Slime Time Success: Monsignor O’Donoghue CES students soak the principal after smashing fundraising goal
Dec. 1, 2025
Students and staff at Monsignor O’Donoghue Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough are celebrating a major milestone after their annual Dance-a-Thon raised more than $20,000, easily surpassing this year’s goal of $15,000.
The school community marked the achievement with a “slime the principal” celebration, where students gleefully dumped six buckets of slime on their principal Paul Hough, it was a moment that captured the excitement and pride felt throughout the day.
“I’m so proud of you all for raising more than $20,000,” Hough said to the entire school as they gathered outside to watch him get covered in slime as students chanted “Slime! Slime! Sime!”
The Dance-a-Thon is just one part of a multi-year effort to raise funds for a new school playground.
Over the past three years, the MOD community has worked together through a combination of fundraisers, including the annual Dance-a-Thon, hot lunch programs, and a business appeal that remains ongoing.
The school reached out to 90 local businesses, receiving strong support from the community.
A major lift came from a generous contribution from a local family foundation, which helped accelerate the campaign and inspire additional donations.
To date, the school has raised close to $130,000 toward the project.
The school is currently on track to break ground in July, bringing a long-awaited new playground one step closer to reality for students and families.