A little harmless fun before the PARCC tests

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Watsessing Elementary School held its first duct tape fundraiser on Friday, April 13. The event was originated by sixth-grade math and science teacher Athena Giordano. She was assisted by sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher Alexandra Gramescu.

Funds were raised from selling strips of tape, and from a bake sale. A yard-and-a-half long strip of tape was $2. Everything at the bake sale was $1. A minimum amount of money was handled at the event because credits for the tape were sold prior to the event which was held in the gym.

The money raised had different purposes. According to Giordano, $1,300 was collected with $200 earmarked for the Lymphoma and Leukemia foundations. The remainder was for sixth-graders: a yearbook, Watsessing School T-shirt, party and possibly a field trip.

The event was also a run-up to PARCC testing which begins this week. For the next three weeks, the third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders will be tested. It was thought that giving the kids a little down time by having them duct tape teachers to a gym wall was a good idea before the tests.
Going to the wall for their students were Principal Gina Rosamilia, fourth-grade teacher Barbara Nazzaretto, physical education teacher Chris Romano and Giordano. It is the fourth year of PARCC testing.

Giordano said donations to charitable foundations were part of the reasoning behind the event because acts of kindness toward others were stressed in present day schooling. She said 104 rolls of tape were purchased; each was 10 yards long.

The noise level in the gym was high during the fundraiser, but especially so when special education teacher Joe Romano, a professional DJ providing the music, asked the children if they were enjoying themselves and received cheering so loud that it resembled white noise.

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