by Gabrielle Alli
source: Getty Images
History of Pi Day
The conversation about whether it’s a silly holiday could go on forever, but March 14th is the day officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives to celebrate the number pi (π). The date represents the first three digits of the never-ending number, 3.14.
First accurately calculated by ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, pi has become a number most math students have come to know and love (or hate, just a little). In 1988, physicist Larry Shaw first thought of having a holiday to commemorate the number. Its first celebration was in his place of work, a San Francisco science museum, where there was a parade and array of fruit pies served. The House declared “Pi Day” an official holiday in 2009.
This brings us to the present day, where Biotechnology High School put their own twist on the celebrations by pieing teachers, having sweet treats, and making memories.
The Official Pie-ings
Cool Whip plates are prepared on the outdoor benches (source: Zoe Goudas)
The whole school gathered together in a swarm about twenty minutes into lunch, towards the front of the MPR. The senior class council displayed a huge wheel using the projector to see which students would pie certain teachers. Students who made the biggest donations to the council fundraisers were selected multiple times.
Crowds pushed out towards the Dannen Deck, observing the pie preparation and looking for which teachers would be pied. Every teacher who volunteered to get pied after passing certain benchmarks would have to take their spot since the student body succeeded to pass the $500 fundraising goal.
Excited impatience built as further instructions were given to spread into the field. Feet shuffled and phones were pulled out as teachers began to line up. Donning ponchos, safety goggles, and hairnets, many came prepared for the worst.
Mr. Arpa’s courageous pieing attire (source: Zoe Goudas)
The pieing started with chemistry teacher Ms. Amster, followed by class councils and SGA. The lucky wheel winners cycled in and out as more teachers were called up. About ten teachers received a faceful of Cool Whip, as well as BTHS principal Mrs. Bryant. Huge props to these volunteers who took their pieings with amiable laughter and smiles.
left: a senior is left shocked after a pie to the face (source: Zoe Goudas)
right: the first pieing (source: Zoe Goudas)
As lunch drew to an end, leftover Cool Whip plates became a free for all as students picked them up to serve to friends. Everyone scrambled inside, either to escape an unplanned attack or make it to class before the bell. The bathrooms and locker rooms became flooded with students removing remnants of Cool Whip from their face and hair, as giggles escaped from classrooms rewatching videos of the day’s events.
left: Ms. Haughwout gives a thumbs-up post-pie (source: Zoe Goudas)
right: sophomore council reflects on cream catastrophe (source: Zoe Goudas)
Sophomore Exit Sale
sophomore class council members prepare slices prior to the last bell
Ending the day on a sweet note, the sophomore class council organized a pie exit sale. Slices of pecan pie, apple pie, and pumpkin pie were available for only $2 a piece. Fundraising Chair Vatsal Jain described them as “immaculate, volumptious [sic]” and “scrumdidilidocious [sic].” It seems that the student body agreed, as slices sold out within minutes.
The day’s events were a great success thanks to the sophomore and senior class councils, as well as their advisors. A huge thank you to both of these groups for a radian(t) day, entirely a result of their hard work.
Pie-ings Part 2?!?!
It seemed the celebrations were interminable (much like the irrational number itself)! A few teachers who had escaped their fates the day before were forced to face the music on the afternoon of the 15th. Students were dismissed from their classes about fifteen minutes early to watch the remaining teachers get pied.
Climbing on tables and navigating the encircling crowd, phones peeked through to catch the best angles of Mr. Brown, Mr. Hercek, and Dr. Jensen. As the last Cool Whip plates flew into their faces, the Pi Day celebrations had officially come to a close. Even though Pi Day festivities finished at BTHS, the fun the school has together will always remain constant.
Sources
1. Holland, B. (2017, March 11). What is Pi Day? History.com. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.history.com/news/where-did-pi-day-come-from