Panther Valley students slime principal

Jill Niehoff’s kindergarten class at Panther Valley Elementary couldn’t contain their excitement as they waited for Wednesday morning. Ever since they won the school’s annual charity change drive, they have been eager to get their prize, a chance to “slime” their principal, Robert Palazzo.

“They’ve been talking about it since we had the drive,” Niehoff said.

On Wednesday, in front of a gym packed with their classmates, Niehoff’s class took turns dumping a green mixture over Palazzo’s head.

“I’m so proud of them. It’s nice to teach them that we help others,” she said.

Niehoff’s class won the grand prize in the annual drive. About a dozen other students also got a chance to slime their teachers, including Niehoff.

All told, Panther Valley Elementary students and their families raised $2,800 to be split among local nonprofits. During a weeklong fundraiser, children brought in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters to see which class could raise the most money.

Wednesday’s assembly kicked off with Palazzo handing out the checks to the nonprofit organizations chosen for the donations.

Students donated $680 each to Panther Valley FBLA, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Guardian Angel Recovery House, and the three local fire companies in Nesquehoning — Nesquehoning, New Columbus and Hauto. Palazzo and the school’s dedicated book fair volunteer, Bertha Shreffler, chose the organizations. The donations were a way for the school to give back after the community helped them to raise thousands last year to build a playground.

“This is an important cause because last year a lot of businesses, a lot of organizations, helped us out to build our playground,” Palazzo said.

Shreffler said that it’s great to be able to help teach the students the importance of giving back to their community.

“Because they did so much for the playground, we thought this time we’d give back to the community since they gave to us,” Shreffler said.

The organizations were all represented. Future Business Leaders of America students from Panther Valley High School have volunteered at the elementary before. Club member Mercedes Weaver said the donations will help them travel to the state conference where they will compete against other schools.

“We would like to thank you and your families for helping us raise this money so we can defray the cost of states and hopefully national conferences,” she said.

John Kintz is the father of two children with cystic fibrosis. He came to thank the students for their donation, as well as several books they donated to the family.

“We’re not from the area. We’re from Lehighton. So it was a surprise to us. It’s a nice school, they did a really nice thing raising money for all the charities,” he said.

Guardian Angel Recovery House, a Hazleton-based home for women dealing with addiction, is operated by the parent of a Panther Valley student. Darragh Ingrassia thanked the students for doing a great job.

Many of the teachers had to go back to class and finish the day with slime in their hair and on their clothes, which was cold and sticky.

“It’s all good, it’s all for the kids,” Niehoff said.