Cows, Principals Fly at Bullard Elementary to Raise Funds for S.T.E.A.M. Lab
Miniature black and white cows rained down on the Bullard Elementary School field. Students lined the fence and looked to the sky to watch their superhero-caped principals drop Chick-fil-A cows out of a helicopter as it hovered over the bullseye mapped on the ground.
Principal, Dr. Patrice Moore, and assistant principal, Dr. Benji Morrell, took turns climbing in the two-seater helicopter to raise funds for the Bullard School Foundation and the school science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) lab.
Members of the school community purchased tiny cows for $5 for a chance to win Chick-fil-A for a year. “I donated $20 for the Bullard Foundation, and my cow came the closest to the bullseye,” said Kathy Poole, a kindergarten paraprofessional at Bullard Elementary School. Poole didn’t dream she had a chance at winning. So, she was surprised when the Bullard staff told her she won. “All the kids were jumping up and down,” explained Poole. “I was jumping up and down!” Poole plans to eat at Chick-fil-A once per week, at least.
Adding a humorous twist to the fundraising event, Poole’s cow almost didn’t fly. The cow drop was originally scheduled for later in the day. However, the cows had to start their flight earlier to avoid being in the air at the same time as President Donald Trump, who was flying into Atlanta on the same day as the cow drop. (Aircraft are restricted from flying when the President is traveling in the area.)
After the cows successfully made it into the air, the cows of two Bullard students won second and third place when they landed inches away from the bullseye. “I’m glad that I won,” said Bullard kindergartner Brayden. “I was in second place. I got a huge cow and another tiny cow and some gift cards for Chick-fil-A.” Fifth grader, Bryce has a new pair of headphones and Chick-fil-A coupons thanks to his third place cow.
“I thought it was really cool to see my principal and assistant principal up in a helicopter dropping a bunch of tiny cows onto a bullseye for the Bullard Foundation,” Bryce said.
Lee Rivera, an early intervention program specialist at Bullard, thought sending the caped principals up in the helicopter would excite the kids. “We felt that our fearless leaders needed to show that they had courage to go high in the air in the helicopter and drop the cows,” Rivera added. “We thought the kids would find that very fascinating.”
The Bullard Foundation is halfway to their $80,000 goal to fund a STEAM teacher and lab. They raised more than $3,500 from the cow drop, exceeding their goal for that activity. Earlier in the year, they held a fun run to raise money. Rivera wants every student at Bullard to have a chance to participate in STEAM lessons. She wants them to understand how items students use every day are manufactured.
Pictured above: Dr. Patrice Moore, Bullard Principal and Dr. Benji Morrell, Bullard, Assistant Principal, on the way to the helicopter. Kathy Poole with Chick-Fil-A cow and Dr Patrice Moore. Kathy won first place.
