WTHS Principal Suits Up as “Prize” in Friendly School-Wide Competition
Washington Township High School principal Jonathan Strout suited up to dress the part and was talking turkey in the senior cafeteria on October 15th, embracing his role as the prize for a friendly weekly competition that is taking place by grade level throughout the month of October. The competition, organized by National Honor Society (NHs) advisors Krista Scardino-Welch and Angela Bacher, has students bringing in supplies to bolster the NHS’ annual donation to its Stockings for Soldiers campaign.
“The WTHS National Honor Society has been organizing our Stockings for Soldiers drive for more than 15 years,” Scardino Welch said. “The organization is based out of Wilmington, Delaware. We collect all sorts of things – Raman noodles, fruit snacks, chap stick, beef jerky – and we will take our donations on November 9th and stuff them into handmade stockings. The organization packages them up and sends them overseas to our troops who are stationed all over the world, to give them a little bit of home for the holidays.
“This year, the NHS Executive Board decided, as a good way to get the whole school in on the fun, to host a weekly themed- competition in the month of October to see what grade level can bring in the most donations,” she said. “Our principal, Jonathan Strout agreed to dress up for last week’s theme, which was turkeys, in a turkey costume and visit the winning grade’s cafeteria. The seniors won this week.”
Going forward, winning grades will enjoy seeing Mr. Strout dressed up as an elf, a snowman and a New Year’s baby, complete with a diaper.
“I want to thank Mr. Strout so much for doing this,” she said, “and for encouraging all of the students and faculty to participate. Ms. Bacher and I certainly weren’t getting into costumes.”
“This sounded like a good when we were planning events in the summer,” quipped Strout, who, as one student suggested, was in serious violation of the school dress code.
For more information on the Stockings for Soldiers organization, please visit www.stockingsforsoldiers.org/.
Pictured: WTHS Principal Jonathan Strout made good on a promise to National Honor Society co-advisor Krista Scardino-Welch (right) and sported a turkey suit as a reward to the senior class who won the first weekly competition and collected the most donations for the Stockings for Soldiers organization.