Students Get Into Black 'n Gold Spirit

The Pittsburgh Steelers used to have “The Bus” when Jerome Bettis roared through defenses. But the students at Chartiers Valley Primary School have their own kind of Steelers bus.

Kids on the No. 31 school bus driven by Beth Vinoski were encouraged to decorate their seating area with pictures and drawings. Vinoski gave the students the “homework assignment” before the AFC Championship game nearly two weeks ago and the bus has remained black ‘n gold ever since.

The rest of the school district was also getting into the act by decorating most classroom doors.  Curt Cairns, a fourth-grade teacher, organized the contest at the intermediate school and the idea quickly spread to other buildings. The winning classrooms at every grade level in the intermediate school will receive an ice cream party.

“Any time you can boost the morale at the school and the students’ interest in being here, it’s a good thing. They’re excited about the Steelers in general," Cairns said. “The teachers get pretty fired up, too. It’s always fun.”

The students at all the schools will wear their Steelers colors on Friday and learn whose classroom won the door-decorating contest.