Middle schoolers celebrate ‘Boosterbash’ for fundraising success

Sep 26, 2019

MATTAPOISETT — Students at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School took a break from classes on Thursday, Sept. 26 to get outside and enjoy the sunny weather, music, a variety of inflatable games and obstacle courses, and even got to see their principal kiss a cow.

The “Boosterbash” celebration was in honor of students reaching their fundraising goal of $12,000 for the school’s Student Activities Fund that helps pay for field trips, guest speakers, and other things that benefit students outside of normal class time.

For the last two weeks, students have been asking for donations by signing up on the Boosterbash website, and sending out their “dashboard links” to friends and family in hopes of gaining support for their cause. 

After raising just under $13,000, students were given a break from regular class time to celebrate their accomplishments on Sept. 26.

Eighth graders lined up outside on the school’s front field shortly after 10 a.m. to a plethora of games and activities as a reward for their hard work and success.

Inflatable obstacle courses like the “Vertical Rush,” and outlandish games like a giant dart board with soccer balls that stuck to its surface took center stage. As students ran, jumped, and worked on their aim, they had the chance to win gift cards ranging from $5 to $100 by spinning a wheel on a laptop.

Other games included the “Wrecking Ball” where kids attempted to knock each other off of a platform with an inflatable version of the classic tool used to topple buildings, and more traditional arcade-style basketball hoops.

A DJ from the Boosterbash program played music during the celebration, prompting some students to break out in an impromptu dance session on the front field. As students played and danced an announcer called winners over to take a shot at their chance to spin the wheel and win a gift card.

As a grand finale, Principal Silas Coellner agreed to kiss a cow on the lips. Eighth graders crowded around Coellner at around 11:30 a.m. to view the wild spectacle. Two calves were brought in by student Owen Wiegler and his family who raise cows.

As Coellner leaned in to kiss one of the calves his students cheered him on, and stood by in awe as their principal honored his word in an unusual ceremony.

Area Director of the Boosterbash program Alicia Tirpak said that Thursday’s event was the first of its kind in the area, and that in the past she has helped sponsor “fun run” programs at elementary schools. 

“This is incredible, our first one, and it was a huge success,” Tirpak said of the event at Old Rochester. 

After the eighth graders had their turn, the seventh grade was treated to the same celebration complete with games, music, and a cow-kissing finale.