Playing “Turkey in the Straw” — a telltale sign that frozen treats await — an ice cream truck pulled up outside Spring Avenue School and Gurrie Middle School in La Grange around noon Tuesday.
But the people lining up were not students.
It was the final day of summer vacation and the kids were probably cramming in a much fun as possible. The line was formed by teachers and staff taking a break from preparing classrooms for Wednesday’s first day of school.
Dr. Brian Ganan, superintendent of La Grange School District 105, was the guy handing out ice cream bars, cones, and frozen treats from the truck’s service window. He even wore the paper hat donned by ice cream truck drivers for decades.
“They’re in today, getting ready for the first day of school,” Ganan said of the free ice cream, which he called a morale boost for teachers.
To recognize their commitment, the district rented the truck from Windy City Ice Cream and visited each school in the district on Tuesday.
After Spring and Gurrie, the superintendent turned ice cream vendor for a day visited teachers at Hodgkins School, Seventh Avenue School and Ideal School.
Gabriel Varela, a seventh- and eighth-grade physical education instructor at Gurrie, is a graduate of Spring and Gurrie. He sees the gesture as part of a larger culture.
“I think it’s pretty cool that the district is taking care of the teachers as well as the kids,” Varela said. “The D-105 teachers, we’re very excited about the school year and things to come. We had a bunch of great speakers come in and talk with us.”
Varela added: “We want the kids in the district to feel part of the team, to feel welcome in the schools. Once kids feel they belong, that’s where the learning starts and that’s where D-105 excels.”
Full disclosure: A Desplaines Valley News reporter who just happened to be pedaling his 21-speed bicycle down Spring Avenue received the first treat.
And, yes, a cookies-and-cream ice cream bar was thoroughly enjoyed on a warm summer’s day.
