Everyone Cheers as Dumfries Elementary Principal kisses a pig

Students weren’t the only ones who squealed when their “footprints of kindness” circled around the school building.

Squeals of a different kind came from Tootsie, a pig visiting from the Prince William County Animal Shelter. As a reward for students’ good citizenship, Dumfries Elementary School Principal Rita Goss was going to give Tootsie a big smooch – and the young hog was snorting and squealing for the crowd, heightening the anticipation that had already been built up throughout the year.

So what does it take to make a school principal kiss a pig? At Dumfries Elementary, any random act of kindness will start you on the path to a pig-kissing event. That’s because Mrs. Goss issued a challenge to her students: For every act of kindness witnessed, students would receive a footprint to tape up on the school wall; and if the students earned enough footprints of kindness to circle the entire building, interior hallways and all, they would get to watch as Mrs. Goss kissed a piglet!

It took 1,751 kind acts in all to reach their goal, with footprints proudly listing good deeds such as “being supportive of classmates” and “helping my mom do laundry while she was sick.” Even teachers pitched in, posting their own kind deeds to help the students wrap their footprints around the building.

And when the big day came, the administration made sure it was an event to remember. Not only did Mrs. Goss have to kiss the pig twice (as there were two separate assemblies), but the students got to participate in a piggy fashion show, with winners earning a movie and popcorn for their class.

Surely what the students remember best is the look on Mrs. Goss’ face as she puckered up for Miss Tootsie. But the larger lesson learned by all was that being good does pay… and sometimes it makes for a great day at school as well.

Visit Dumfries Elementary School’s Web site.

Visit the Prince William County Animal Shelter Web site. They have a free petting zoo open every Thursday where you can visit animals like Tootsie.

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