On a chilly Monday afternoon, students in third through sixth grade gathered on the basketball court for the second annual SOL Smash. There was a sense of excitement buzzing through the air as upbeat dance music played across the blacktop. A SOL Smash is a pep rally for students to get excited before going into their end of the year state Standards of Learning standardized tests. During this event hosted by the Mount Vernon Woods Student Council Association (SCA), a few lucky students got to throw a pie in a teacher’s face.

One brave teacher from each grade volunteered to be pied, these teachers adorned in rain ponchos, googles, and a shower cap waited with anticipation for their turn.  Ms. Wilson, the SOL sponsor announced the names of the lucky pairs of students from each grade that were chosen to throw a pie in their teachers’ faces. When their names were called, each student walked to the front with pride, carried a pie to their teacher before SMASHING it all over their grade level teacher’s face.

The highlight of the afternoon was when Ms. O’Neal our school principal announced that she too was going to be pied. Ms. Robinson, our new assistant principal, acting as Ms. O’Neal’s bodyguard sat alongside Ms. O’Neal for moral support. Two students from the SCA walked towards, Ms. O’Neal with the largest of all the pies and devious grins on their faces. At the last second the two SCA members turned towards Ms. Robinson as Ms. O’Neal leaped out of the way, making a clean escape. Ms. Robinson was not so lucky and went home covered in pie.

The event ended with a popsicle party. The students left for the day knowing that they were ready to SMASH the SOLs which begin later this week.