Two staff members at Stettler Elementary School got up close and personal with a young piglet last week to reward students for raising more than $15,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Principal Sharon Fischer and vice-principal Kate Syson kissed the piglet, just under five weeks of age, at an assembly on Friday, Oct. 17, in front of a tickled crowd of students and staff.
A draw was held to determine who would kiss each end of the pig. Syson had the relative honour of kissing its face, while Fischer had to place her pucker on the pig’s posterior.
The stunt was in recognition of the total of $15,051.95 raised during the school’s annual Terry Fox fundraiser in the fall.
Students canvassed their families, friends and neighbours for donations in support of cancer research.
Fischer said the school typically raises between $15,000 and $20,000 each year. Though she described her encounter with the piglet as “smelly,” she handled it with a smile.
“It was just fun, and fun for the kids,” she said. “We knew that they would go crazy.”
The dignitaries gathered on Friday included Clearview Public Schools superintendent Peter Barron, as well as Stettler’s mayor, Dick Richards, who was on hand to present certificates to students as part of the Leader in Me program.
Fischer and Syson also presented a rap to teach the “Seven Habits,” a self-improvement program being used at the school.
The pig was donated by local farmers Peter and Anette Nooyen, whose daughter Esther held the animal as Fischer and Syson kissed it.
Afterwards, auctioneer Scott Douglas took bids for the pig, with proceeds going towards the school’s Leader in Me program.
The winning bid of $210 was made by Annette Hunter; the winner also took home several weeks’ worth of animal feed.