Surprise Flash Mob Held For Retiring Mohegan School Principal

The retiring principal at the Mohegan Elementary School got a pair of surprises on Tuesday, starting with the entire school holding a flash mob in her honor.

Following a walk around the school building as part of a physical fitness program, Principal Lori Caron expected teachers to kick off a summer reading challenge. Instead, the faculty started a coordinated dance to Ko & The Gang's "Celebration." The students soon joined in.

"There is so much that's amazing about that," Caron said after the performance. "Number one, it's so hot. Number two, you were so coordinated. Number three, I'm wondering, 'Is anybody in this school learning anything besides dance moves?'"

Another surprise came in the unveiling of a sign at the entrance to the school, a feature that has long been absent from the property.

Lisa Zablonski, a reading consultant at the Mohegan School, said the teachers came up with the idea as a send-off for Caron. The students were taught the dance and practiced in in music class.

"All we told the kids was this was a dance to help you be physically active," said Zablonski. "I don't think they knew that it was a surprise until yesterday."

The walk around the school is part of a wellness competition where classes earn a paper foot for every mile walked. Jill Mazzalupo said students have logged 230 miles, and was in the midst of her congratulating the classes when the music signifying the start of the flash mob kicked in.

"We will always think of you as we teach and learn every day," Mazzalupo told Caron.

Caron said she has been in education for 33 years, most of it in the Montville Public Schools. She taught at the Mohegan School from 1991 to 1992, left to work at other schools in the district, then returned to Mohegan in 1998. After teaching fifth grade, she became assistant principal and then principal.

"It was an amazing surprise," said Caron. "I was amazed they were able to coordinate all this without my knowledge."

The introduction of the summer reading program still took place. Zablonski said it will take an archaeological theme, with surprises to be uncovered in a dig setup for the number of books read by students.

"I've had kids read over 100 books, so I wonder if you can do that," she told students.

The second surprise, a wooden sign hand-carved by Tom Richardson, includes a small marker on the rear honoring Caron's years of service. Additional markers will be added for subsequent principals.

Richardson said the Mohegan School was the only one in the district without a sign, and that he was approached to do one four years ago but this project never materialized. He said this sign took him two weeks to complete.

"All three of my grandkids have gone here," he said. "It's a terrific school. I really appreciate what they do."