There’s a kidnapping afoot at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, but no Amber Alert is necessary — the victim is less than a foot tall and, quite bluntly, filled with a polyester blend.
The Falls Church school system issued a “Missing Mutt” announcement Thursday morning for “Howie Husky,” the smallest of six stuffed dogs that Principal Ann McCarty uses to reward teachers.
“Once the teacher has the dog for a few days, they take it for a walk to another teacher’s classroom where they see student-centered teaching going on,” McCarty said. The teacher then sends out an e-mail to the school announcing the transfer and recognizing the other teacher.
But when administrators gathered the “Husky family” in the front office late Wednesday afternoon, “baby Howie Husky was no where to be seen,” Assistant Principal Jeanne Seabridge wrote. “An urgent call for his safe return has been issued throughout the building.”
As of late morning on Thursdsay, the stuffed dog was still missing. “I’m sure he’s in a teacher’s classroom who is absent,” McCarty said. “We expect him back by the close of the business day.”
Until then, trust no one.
