Eganville – All of Eganville and District Public School (EDPS) had the chance to watch some of their favourite staff suffer a flavorful fate last Thursday when facefuls of pumpkin mush and whipped cream were on the lunch menu for over half a dozen courageous volunteers.

Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 got to escape from their regular classes for a healthy dose of group laughter when students gathered in the gym to watch their principal and many more get pied in the face in return for raising over $1,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Vice Principal Kaley McMillan acted as the assembly emcee and highlighted the students’ fundraising efforts before the main event.

“We had a thermometer of very brave volunteers from our staff who were willing to get a pie in the face from a student or staff member here,” she said. “We’re going to call them up and give them a big round of applause individually because they are so brave and wonderful.”

Not only did they meet their goal but surpassed it and added two surprise staff members to the thermometer, including long-time teacher Karen Fleurie and Kelvin Somerville, who came out of retirement for the special occasion.

“A couple of years ago we did this pie-in-the-face fundraiser for Terry Fox and it was also very successful,” Ms. McMillan said. “This year in the spirit of the season, we thought we would make pumpkin pies.”  

Each staff member was cheered on by enthusiastic students as they ran down the aisles of students and made introductions, receiving chants and high-fives as they made their entrance. Once up at the stage, staff donned their “Thanksgiving bibs” (garbage bags) around their necks and prepared for the worst.

Gail Mills was the first victim introduced by Ms. McMillan. “Ms. Mills, we just want to let you know we appreciate you and all that you do for us,” she remarked. “Happy Thanksgiving.” And wham! The students roared with excitement.

After their faces were filled with pie, staff would mope back to the “Thanksgiving table” where they enjoyed watching their colleagues suffer the same fate.

EDPS also took the chance to introduce the school’s new mascot, who had the honour of handing out pies to the “piers” before stepping on stage to the “pieing area.”  Student council member Griffin Bennett is the first to don the new moose suit.

There were a few pieing techniques which made all the difference for the staff being pied. Some used a gentler slow and steady approach while others smooshed and rubbed it all over.  A few brave piers even produced a staggering amount of force with an almighty pie slap.

There were also a few forms of pie protection, with some opting for a hat or a shower cap. Others just accepted they’d be running home to get the orange and white goop out of their hair.

As the school staff cleaned themselves up and the assembly was wrapping up, Ms. McMillan reminded students to start thinking of a name for their new moose mascot among their classes.