School spirit was front and center during a pink-themed pep rally Oct. 30 in the Shelton High School gym as staff and students showed support for The Valley Goes Pink.
The school raised at least $6,000 to support The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness. The center is at Griffin Hospital in Derby.
Senior Jillian Ortoli, student council president, said students held fundraisers throughout October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
They sold T‑shirts, pink ribbon pins, pink towels, and more during lunch periods.
“I’m so proud of the way the school came together as a community,” Ortoli said. The fund-raising goal was $4,500 for the month of October.
Last year slightly under $7,000 was raised.
Headmaster Beth A. Smith was garbed in pink. To get into the celebratory spirit for having exceeded the fund-raising goal she agreed to be a “human sundae.”
She sat in an empty wading pool and students got a chance to spray her with whipped cream and douse her with chocolate syrup and toppings.
“I’m a little wet but it’s for a great cause,” Smith said.
Mayor Mark A. Lauretti said, “The spirit of pink can certainly be seen here. I congratulate all of you for your spirit and your efforts,” Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti said.
Oct. 30 was Lauretti’s birthday. Smith led the staff and students in singing “Happy Birthday” to him.
Lauretti got into the spirit by letting students spray his hair pink, as did Superintendent of Schools Freeman Burr.
Breast cancer survivors Susan Coyle and her daughter, Jodi Dawley, both of Shelton, were recognized for their volunteer work with The Valley Goes Pink.
Coyle is a former co-chair of the initiative, and Dawley is currently co-chair with Sue Petrizzo.
