Polk Street School takes a shot for one of its own

Polk Street School held its annual field day last Friday, with students working off some steam in wilting heat and humidity. But not a complaint could be heard among students and teachers lined up on the blacktop. Almost the only thing audible was a chorus of cheers for 6-year-old Peter Cannon, a Polk Street Kindergartner who was diagnosed with leukemia in January.

"It was a real shock to everyone here," said Polk Street Assistant Principal Tom Riccobono, wearing a bright purple shirt — Peter's favorite color — to show his support. Riccobono wasn't the only one wearing purple one way or another. Almost every student and teacher on the grounds was wearing an armband, shirt, hat or in some cases, nail polish, that matched the purple color of the bandanna Peter wore on his head.

According to Principal Elizabeth Hunt, parents and teachers at Polk Street's Compact For Learning Committee came up with the idea for the Cannonball Shootout as a way to help curb the prohibitive costs of Peter's chemotherapy treatments, and to bring students together to help one of their classmates.

Students went to friends and relatives, asking them to pledge donations for every shot they could make inside of 30 seconds. Representatives of the school said that, in addition to a $250 donation from the local Franklin Square Rotary Club, they expected to take in well over $1,000.

The first shot of the event was taken by Peter's brother Frank, a fourth-grader at the school. He said there was a little bit of pressure given that all eyes were on him, but he was happy to do it.

"It was a little embarrassing," Frank said of his shot in front of the whole school. "I could feel everyone staring."

It was obvious from the look on Frank's face — and Peter's — that the shot meant the world to both boys.

"This [event] is incredible," said Peter's father, Ralph Cannon. "I really didn't think this many people cared to help just one student."

To the contrary, Hunt said, the shootout was an event that students had been looking forward to for weeks, and a way for everyone to get involved in helping to give one of their classmates a lift.

"Everybody knew we wanted to do something," Hunt said. "Just anything to help a family in need."

Despite the heat and the scorching sun, ever student at Polk Street took part in the event, with some waving at Peter who stood at his father's side. Peter's mother Mary helped orchestrate the event, fielding rebounds for some of the shooters and taking pictures.

Nicholas Limpert, 10, a fourth-grader at the school, made it clear that every Polk Street student cared deeply about Peter's well-being.

"I felt like the shootout was really good," he said. "Peter is going through something that not a lot of kids go through, and we're here to help him with that."