By Peter Ricci
A special message from Rob Ackerman: As principal at Lane School for the last 7 years, I have enjoyed getting to see the incredible “behind the scenes work” of the BEST Parent organization. What has made this experience particularly unique is getting to know Peter Ricci, the outgoing BEST President. When I first met Peter, I admit, I thought to myself, “wow…a father is leading the parent organization…that’s not typical.” But then again, Peter is not typical. In fact, he is an unsung hero in the community. Schools need people like Peter and his fellow BEST volunteers. Our students’ learning is enhanced because of people like Peter. As you read his “thank you” letter below, make sure you give him a “thank you” as well.
I know it’s weird, but I think one of the things I’m going to miss most about the elementary schools is the lunch menu. Something about talking with my son about what days he wants to buy lunch, the side items offered and the silly themed illustrations make me happy. Maybe it’s because I know the lunchrooms are full of social excitement, kids talking about their day to friends, or I could see the passing of the year, at Davis, from Mrs. Baudanza’s wall decorations. I’m not really sure … but I will miss not having that menu, circled with marker on “buy days” by my son, posted on my fridge.
Over the past eight years I have enjoyed a majority of my time at the schools. I won’t lie — being stuck in the copy room, stuffing teachers’ mailboxes and counting out 5th grade talent show and spiritwear tee shirts were not exactly the highlights.
Having been active in other aspects of town youth events, I have become sort of a familiar face. So when I go to the schools the kids tend to recognize me. I have said it before, but it is true … it is the only time I have felt like a rock star. A couple weeks ago I was (sigh) stuffing mailboxes again, at the Lane School, and I was the recipient of multiple high fives, knuckle bumps, and “Hey Mr. Ricci/Hey Quinn’s dad” shout outs. Then recently, I was at the Davis School for the Click, Clack, Moo theatre presentation. At least a dozen kids made a point to wave and say hi to me. This might not seem unusual for a parent at Davis, but you have to realize I have a 5th grader at Lane and a middle schooler. I have not had a student at Davis for years. It made me think that, yep, I’ll miss this, I really will.
(Editorial note- during the time it took me to write and edit this, I went to the Lane School for the “Invention Convention.” I was barraged by kids who greeted me and asked me to come by their booths to check out their work and high fived me … it was amazing.)
As I said, there are other moments where the rewards are not so clear. There have been stressful times, like when the projector at movie night wouldn’t turn on with a hundred people looking at us, the Lane Field Day dunk tank filled with water had its drain stuck closed, and the enrichment presenters went to the wrong school (visualize Mrs. Tate running out into the parking lot and saying, “Wrong school… Go to Lane!” with me on the other end of the phone at Lane looking at the clock.) There was the mundane, like storing 500 hotdog rolls, and stuffing a dozen carnival games in my garage –wait, okay, I guess I should clarify, mundane for the Ricci family these last years (not your average household) – to the more unique like discussing what budget line item gecko food would fall under, and arranging for a duck wrangler for an enrichment program.
Some people have been asking me, as I leave BEST/PTO, what I will do with all my time off? (And to put this in perspective, it is because I have been on the PTO, Cubmaster and a baseball assistant coach simultaneously.) I take this as more of a compliment than a question. It means these people have recognized the time I have put into the organization. I do have several answers for this. I would like to take a deep breath, and I hope my garage will look less like a flea market or salvage yard. To those closest to my family and me, they know the unfinished personal and family projects that I have put off, that I need to finish. It has become a running joke with these people, about how long it has taken me to do stuff for me. Some people in my life have told me that I should volunteer less and either work more or focus on other things in my life. There is some validity to this thought … but then I remember the fact that life can sometimes move too fast, and when I am older and an “empty nester,” I will be rewarded by many of the memories of making my community better and kids happy. I also hope that all kids, including my own, see my actions as a model for them in the future. I took this message from my parents, who were active in their communities. One of the things they did was help to found the Somerville Boys Club, 40 years ago. That being said, I am remaining active in the local scouting program and serving on the Bedford Youth and Family services committee.
It would be impossible to thank every volunteer or staff member who has helped me, by name… and I am sure I would miss a few… but I do want to recognize the executive board members with which I have worked. Some of these names current Davis and Lane families might not recognize, as their kids have moved on long ago, or they have moved out of town. Thanks to Annette Brown and Marge Heckman, who introduced me to BEST/PTO, and my neighbor Judy Metz, who was a volunteer coordinator when my daughter entered kindergarten. I also should apologize to her for 8 years of dunk tanks and carnival games coming to my house, and the many cars doing “drop offs” of items most days. And the people with which I worked on the executive boards: Lyn Kapilian, Diane Bernstein, Kristin Ferrari, Susan Miele, Caroline Fedele, Julie Phylis, Robin Steele, Sandy Morvillo, Dawn Kociubes, Audrey Gould, and Julie Antriasian.
A vendor once told me that I represent an extremely small percentage, as a male member of a PTO executive board. Being president made that percentage even smaller. I have had a great relationship with these women, and while there have been moments of stress (it is almost like a family business), there have been more and better moments of laughter and fun.
And, of course, some memories from the circus/carnival, which I managed for five years in a row, but I started my involvement, building the famous Principal Pie Shop, in 2008.
- While all the board members were a part of the event, I became a fixture at Julie Phylis’ house, especially in March, and her husband would say things like, “Your PTO husband is on the phone,” as we worked together on the major components of the event.
- My father, Anthony “Tony” Ricci, a Civil Engineer, becoming my behind the scenes structural advisor on the Principal Pie Shop and many later game builds.
- The year my young neighbor, Matthew Richard, thought the carnival was to be held in my yard, because all the games were set up and being tested in my driveway.
- Troubleshooting over the phone with Lisa Warhover as I was on vacation in Florida the first year we brought the circus/carnival back in 2010. “Ok Lisa, when I get off of Dumbo, I’ll call you back.”
- Reviewing prizes and games for several years with Tammy Morris at her kitchen island … using math to figure out how many duck prizes we would need for the Golden Egg Hunt (sponsored by Chip in Farm- Thanks, Couvee family)
- Brett Fagin from Meadow Farms fundraising, who when I told him I was looking for a type of contest, offered donated pies for a pie eating contest, for several years. So delicious that even after contestants “sampled” in the competition, they were ecstatic to bring one home as a prize.
- Handing out left over hot dogs to the boys high school lacrosse team who, in a serendipitous moment, came off a bus from a game as we were cleaning up (Yes they were “pumped.”)
- Speaking of cleaning up … Steve Mead, Mark Sullivan, Craig Phylis, Danny Missiti, Marc Spencer, Rich Fedele … feeling like we were in high school again, hanging out in the parking lot.
As I said, these are but a few recollections. I thank all of those people who helped me over the years. There were many of you and I could find a memory for each of you.
Thank you.
Courtesy images from the 2013 BEST Circus
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