MONROE - Cupid came through big time at Monroe High School Friday.
When students arrived for classes, they all found a paper Valentine heart taped to their locker. That's right, every single one of them.
And they all read, "You are loved."
Someone the night before had planted the Valentines, locker by locker, nearly 800 in all. And that means someone had to let the love bandits into the school.
Business teacher Sherri Hendrickson has confessed to her role as supervisor.
"Yes, it was fun to be part of a covert operation at the high school," she said.
She was sworn to secrecy, and as of 10:30 a.m. Friday the cat was yet to be let out of the bag as to who was behind the incredible mass gesture.
"I had less than 24-hour notice on this," Hendrickson said, "so I haven't even had time to tell anyone.
"But I did see the nice reaction of the kids this morning. They were really happy to see them on their lockers."
Senior Jenna Crook was as surprised as anyone.
"I had no idea what was going on," she said. "Everyone seems to like it and I'm happy we're celebrating Valentine's Day. At school, we don't always get to celebrate every holiday."
What didn't surprise her was her learning the identity of the mastermind behind it all: senior Erin Gellings.
Gellings is known for volunteer work, especially with the recent annual "Prom for Pennies" formal dress drive.
"I'm not surprised at all - she does this kind of thing," said Crook, who said she'd keep it a secret even though Gellings would be atop most people's guess list.
Gellings said her intention was as simple as trying to make everyone's day.
"I haven't told anyone," she said. "I did have two teachers ask if it was me, and I did confess to one of them.
"I just wanted to see everyone be excited, and that was cool."
Gellings said she got the idea from a California school that did the same and posted it on the Internet.
She recruited some classmates to get in on the endeavor - senior McKenna Christiansen, juniors Rianna Kubly, Shannon Rabotski and Maija Liimatainen, and sophomore Abby Bethke - and got to work on the paper cutting and writing, which took four hours. Then came the delivery scramble, which took three hours of racing hallway to hallway.
For Gellings, it was another project that not only made her feel good but made a difference.
"That seems to be a habit of mine, doesn't it?" she said.
So, come St. Patrick's Day, will we see 800 shamrocks all over the school?
"Probably not," she said, then thought for a minute. "Then again, you never know."
When students arrived for classes, they all found a paper Valentine heart taped to their locker. That's right, every single one of them.
And they all read, "You are loved."
Someone the night before had planted the Valentines, locker by locker, nearly 800 in all. And that means someone had to let the love bandits into the school.
Business teacher Sherri Hendrickson has confessed to her role as supervisor.
"Yes, it was fun to be part of a covert operation at the high school," she said.
She was sworn to secrecy, and as of 10:30 a.m. Friday the cat was yet to be let out of the bag as to who was behind the incredible mass gesture.
"I had less than 24-hour notice on this," Hendrickson said, "so I haven't even had time to tell anyone.
"But I did see the nice reaction of the kids this morning. They were really happy to see them on their lockers."
Senior Jenna Crook was as surprised as anyone.
"I had no idea what was going on," she said. "Everyone seems to like it and I'm happy we're celebrating Valentine's Day. At school, we don't always get to celebrate every holiday."
What didn't surprise her was her learning the identity of the mastermind behind it all: senior Erin Gellings.
Gellings is known for volunteer work, especially with the recent annual "Prom for Pennies" formal dress drive.
"I'm not surprised at all - she does this kind of thing," said Crook, who said she'd keep it a secret even though Gellings would be atop most people's guess list.
Gellings said her intention was as simple as trying to make everyone's day.
"I haven't told anyone," she said. "I did have two teachers ask if it was me, and I did confess to one of them.
"I just wanted to see everyone be excited, and that was cool."
Gellings said she got the idea from a California school that did the same and posted it on the Internet.
She recruited some classmates to get in on the endeavor - senior McKenna Christiansen, juniors Rianna Kubly, Shannon Rabotski and Maija Liimatainen, and sophomore Abby Bethke - and got to work on the paper cutting and writing, which took four hours. Then came the delivery scramble, which took three hours of racing hallway to hallway.
For Gellings, it was another project that not only made her feel good but made a difference.
"That seems to be a habit of mine, doesn't it?" she said.
So, come St. Patrick's Day, will we see 800 shamrocks all over the school?
"Probably not," she said, then thought for a minute. "Then again, you never know."