Sandy Hook Elementary School students streamed out of the school on October 12 behind their teachers, ready to celebrate in the second annual PTA Walk-A-Thon. The cherry on top of the event came later, when it was announced that students had raised more than $20,000 for the PTA, earning the prize of turning Principal Dr Kathy Gombos into an ice cream sundae.

Last school year’s Walk-A-Thon raised more than $10,000 for the PTA. For last year’s challenge, Dr Gombos agreed to kiss a pig if the school raised that much money. She followed through with her promise.

Due to recent rain, this year’s Walk-A-Thon was held in the school’s parking lot rather than on a field adjacent to the school. Students, teachers, and staff exited the building and walked laps around the perimeter of the parking lot while music played and parents cheered from the sidelines. Some parents joined their children to walk.

As one kindergarten class came outside, one student excitedly told her teacher, “I saw my dad!”

Water was handed out for students between laps, and the school’s eagle mascot gave high-fives to eager students.

When students finished walking laps, they were directed to sit in front of a dunk tank. Once gathered, the students learned about all of the things they earned by raising money for the PTA this year.

By raising $5,000, the students earned a Wacky Wednesday, when they could wear wacky outfits to school on October 10; by raising $10,000, they earned a dunk tank at the Walk-A-Thon; by raising $15,000, the student body earned having a teacher ride a scooter inside the building for one day; and by raising more than $20,000, they were able to transform their school’s principal into an ice cream sundae.

For every $25 students raised, they earned raffle tickets with their names on them. The raffle tickets were pulled to determine which students would get the chance to dunk one of nine teachers in the dunk tank.

“You guys were so awesome,” PTA member Allyson Story, who co-chaired the event with Julie Laughlin, told the student body.

As each teacher climbed into the dunk tank, students readied their throwing arms under the guidance of physical education teacher Nathan Holme, who was also one of the teachers dunked during the event.

As Dr Gombos situated herself in a small plastic pool to prepare for the Walk-A-Thon’s dessert, Ms Story announced, “You guys have the best principal.”

Students and some educators lined up to each add ice cream or toppings to the sundae. Dr Gombos smiled through most of it, as ice cream dripped down her face or chocolate syrup spread through her hair. Students clapped and cheered as each new topping was added.

The school’s eagle mascot came up at one point to add a final cherry on top of Dr Gombos’s head.

As students were dismissed from the event, friends walked together singing and continuing to cheer.

This year’s Walk-A-Thon was sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker, Rankin Textile Printing, The Edge Fitness Clubs, Stratos Wealth Partners, Morgan Stanley, the Wonder World Kids book series, Vasayo, A&H Leather Goods, Andy Sachs and the Around The World Team at Coldwell Banker, and Newtown Savings Bank. Apex Fun Run supplied the sound system for the event.