| 02/18/2007 |
| Blackrock teachers transform into McTeachers |
| By:DANIEL ARRIGAN |
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COVENTRY - Cars circled the jam-packed parking lot of McDonald's
on Tiogue Avenue on Tuesday night, looking for any available
spot to park so that they could go inside and witness teachers
from Blackrock School elementary working as McDonald's
employees. Miller, who works at McDonald's, bridged the gap from manager Randy Boone, who spearheaded the initiative, to the school. "I've lived in Coventry my entire life," Boone said, "and I wanted to get this store more involved in the community." Last week, this McDonald's hosted a similar night for Washington Oak Elementary school raising approximately $450, Boone said. Clad in paper hats and big smiles, the teachers went about their shift serving food to customers, often their own students, and cleaning the tables to make room for more happy dinners. Brian Main, a fifth Grade teacher at Blackrock, was one of the volunteers, busing the tables of his own students, who, he admits, were giving him a little bit of a hard time and yet, "they won't give me any food," Main said. Main was just one of many teachers who were helping to make the evening an enjoyable and successful night. The night was not just work for the volunteers, but also a social outing. "Mr. Main, meet my friend," a young girl called out over the commotion of kids running around, playing with each other, getting their face painted, or getting balloon animals from the clown. "Don't make a mess," Mr. Main light-heartedly cautioned one of his students. "Because I'm cleaning the tables and I don't want to clean up a big mess." Shannon Lagasse, a second grade student teacher at Blackrock was one of the McDonald's regular employees who helped train the volunteer staff including Mrs. Jill Pare, the second teacher. With all the additionally help that night, Lagasse said that she was having a hard time finding things to do. "They're doing an excellent job," Lagasse said. "They're very helpful actually," Boone said, impressed by the adaptability of the teachers. "It's amazing that they just pick right up." Although this was the first of these types of fundraisers for Blackrock, Miller said that this, "won't be the last." "It's cool to see her teacher Mr. Main here," Cari, a fifth grade student said. When asked if she preferred him working as a teacher or at McDonald's, Cari, after a long and thoughtful pause, enthusiastically and unequivocally stated, "McDonald's."
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