Bessemer students get revenge

BESSEMER - The saying goes, "Revenge is a dish best served cold," but students at Bessemer's Washington Elementary School didn't even wait until school was out for summer to get revenge on teachers and administrators.

Students were able to purchase tickets for 50 cents each that were entered into a raffle. When the tickets were drawn, the lucky students got the revenge they were looking for by tossing a plate of whipped cream at their educators.

Overall, the students raised $187 that will be donated to the HOPE Animal Shelter.

Sixth-grader Jacob Hill donated $20 to make sure he had the best chance to "pie" teacher Barb Malmberg.

Malmberg, who worked in the school district for 31 years in the swimming pool and then teaching fifth and sixth grades, is retiring this year.

She said the event was a fun opportunity for students.

"They get to see another side of the personality they don't normally see in the classroom," Malmberg said. "Every time they've done it I've been pied. Still tastes the same - terrible - (but) easier to take."

A number of teachers and administrators volunteered to have the sweet topping splattered on their educated mugs, including Diana Hansen.

Hansen, head teacher at the school, said the event started last year.

"It was in honor of Jill Carver (fourth grade teacher) because she was out with cancer," Hansen said. "So we raised money for her last year with this, and we just decided every year now we'll do this and pick something that's important and donate."

Melodee Jacobson, a sixth-grader at the school, said she had fun and got "revenge for mean homework" when she pied music teacher Stephen Boniface.

Bonfiace said it felt good getting pied in the face, but "there was no cherry on top," he said. "That was a bummer."