Memorial makes a splash

Memorial Junior High School’s administration took one for the team. In an effort to raise money for a new electronic sign, three school leaders took a seat in a dunk tank on a recent Friday afternoon.

Principal Anthony Mignella, Assistant Principal Bret Strauss and dean of student John Bruzzo each took their turn getting dunked by students, teachers and staff on May 17. “The kids were dunking them like crazy,” said Christine O’Toole, president of the Eagles Club, which hosted the event. “Everybody had a good time, a lot of laughs.”

The Eagles Club was founded several years ago by Tony Spezio and though it had become dormant, this year the group was resurrected. Its first goal is to buy an electronic sign for the front yard of the school, similar to signs installed outside Central and South high schools last year.

O’Toole, who has a son in eighth-grade at Memorial, said the cost of a sign will be at least $5,000. Last Friday afternoon’s event generated $575. That, combined with other fundraisers earlier this year, has so far netted the club about $2,600 to put toward the sign. “We’re about halfway,” O’Toole said.

Students and teachers could purchase three balls for $5 to try and dunk one of Memorial’s administrators. Spezio was in charge of selling the balls.

“It was a blast,” Mignella said. “Everyone had a fantastic time. Even though I got soaked I had a great time.”

Mignella said between the dunk tank, a soccer tournament and Trivial pursuit contest, it was a fun week for students at a needed time between the state tests and finals. He noted that the fundraiser, which included a cotton candy machine and other snacks, was in the works since the fall.

He added that he looks forward to being able to get the new sign. The current sign, he said, doesn’t have much life left. “It’s hanging on by rusty screws right now,” Mignella said. “It’s definitely very old.”

O’Toole said she is hoping that the Eagles Club can finish its fundraising efforts for the sign within the next school year. Once that mission is complete, money raised will go to support Memorial’s various clubs.

She said she hopes to make the dunk tank fundraiser an annual event.