Glendale Prep Faculty Were Caught “Pie-Surprise”

At a recent pep assembly at Glendale Prep, there was a lot to celebrate and commemorate, but it was the image of the esteemed faculty leaving the gym floor, wiping whipped cream from their faces that will surely remain an indelible memory for the student body.

This assembly, that celebrated the athletes in winter sports, began like many others. “The first 15 to 20 minutes is always going to be introducing each team,” explained John Kontak, the academy’s athletic director. “Whether you are on middle school tennis or on varsity basketball, you’re still an equal participant, equal part of our athletic program.” The applause for these athleteswas in full swing, with the crowd of fellow students and faculty displaying their support in true Griffin fashion.

And the introductions were noticeably enhanced for this particular assembly, thanks to a newly upgraded sound system in the academy’s gymnasium. “We had a very generous anonymous donor pay for the entire revamping of our sound system,” shared Family Giving Officer Tammy Kempton. “We’re really showcasing that today as well because it sounds amazing.” This upgrade will not only enhance the basketball and volleyball games held in the gym but will also make a dramatic improvement to the drama productions, seminars, and awards ceremonies that also take place in this multi-purpose room.

And then came the much-anticipated merch toss. “Kids love shirts,” shared Kontak. “So, it’s a chance to get them excited. And we have our spirit committee throw out shirts with our cheer team as well.” The cheer team followed up with a special performance for the assembly, taking center stage.

But the real “crème de la crème” (pun intended) of this gathering was drawing near, much to the anticipation of the students, and the mixed emotions of fear and dread of the faculty. “On Giving Tuesday on December 2nd, we had a goal to reach $20,000 to raise money for community investment. And we were actually able to exceed that goal,” explained Kempton. “As an incentive, we decided as a faculty that any member would be “pied” in the face by a student. We were lucky enough to have 33 faculty members agree to it.”

While hair nets and plastic ponchos were offered to the brave teachers and school staff, many opted to go without any protective gear, and throwing caution to the wind. As you can imagine, the whipped cream was flying as selected students took their pie pan filled over the top with whipped cream and ceremoniously pushed it into the face of the faculty member standing before them, some a little braver in their delivery than others.

But the staff, now covered in “pie” took it in the good fun that was intended, knowing this reward for the students was all for a good cause and a “filling” experience. No retributions or detentions were handed out during this event, just a lot of laughs and joy coming from the barely visibly eyes behind the layers of cream.

“You do the things that will entertain the kids and maybe show a little vulnerability at times that we’re people here just like they are,” shared Kontak while still working to get the remnants of cream out of his beard. “And we set goals and then we have a chance to be able to get pied in the face.”

A special thank you to all who have supported the academy through the Community Investment, and a very special thank you to the faculty at Glendale Prep who proved themselves to be “upper crust” when taking their “just desserts.”

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