After four weeks of summer school at Running Brook Elementary, nearby residents were used to the steady flow of students at the newly renovated facility. But the sight of two fully grown cattle outside the school's front entrance Friday was a surprise.
The two steers - Michael and Angelo - were at the school as part of a challenge issued by Assistant Principals Troy Todd and Brian Vanisko.
Todd, who oversaw the 46 students from Running Brook Elementary, and Vanisko, who oversaw the 71 students from nearby Stevens Forest Elementary, joined forces to encourage their students to keep up their attendance at the Running Brook summer school program. If 80 percent of the students had at least near-perfect attendance, one of the two assistant principals would kiss a cow. "The kids were driven by the competition," Todd said. "It raised both of our attendance."
Overall, Running Brook students attended school at a 91 percent rate, while Stevens Forest students attended at a rate of 88 percent. Classes ended Friday.
"It's the summer; kids have trips," Todd said. "To make it here every day is pretty impressive."
One of the highlights of the day was when Vanisko kissed Angelo, a brown and cream-colored gentle giant, on the snout.
The students cheered; some teachers laughed hysterically, and a few appeared nauseated.
"You've heard of teacher's shaving heads and kissing a pig. I'm kissing a cow," Vanisko said.
Yuri Kim, a second-grader at Stevens Forest, clapped at the sight of the smooch.
"It was funny," she said. "They [cows] are soft."
Michael and Angelo, along with two fluffy rabbits, were compliments of Vanisko, who owns the animals and houses them at his brother-in-law's West Friendship farm.
Vanisko got the idea when he realized that many of his students lacked contact with farm animals - something that his three children have had plenty of with their work in 4-H competitions.
"They got excited about this," Vanisko said. "I wanted to broaden their horizons."
Damion Alston, a second-grader at Running Brook, was impressed.
"They're perfect because they say 'moo,' " he said of the 1,300-pound animals. "I've never seen a cow before."
Jaden Washington, a second-grader at Running Brook who had seen a cow before, said "it feels comfortable," after petting Angelo. "It's a fun feeling."
Students who had perfect attendance were also entered into a drawing for nearly 40 prizes - including Hula Hoops, skateboards and games.
Lisa Booth, the principal at Running Brook, said she was impressed with the way the students responded to the incentives.
"Anytime you do something special for the kids, it is a motivating factor," she said as she watched the youngsters enjoy frozen desserts. "It's a much more encouraging way of understanding the rules."
This past year, Howard County administrators have gone to great lengths to motivate their students to perform well.
Scott Conroy, principal at Wilde Lake Middle School, shaved his head in March after 95 percent of the 501 students showed up for the four days of Maryland School Assessment testing.
In March, Cradlerock Principal Jason McCoy and Stevens Forest Principal Ron Morris made a bet that the principal at the school with the lower MSA scores would have to perform an embarrassing task such as riding around the parking lot on a scooter dressed in a tutu.
Students at Swansfield Elementary School got an opportunity in June to dunk Principal Jonathan Davis as a reward for good behavior during the Maryland School Assessment.
john-john.williams@baltsun.com