Crossroads South middle school raises money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina with a "Pie in the Face."
By: Chinenye Okparanta
At most schools, throwing a pie at an assistant principal would land a student in detention. But at Crossroads South it’s a good way to raise money.
The middle school’s Hurricane Katrina Fundraising Committee organized a "Pie in the Face" fundraiser to keep students excited and involved with raising money for hurricane victims.
"We decided to have a little bit of fun, so we decided to do the Pie in the Face fundraiser," said Noreen O’Donnell, co-chairwoman of the committee.
Three money containers were lined up in the lunchroom with the faces of the three school assistant principals, Mark Daniels, Sandi Hinson and Ray Tucholski, attached to them.
The students were encouraged to put money in the container of the assistant principals and get the chance to pie them, Ms. O’Donnell said.
During an assembly at the school at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 20, each assistant principal wore a rain poncho and prepared for the onslaught of whipped cream-filled pies.
Pie in the Face raised $1,000 for the school’s hurricane relief fund.
Mr. Tucholski said the kids were very receptive to the idea of pie-ing an assistant principal and it turned out to be a great way to raise money for the relief fund.
"I loved it because it was a great time and it was a great effort by the kids," he said.
The Pie in the Face event was just one phase of a larger fundraising project that students are involved in.
"We’ve been doing fundraising since October," Ms. O’Donnell said. "We decided it would be a longtime effort."
Students and staff at the school have been contributing to the Dollar-a-Week Drive since fundraising began.
In addition to the dollar drive, the sixth-grade class sold friendship bracelets at a social, Ms. O’Donnell said. And a portion of the entrance fee from the first seventh- and eighth-grade dance also went toward the hurricane fund.
"The entire teaching staff has also been donating whenever possible," Ms. O’Donnell said. "The students have written greeting cards. We’re trying to cover the financial and emotional side of things."
So far, $6,000 has been raised at the school, money which Ms. O’Donnell said will continue to be used to help the 37 students that Crossroads South has adopted at two schools in West Shreveport, La.
In October, Crossroads South sent $2,000 worth of gift cards from Wal-Mart to students who were displaced after Hurricane Katrina and reassigned to West Shreveport Elementary School and the Newton Smith Elementary School in Louisiana.
The money was used to purchase clothes, shoes and toys for the students.
In November, the committee sent another $2,000.
"We’ve been in contact with the principal and have sent (money) for real immediate needs like clothing," Ms. O’Donnell said. "There’s a total of about 37 students and the money is going directly to them."
The fundraising committee at Crossroads South is 7planning fundraisers for the spring in the hopes of reaching its projected goal of $20,000.
"We’re planning to extend our efforts through April," Ms. O’Donnell said. "We’re not quite sure we’ll make (that goal), but there’s an entire committee and Student Council representatives and lots of teachers and staff all helping in so many different ways. It’s an entire school effort."

