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Peninsula Elementary principal gets silly-stringed

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 3 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | December 22, 2017 2:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — The fifth-graders in Lory Benavidez’ class at Peninsula Elementary came armed with silly string. Lots of silly string.

The fifth-graders collected the highest number of cans, boxes and bags of non-perishable food for the Moses Lake Food Bank during Peninsula’s annual food drive. Principal Sydney Richins challenged the entire school to donate at least 1,000 cans, boxes or bags of food. The prize was the chance for students in one class to spray the principal with silly string, while the rest of the school watched.

The kids blew by Richins’ 1,000-can target, she said, donating more than 1,300 pieces of non-perishable food. Benavidez’ class brought in the most donations, so they got the string.

Mrs. Richins came dressed to be covered with silly string, and she was covered – in pink string, blue string, yellow string – from head to foot.

“Sometimes our students believe because they are children they have nothing to offer for charity,” Richins wrote. “We can change that belief by providing our students opportunities to give to others.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].

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