up with an ingenious idea: raising money for a good cause, while also getting to dump ice cold water on their teachers and principals.
On Feb. 13, that idea came into fruition during a lively assembly where a number of staff had water dumped on them, sang their hearts out while dressed in costumes, and joined students to perform dances. Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School raised over $2,500, money which will support Pennsylvania’s Special Olympics.
“It brings the school community together,” said Carianne Kunich, a speech language pathologist in the district. “It’s a great way for the kids to have some fun and see their teachers in a different light.”
Kunich and Betty Howard, a counselor at Gateway Middle School, head the girls mentorship group. To raise money, girls mentorship members set up a table during lunch, with a number of buckets featuring staff member’s faces. Students placed money in the corresponding bucket for who they wanted to see water dumped on them. Girls mentorship members spread the word and hosted the assembly.
“It’s all for fun and a good cause. The community service piece, they learn that it’s not just about them. It’s great to raise money for a good cause. The whole school is involved, and that’s really awesome,” Howard said. “The world is bigger than them and they can give back in so many ways and get involved behind the scenes. The girls have really enjoyed it, they enjoy being together and coming up with ideas to raise money.”
On Feb. 27, the girls mentorship group, Gateway High School’s Unified Bocce team, and various other staff and students from the high school and middle school attended the Pittsburgh Cool Schools Polar Plunge, plunging in cold water and raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics.