Pictured above: WLES Principal Julie Sturgill tosses the next pumpkin from the lift.
Mother Nature decided to play a trick on the Washington Lands Elementary faculty, staff and students on Friday morning by providing mostly cloudy skies and cold temperatures for the school’s 11th annual Pumpkin Drop.
Despite the somewhat spooky weather, all of the Wildcats gathered outside underneath the sidewalk awning while WLES Principal Julie Sturgill, dressed as Jessie from Toy Story, braved the elements as she was raised into the air by a lift donated by Colaianni Construction Inc. Even though rain wasn’t falling during the competition, pumpkins nestled inside containers filled with soft items such as pillows and packing peanuts were taking the plunge from high above the ground. Some of the student-built containers even had pool noodles on the outside to help cushion the fall.
Every homeroom created a “contraption” to protect the gourd from cracking or busting open. The idea behind this yearly event is for students to gain knowledge and acquire skills in both math and science while trying to figure out a way to protect their pumpkin’s landing from a 25-foot drop.
From left: WLES Music teacher Eli Lambie, Gifted and Enrichment teacher Lauren Yurko and Physical Education teacher Michael Grimm give the thumbs-down to the students whose pumpkin cracked after falling 25 feet.
WARNING: Several pumpkins were harmed during this competition. Six of the 13 pumpkins, however, came out unscathed following a short descent to the parking lot’s concrete surface. Winning entries included submissions from Mrs. Wright’s Pre-K class, Mrs. Clutter’s kindergartners, Mrs. Wilson’s first-grade students, Mrs. Bundock’s second graders, Mrs. Diefenbaugh’s fourth grade class and Mrs. Steed’s fifth grade students.
The surviving pumpkins were repurposed as jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween. The busted gourds were going to be used as chicken feed on a faculty member’s farm.
This hands-on STEM project is hosted each year by the Marshall County Schools Gifted and Enrichment Program teacher at WLES, Lauren Yurko.
Students count down for the next pumpkin to be dropped.
