A Heart Hero

By Jillian Daley

The golden-throated Elvis Costello once sang, “Alison, my aim is true.”

The words took on new meaning at the North Marion Primary School on the morning of Jan. 28 when Principal Allison Hunt found herself the target of a roving, but well-behaved, band of grade-school students pointing cans of Silly String in her direction. They fired!

Meanwhile, Primary School P.E. Teacher Sadie Gold recorded the proceedings to share within the school community, enlivening the lives of local parents with a mass of messy memories. Gold asked her how she was doing. Hunt, soon sporting strands of vibrant goo hanging from her KN95 mask like witch’s-hair lichen, embraced the moment. 

“I feel great,” Hunt said, smiling at the kids who were still beaming after laughing as sweetly as the ringing of chimes (while coating her in a net of plastic cords). Afterward, she added, “This is my very first time getting Silly String-ed!”

The Silly String-ing of the Primary School Principal was for a good cause, one of the high points of the Primary and Intermediate schools’ dual fundraisers for the American Heart Association, a nonprofit that funds cardiovascular research. The Principal rewarded the students with the Silly String spraying for hitting their $5,000 goal in the Kids Heart Challenge, a month-long effort that ended on January 28.

In fact, the 117 pre-K to second-grade students who participated have exceeded that goal by $3,000, and that’s a big deal because the American Heart Association estimates that $8,000 can help save 167 lives. What’s more, schools that raise $7,500 to $9,999 also receive $700 in incentives, allowing the Primary School to purchase P.E. equipment!

The Kids Heart Challenge also affords students with meaningful lessons. It encompasses lively activities including videos of cartoon Heart Heroes who model good behavior for adults and children alike, such as drinking plenty of water, helping others, and saying no to cigarettes and vaping. 

Last week, Hunt became a Heart Hero for the kids by offering an incentive to give. She made the moment even more indelible with the simple act of jogging in a circle, raising her hands as if in distress, and calling out in faux terror, while the children pointed their spray cans in her direction (video available!).

“I liked that I got to Silly String somebody: Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Hunt!” Kindergartner Becca Sims said afterward, shivering a little on the cool, but sunny day. “Then she runs away!”

First-grader Kendall Pinola also enjoyed the moment, especially, “spraying her on the mask — on the mask!”

The good times aren’t over yet, though!

Because fun cannot ever truly be contained, some of it has spilled over into next week when Intermediate School Principal Cory Gaub and P.E. Teacher Matthew Prom plan to don silly outfits to make students cackle. This School District is simply full of Heart Heroes, all too willing to allow kids to take aim with laughter or Silly String if it means helping others.

To share stories about the North Marion community, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us.