• Marion-Walker principal, teacher participate in polar bear plunge

    kkEach year, Marion-Walker Elementary School Principal Karen Krisch braves the cold water at Black Moshannon State Park to participate in the Polar Bear Plunge and give back to a program that gives so much to the district in return. The annual event benefited the YMCA of Centre County’s antihunger initiatives, such as the Backpack Weekend Food Program.

    According to the YMCA, eligible students from area schools, including those from Bellefonte Area School District, receive a backpack containing meals and snacks to take home for the weekend. They’re given a backpack full of food each Friday during the school year and return it on Monday so volunteers can repack the bags. Meals and snacks include cereal, soup, tuna, spaghetti, crackers and more.

    To help raise money to provide students with this opportunity, Krisch – along with Marion-Walker third-grade teacher Jennifer Carroll – participated in the Polar Bear Plunge where they took a dip in Black Moshannon Lake. The day recorded a high of 35 degrees and low of 20 degrees, according to records from AccuWeather.

    Their efforts also helped the district claim the Cool School Challenge recognition for raising the most money of all participating school districts. They raised $2,775.41.

    *By Brit Milazzo, public relations director, BASD