Schools
Kissing a Pig is Only One Thing Principals Do
Principals motivate students in some creative ways
In their efforts to motivate grade school students, elementary school principals are likely to offer challenges, play along with student games or even put themselves in a position of peril.
On Saturday Kennerly Elementary School Principal Suzanne Christopher took a seat in a dunking booth as dozens of eager students lined up to see her dropped into the dunk tank. It was all in the good family fun at Kennerly's 50th birthday party.
Principal Blair Bueckman of Our Savior Lutheran School, in Fenton, however, may have one-upped her Kennerly counterpart. Bueckman challenged students to beat a book fair fund-raising goal. If they did, Bueckman said she would kiss a pig. Of course the students responded positively to the dare and Bueckman would have to pucker up to pay off on the challenge.
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On Friday she brought home the bacon, in the form of Pigler, a 20-pound six-month-old potbellied pig from Cindy's Critters Petting Zoo.
The stormy weather and occasional sprinkle did not dampen the enthusiasm of the students, who also were participating in an all-school field day. But it was their principal and Pigler that attracted the most attention.
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Bueckman looked the part as she donned a pig snout and large red lips. With Pigler in hand, Bueckman, who didn't try to put lipstick on the pig, gathered students and other spectators in the circle turnaround in front of the school
Stormy weather and an occasional sprinkle did not dampen the spirits of students at in Fenton last Friday. This was the appointed day their Principal, Blair Bueckman, would deliver on her promise to "Kiss a pig" if the students beat their previous book fair fundraising goal, which they did.
As the big moment arrived and Bueckman drew near to Pigler to plant a kiss on its head, it let out a squeal of delight. A hush fell over the crowd as the principal then paid off on her challenge
Afterward, the students were allowed to get an up-close look at Pigler before he was eventually allowed to return to his more quiet home.
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