December 5, 2016
WALNUT, CA—Walnut Valley USD principals have been known to participate in fun incentives during school-wide fundraisers, like kissing a pig, sitting on a rooftop, or becoming a human hotdog.
Walnut Elementary leader Robert Chang has been putting it out there for the kids for the past decade.
During his tenure at Collegewood Elementary, he wore a dress and high heels for an entire school day, was taped to a playground ball wall, and even bravely allowed a student to buzz his hair into a Mohawk.
On December 2, he continued his “sticky” tradition at Walnut Elementary by volunteering to get duct taped to the school library.
The principal made the promise to students as motivation to reach a goal for the fall Colt Campaign.
"It's all about the students and making school fun for them,” Chang explained. “We expect a lot from our students each and every day at school, once in a while we need to change things up and have them experience something outrageously fun!"
Meanwhile, as funds began pouring in, Community Club parents began researching YouTube videos to find the safest way to complete the challenge.
It turned out to be an engineering feat that required a total of 15 giant rolls - each 55-yards-long - of the sturdy silver tape.
On Friday, all 675 students got a chance to place a strip of tape to help attach their principal to the door.
The parents even made Mr. Chang a duct-tape tie for the special occasion.
Once all the tape was secured, students gathered together for the unveiling chanted “Open the door!”
Community Club president Molly Mendoza, and vice-president April Alvarado pulled the door open, removed the step stool under his feet, and let the principal “hang out” while students and staff members snapped photos.
“It was a fun day and our students loved every minute of it!” shared elementary learning specialist Jill Takayama.
By Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
Shown:
We did it! Walnut Elementary hosts a successful fall fundraiser and principal Robert Chang gets taped to the library as a reward.
All taped up and nowhere to go! Walnut Elementary Principal Robert Chang keeps his pledge to get duct taped to the library.
Every Walnut Elementary student added a strip of tape to the help keep their principal stuck to the library door.
Principal Robert Chang and parent volunteers Jennifer Mendoza (with daughter Penny), Nancy Hwang, April Alvarado, Molly Mendoza, Angie Yung, and Lily Eibert at Colt Campaign celebration.
Principal Robert Chang gets taped to the library as a reward for the successful fundraising campaign. Shown with teacher Stephanie Kalscheuer and elementary learning specialist Jill Takayama.