Southern teachers get chilly lesson

The twangs of Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" filled the air at a south county beach yesterday afternoon.

The summertime tune wasn't in season, but teacher Jane Mineweaser hoped it would put her colleagues from Southern High School in the mood to jump in the bay.

It was November. It was cold. But they had to do it. Students had been promised that if they donated enough food to the Kids Helping Kids food drive, the faculty would brave a plunge.

"I keep trying to tell the students, I don't think the word 'jump' is appropriate," said Mineweaser, who, stereo blaring beach music, was...