Candlewood Students Help Their Own...With A Carnival

It is the ultimate way to blow off steam.

Classes are coming to an end, the weather's great, and there sits your teacher. All that stands between him and a cool bath is a ball hitting the target, thrown by, you, the student.

It's a middle school student's fantasy come true, as a 'teacher in a dunk tank' was one of the many games at on Monday. Students and teachers threw a Helping Our Own carnival, all to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Students from around the island took a field trip to SUNY-Farmingdale earlier this year. A pep rally was held, featuring folks telling stories of inspiration. Candlewood students decided to take action for a good cause, namely, helping those with diabetes, which includes some of their fellow students.

"The kids learned about diabetes, they learned to appreciate the kids [affected] and what they're going through, and they're excited to come out for the cause to help their friends and classmates," Candlewood teacher and carnival planner Jean Falussy said.

"It took a lot of time, and a lot of hard work as well," Candlewood sixth grader Mina Sarcevic said of organizing the carnival. "We had to plan it very thoroughly."

Falussy says money raised will go to a number of diabetes-related causes, such as sending kids to camp and sponsoring a diabetic marathon runner.

Teachers came up with ideas for the carnival booths, and students got to work selling tickets, to play the games and enter raffles for prizes such as an iPod. Some of the old standby carnival games were represented, such as throwing a football through a hole, and the ring toss. Actually, it was more like the 'ring around the toilet' toss, with the goal to throw toilet paper rolls into, well you get the picture.

The lent a hand, or a hose, to be specific. They sound the siren, and the kids come running as they created a giant shower to cool everybody down.

As for those middle school fantasies?

Alive and well at Candlewood. Teachers stuck their faces through a hole with the goal--hit your teacher in the face with a pie. And of course, there was the dunk tank, with students lining up for a chance to hit the target, and make the final days of the school year a wet one for the Candlewood staff.

"For all the hard work your teachers made you do over the years, now you get revenge," sixth grader Jessie Bailey said.

Hitting your teacher in the face with a pie, to win prizes? And get praised for it because it's for a good cause?

Sounds like a warped, fantastic way to end the school year.

Stay tuned for a video report from the carnival coming to Patch later today.

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