Count Day Fun at Mill Creek Academy
Mill Creek Academy Principal Joe Sellenheim and Dean Patrick Collins should win an award for being most agreeable to promotional events at their school. The pair chose to be targets for hundreds of water balloons thrown by students at the end of the school’s fall count day.
Wisconsin schools hold count days to record student enrollment and determine state funding twice per school year; in the fall and winter. Parents were the first beneficiaries of the day at Mill Creek, as school staff greeted them during arrival with donuts and coffee. Staff also emphasized the importance of daily attendance and how that relates to academic success.
“I think things like this are important because they give students and families a chance to see us outside of our normal roles,” Collins said. “Most days we're talking about academics, behavior, attendance, or everything else that comes with school. Sometimes it's good to just have fun together.”
Excitement grew throughout the day as the time for water balloons grew near. Principal Sellenheim and Dean Collins stood near the school on the playground, wearing shirts with their own faces on them as targets. Each grade took turns, with students lining up, one-by-one, for their chance to hurl a water balloon at the leaders. The children took delight in their task, squealing, jumping, and shouting as balloons connected with their targets, dousing the school leaders with water.
The pair were good sports throughout, popping uncooperative balloons over their heads when necessary and reaching out for them if thrown wide. Younger students were allowed to get closer so their balloons could hit their mark.
“Count Day is obviously important for the school but turning it into something the kids are excited about helps build that sense that Mill Creek is a community. Hopefully our families see that we genuinely enjoy being here with their kids, even when it means getting hit with a few hundred water balloons!”
Great work promoting community, Mill Creek!