Chartiers Valley Primary School collects 1,712 cereal boxes for donation

Breakfast cereal that’s passed its expiration is for the birds.

At Chartiers Valley Primary School, that means literally.

Among the 1,712 boxes of cereal collected for a fun, educational and philanthropic activity were a few stamped with “best by” dates preceding May 12.

That morning, teacher Ellen Zissis and librarian Becky Forkner were showered with the expired contents, much in the manner of sports-related Gatorade showers, except for the soakage part.

They organized a combination food drive and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics lesson by asking students and staff members to donate cereal boxes, which then were placed strategically around the building for a large-scale demonstration of the principles of force and motion.

Shortly after 9:30, the boxes started toppling like dominoes. Students marveled as the containers progressed through hallways to their endpoint at the Chartiers Valley Colts logo in the middle of the gymnasium.

Zissis, who teaches STEM subjects, called attention to the generosity of second-grader Tanner Mastylak. He donated $100 of his own money toward purchasing cereal, an amount that was matched by a school educator’s husband.

The cereal that hadn’t expired, Zissis said, went to local food banks and pantries, Blessings in a Backpack, a veterans’ organization, Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and shelters for women and children.