Peabody teachers manning McDonald’s grill to raise money for Center School students

PEABODY – Center School principals and teachers will be wearing different hats Wednesday night, as they serve up McDonald’s world famous French fries and flip hamburgers in an effort to raise money for their fifth grade students.Their unpaid overtime is part of the annual McTeacher’s Night fundraising event. Fifteen percent of all purchases made at the Main Street location between 4 and 7 p.m. will go toward the fifth grade class. The money will defray the cost of students’ end of the year field trip, as well as their yearbooks.This isn’t the first time that McDonald’s has opened up their restaurant to the Center School. For the last few years, McDonald’s has given up a portion of their dining area for students, teachers and members of the PTO to decorate, hold raffles, do face painting and play games. The corporation also helps the school promote the event by distributing 500 fliers and posting advertisements within the restaurant weeks in advance.This year’s big raffle prizes include American Girl’s 2008 Girl of the Year, Mia and Razor’s RipStik Caster Board, complete with a helmet and pads. McDonald’s will also be giving out gift certificates for free Happy Meals for a year.Fifth grade parent and PTO member Sarah Jones is leading this year’s event.”We usually have a pretty good turnout,” she said. “Kids really like to come in because their teachers are actually serving them.”The restaurant will remain open to the public during the event, and in fact, the public is encouraged to participate and help increase the amount of money donated. Jones said a goal hasn’t been set in terms of funds, but any amount will help.