Students poured out of Hasson Heights Elementary School and into the sunshine Friday afternoon to see school principal Matt Siembida kiss a pig.
Missy Singleton’s first-grade class trouped out with each student wearing a pig nose in honor of the occasion.
The 375 students between kindergarten and fourth grade sat in the parking lot in front of the school and took up the chant “Kiss a pig! Kiss a pig!” with all their might. The excitement built.
Siembida quickly smooched the pig, named Pete, to the great delight of students.
Earlier in the school year, Singleton’s first-grade class challenged Siembida to kiss a pig if the kids read the number of books he named.
Little did he think they would reach their goal, he said, even though he knew they were “good readers.”
Two weeks ago, Siembida said he found out the 17 first graders read 1,000 books.
On Thursday, Ariel McFate, of Plumer, reached out to him on Facebook and offered to bring a pig from her farm.
After kissing Pete, Siembida announced several end of the year awards for good behavior, and a number of students leaped for joy upon hearing their class or team won.
Wednesday will be the last day of school for the students.
