This past week, St. Pius X High School added an exciting twist to its usual lunch periods—a dunk tank to help support the Annual Fund. Held on Monday, October 7, students with parents who made donations were selected to take a shot at dunking Mr. Parr, Mrs. Dominguez, or Father Robbie.
The dunk tank was set up outside the cafeteria by the front gates and started at the end of each lunch period, and one by one students lined up to test their throwing skills while their classmates cheered them on.
“It’s not every day you get the chance to dunk a teacher… even though I missed,” said senior Madeline Randa. “I think it’s a great way to bring everyone together for something fun during lunch.”
Although a dunk tank was a new event for St. Pius, this was not Father Robbie’s first rodeo.
“I had to go in the dunk tank at IHM at our parish picnic last year,” said Father Robbie. “So, me and [former IHM pastor] Father Fred were in it all day, and it was very cold, but I was happy to do it because I think it’s a good bit and people seem to have fun with it.”
According to Father Robbie, the person whose throwing skills took him by surprise the most was Mr. Byrne, our campus minister.
“He was going, full wind up, full pitch and he got me good,” he said.
The dunk tank fundraiser was not just about fun but also about encouraging parents to donate to our Annual Fund, which supports all the new additions to St. Pius X. The money raised helps fund a full-time chaplain, new safety features, teacher salaries, athletics, arts, and maintaining the campus. One exciting project is a new STEM lab being built in the old Donnellan Center.
“I think anything that brings our community together and has people hanging out together is always a special thing, even if it’s something as simple as a dunk tank, it brings everyone together,” Father Robbie said. “And I think especially at lunch, you guys have a lot going on in terms of the stress with your classes, work, homework, and all of those different things [are helpful], even just a little respite like that, of just watching something goofy for a little bit to just chill and be able to decompress for a little.”
We hope to see a dunk tank next year and to continue this tradition!
