Hot Chelle Rae Rocks Tolland Middle School

With reporting from TMS student Peighton Plourd

was full of excitement on Wednesday afternoon when pop rock group Hot Chelle Rae rocked the house as part of KC101's Stuff-a-Bus contest award.

Tolland Middle School principal Dr. Walter Willett said that the school was selected for the concert after students donated $3,245 to the radio station's charity event, which Willett said constituted about a third of the total donations collected.

"From their own efforts they were able to gather this money," Willett said, explaining that the student held dances, ran a donation table during lunch and asked families for support to gather donations.

"It was really an effort spearheaded by the kids," Willett said. Faculty members and student council advisors Jami DeGuire and Dawn Erikson provided guidance for the students' efforts, according to Willett.

Willett added that he wasn't surprised that the school was able to donate so much, since he said that students are always giving.

"It's amazing the kind of fundraising these kids do," he said. "It's such an ingrained part of the culture here."

The culture turned pretty crazy on Wednesday. Willett said the excitement reached a level he doesn't usually see.

"There's excitement on a level that those of us around the age of 40 don't have anymore," Willett joked. "It seems like it's a huge moment in many of their lives."

TMS student Peighton Plourd, a member of the school's News and Media Club, was able to talk with the band before the show. She said that the band did a great job both on and off the stage.

"The band was great!" Plourd said of the concert. "Ryan [the lead singer] was so into it! He was dancing around and giving everyone in the front row high-fives."

Plourd said that the group exceeded expectations in person, as well. 

"They were much funnier than I expected," she said. "They were all joking around, and they seemed to be having a good time."

Check out the attached video of Hot Chelle Rae performing at TMS.