School celebrates successes

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Joe Zappia figures that sacrificing a full head of hair to help inspire a group of kids is a trade he was willing to make.
Besides, it should grow back.
Zappia, a physical education teacher at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School on Windsor Avenue, promised the 275 pupils in his school that if they raised $2,500 in their annual Jump Rope for Heart event, he would shave his head in front of the student body.
The children did better than he expected, netting $2,600 in the Oct. 26 event, and on Tuesday, Zappia made good on his promise during a school academic awards ceremony.
Principal Maria Cougras Pappas did the honors, shaving his head after letting a couple of the top fund-raising pupils make preliminary cuts in Zappia's hair.
Zappia said he was surprised by the event's level of success. The pupils never had raised more than $1,300 before, he said.
Having his head shaved was worth it to motivate the kids, he said.
The school presented an oversized check to representatives of the American Heart Association during the ceremony.
Mileage Club
Pappas said Zappia has motivated the pupils in other ways as well.
He started a Mileage Club this year that encourages the pupils in grades one through four to walk a designated one-eighth mile course around the school during their noon recess.
Completing one lap gets a stamp on the pupil's Mileage Club card. Children who cover five miles get a "toe token" to put on their shoe laces.
Reaching 15 miles earns a certificate and the right to sign your name to a special Mileage Club poster. Zappia said seven pupils have achieved that mark thus far.
They were recognized for their effort during the awards ceremony.
Mascot named
The Bunn school moved into the Jackson School this year while a new Bunn building is being built.
Pappas said that, to elicit some school spirit and harmony, a contest was held to name the school's bear mascot.
First-grader Kayne Brown came up with the suggestion for "PJ," with the "P" representing Paul. C. Bunn and the "J" representing Jackson, she said.
The entire school got to vote on a number of suggested names, and "PJ" was the top choice, she said.
"PJ" marched in to open the awards ceremony, and Kayne was presented with a gift certificate to the Build-A-Bear store.
Honor-roll pupils, those with perfect attendance and those with no marks on their Merit Passport behavior cards for the entire first grading period also were recognized during the ceremony.
The school's Jump Rope Demonstration Team also performed.
gwin@vindy.com