Smencilmania!

The fragrant pencils captivate the noses of PS 39ers

PS 39ers learn a variety of subjects, but perhaps nothing gets into their heads more than the smell of a fresh Smencil.  There is probably no need to explain Smencils, but for new parents, here goes: Smencils are fragrant smelling pencils that are sold by the fifth-grade class in order to defray the costs of their senior activities. These include the senior trip, the senior barbeque, the yearbook, and senior dues.

The sales (and reaction) to Smencils have historically been, to say the least, nothing short of sweet. According to administrative assistant Donna Baker, who heads up the wildly successful campaign, 200 Smencils were sold as of October 11th (at a dollar a piece. Cheap!). Take that, Girl Scouts!

Donna orders them in bulk from a very happy distributor in Pennsylvania called Gifts N’ Things (contrary to the theory that they come from Willy Wonka’s factory). Donna says that this season, the scents are geared toward Halloween: Pumpkin Panic, Goblin Grape, Sublime Lime, Monster Mash (smells like a marshmallow!) and Trick or Treat (you have to smell it to believe it).

They may smell swell, but they are also green. They’re made from paper and corn-based, biodegradable plastic. Very recyclable!

Donna’s sales team consists of six salespeople from each fifth-grade class (these kids are no sales slouches – they can sell you the pants you are wearing).  They visit all classes and all grades at the last period of the day, and they continue selling until they’re all gone. And they usually are.

Donna makes sure the team is trained in dealing with cash and making change, and that the final sales tally sheet balances out evenly.

Donna recalls a new fifth grader telling her that “this is the best day of my life! I remember last year’s fifth graders going around and selling. And I said, ‘Oh, I hope I can go around and do that one day. And now here I am, selling the Smencils!”

Of course, we already know that dreams really do come true at PS 39.

 -- Ron Sklar, P.S. 39 Reporter-at-large