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WILKES-BARRE — There was a multiple-choice “name that mascot” contest with improbable options like “Arizona Avocado” and “Misericordia Radish” (both bogus).
There was a magic trick in which the three of hearts morphed, thanks to poor hearing, into the “tree of hearts,” complete with a picture of heart-laden tree.
And there was the reading of the book, “The Next Notre Dame Mascot,” written by four local retired teachers-turned-authors during a morning assembly at Dodson Elementary School for fourth grade students.
But there was a bigger reason for the whole event, exemplified by the fact that only the fourth grade got to participate. This was a day to honor a former teacher who taught that grade in that school for more than three decades: Anne Carroll, who passed away last November.
Her brother Jack, along with several cousins and their children, sat and watched at the retired local teachers-turned-authors, known as “The Four Pops,” held the mascot contest, put on the magic show and read their book about how the fabled university’s Irish setter symbol retired and made way for the ubiquitous leprechaun.
“Miss Carroll was one of the best fourth-grade teachers ever,” Glenn Davis, one of the Four Pops who had taught at Dodson himself, told the students.
As Davis performed the magic stunts under his pseudonym “Cosmic Glenn,” sixth-grade teacher Megan Peters whispered in quiet awe at Carroll’s commitment. “She taught fourth grade every year for 35 years.”
After all the hoopla with the youngsters ended and they returned to class, the family and several teachers walked down the hall to the school computer lab, which was officially dedicated to and named after Carroll.
There were refreshments, a plaque, and brief words from Peters and Principal Gina Bartoletti. Carroll’s brother Jack watched with quiet approval.
“It feels pretty good,” he said of seeing his late sister honored. Davis, the magician, “has been a friend of the family for a long time.
“That’s the thing about Dodson,” he added. “They stick together. They really are a family.”
