Scarselli celebrates 20 years

At least 575 people visited Scarselli Elementary School Tuesday night to celebrate the school's 20th anniversary with a hot-dog dinner, zucchini games and a raffle fundraiser.

"I think it's the most people we've ever had for an event," said Scarselli teacher Vivian Michalik.

Third-grade teacher Debbie McNeil said she was excited to see old students.

"I've been here since the school opened, and it's so great to see the past come back," she said. "I saw some of my ex-students who are now parents with children at the school."

The event included zucchini-themed games, including steal the zucchini, toss the zucchini and a zucchini race, as tribute to the school's customary zucchini festival.

"I don't know how it was established, but the zucchini festival started years ago, and we've always done it in the fall," said McNeil.

Parent Teacher Organization treasurer Mary Swisher also mentioned the mystery of the zucchini.

"I've been at Scarselli for 10 years, and we used to do the zucchini festival, but we haven't done it for a while," she said. "All the games we played with the kids were based around the zucchini. Why? I don't know."

McNeil said fellow third-grade teacher Janice Gearty dressed up as a zucchini for the anniversary celebration.

"Let me tell you, no one could've picked a better zucchini," McNeil said.

Swisher also said Sandy Trivitt, president of PTO, worked very hard to give every student a blue T-shirt commemorating the event.

"It looked like a sea of blue," said Swisher.

The event also featured a basket raffle with proceeds going to the school's scholarship fund.

"The baskets were incredible. Each basket had a different theme. One sportsman basket had ski passes to Kirkwood. Another basket had 10 to 12 video games in it," McNeil said.

"It was fabulous," said Swisher. "We raised $3,100 for the scholarship fund."

She said the fund is for Scarselli graduates going on to college.

"Last year we gave out six $500 scholarships," said Scarselli principal Brandon Swain. "It's wonderful to see so many parents and members of the community involved in our school."

Swain also explained the mystery of the zucchini.

"I believe it was originally a harvest festival. Students were given zucchini seeds in the spring and would bring the vegetables back in the fall," said Swain. "It then evolved into the zucchini festival with all the games."