Children would be given pumpkin seeds and start planting them in their classrooms.
PARIS – Plant a pumpkin seed and watch it grow.
That’s the idea behind a new SAD 17 scholarship program that will encourage the district’s students to plant pumpkins and raise money for graduation scholarships.
“The dream I have is to have every student go through school and graduate, knowing they will have money to go to college,” said Pat Chenery of Norway.
Her children are all grown, but Chenery has become inspired to head up the program, which will culminate each fall with a pumpkin festival.
A committee has been meeting since November to firm up the details. Members include SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman, Norway Recreation Director Debra Partridge, Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Williams, Adult Education Director Judy Green, Growth Council of Oxford Hills Vice President Barb Olson and Oxford Hills Middle School Guidance Counselor Tally Decato.
“We’re trying to involve the whole community. The kids would participate with the rest of the community to benefit themselves and their classmates,” Chenery said.
Chenery said all district school children would be given pumpkin seeds and start planting them in the spring in their classrooms. When school lets out, the seedlings would be replanted at the children’s homes or in community gardens, she said.
After the fall harvest, the children would bring the pumpkins to school to be carved and put on a display at a pumpkin festival, tentatively set for Oct. 23 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
The money raised by donations from the community would go into a pool to be used for scholarships, Chenery said. It would give all children reason to be optimistic that they can aspire to a higher education after graduation, she said.
“The kids will be excited as heck about this,” she predicted. Chenery is interested in hearing from anyone who would like to become involved in the pumpkin festival project. She may be reached at 743-0200.
The next meeting of the festival committee will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the SAD 17 Central Office board room in the Oxford Plaza Shopping Center on Route 26.
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