Team Palker's Pennies prevailed in John W. Decas Elementary's penny drive for the Special Olympics.

Kim Palker's fourth-grade students rounded up 25.20 pounds of pennies, which, along with the coins from the rest of the 32 classrooms, will be donated to the Special Olympics during Wareham Crossing's Braveheart Awards celebration on Saturday.

Wareham Crossing asked the school to participate in the penny drive, which kicked off on the first day of school. The students were happy to fill big buckets from Lowe's with their loose change.

The buckets were weighed to determine the winning classroom — rather than counted coin by coin — much to the chagrin of some who brought dimes, nickels, and even dollar bills!

The runner-up was Kelly Roberts' first-grade classroom, with an impressive 22.60 pounds.

Principal Christine Panarese stopped by Palker's classroom to announce the big win, and the students were happy to take a break from a writing assignment to celebrate.

"This classroom's bucket had the most weight," Panarese told the students.

The students were nearly speechless. They gasped collectively and erupted into applause.