FRANKLIN—First-grade students and teachers at S.P. Morton Elementary led the way as the school collected $318.50 in loose change for Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk.

Students and faculty members were challenged by administrators to bring in coins, which were counted in a series of paper footprints posted on the walls of the school, said first-grade teacher Lisa Skeeters.

“We tried to wrap the footprints around the school to Principal (Don) Spengeman’s office, and we did it,” Skeeters said.

As a result, Spengeman and Assistant Principal Lisa Francis stood on the roof of the school Friday while the first graders and the other classes were allowed to spray them with water guns.

The fundraiser, called Run for the Test, was also meant to encourage third- and fifth-grade students to perform well on the SOL tests.

“The students are very generous when they know they can help others,” Spengeman said.

Spengeman, who has done this type of fundraiser at the school before, spent the time with a loudspeaker encouraging students to spray Francis instead of him.

“It is fun, and we picked the right day for it,” she said of a hot day, when temperatures were in the 90s.

The first grade donated the most money, resulting in a total of 499 footprints. Third-grade students and teachers raised enough money for 406 footprints. Fourth-grade students and teachers had 189 footprints, and the fifth grade had 72. Kindergarten students and teachers were represented by 33 footprints, and the Bright Stars preschool students and teachers raised enough money for 31 footprints.