First Meeting—

Many Imaginations Behind This Year’s Scarecrow Sculpture Contest

By Eliza Hallabeck

Both challenging and encouraging the students before her, Newtown Middle School art teacher Claudia Mitchell summoned the words of now-retired gifted education teacher John Vorous on Tuesday, September 14: “Scamper with your minds.”

Students stood shoulder to backpack in the art room, and each held the Scarecrow Sculpture Contest 2010 guidelines in their hands.

“It’s amazing to get this kind of turnout,” said art teacher Arlene Spoonfeather to the group. This year the Gifted and Talented Education students (GATES) are not required to participate in the program, and it is being overseen completely by the art department for the first time. Later she said, “Good for you for taking this kind of challenge.”

The Scarecrow Sculpture Contest is open to only eighth grade students, and the students work in groups to build scarecrows that follow the guidelines and requirements of the contest. Each year, the creations from the contest are positioned on the school’s front lawn for residents to vote for their favorite scarecrow. Each vote costs $1, and the top three winning scarecrow groups chose a charity of their choice to which to donate the money.

Ms Spoonfeather said she knows the students probably never met retired NMS teacher John Vorous, but she explained he started the program 18 years ago.

Mr Vorous had taken a trip to Vermont, “And he went to a town that was doing this. And he was so enthralled by all the scarecrows, that he brought it back to Newtown.”

The project is a gift to the community, Ms Spoonfeather said, and that is why participating students who are also studying for religious confirmation can earn community service hours in those programs. Completing a scarecrow can also earn students an “A” to be used in place of another grade in art class during the school year.

The scarecrows must be durable, have a part that can move, be larger than life, and banish a “demon” of the students’ choice. Each group must also limit spending on the project to $25.

“It definitely has to weather the storm,” said Ms Mitchell. “One year we had a hurricane.”

Recalling last year, she said, it rained the day the scarecrows were put on display.

“You have tremendous talent,” said Ms Mitchell. “This is a very talented eighth grade.”

All scarecrow concepts must pass Ms Spoonfeather’s, Ms Mitchell’s, or art teacher Jean Walter’s inspection before students will have the “go ahead” to start work on their project. The scarecrows will be on display from October 23 until October 30. Ballots to vote on a favorite scarecrow, as in past years, will be available at the middle school and will be printed in the October 22 edition of The Newtown Bee. Ballots can be dropped off at NMS or at The Bee’s office, 5 Church Hill Road. Students will volunteer for one hour each to collect ballots while the scarecrows are on view for the public.

Each of the art teachers are available to help students, and Ms Mitchell also suggested students ask technology education teacher Don Ramsey for help with ideas or construction questions.

“We all look forward to an exciting exhibition this year,” said Ms Mitchell after the meeting, “The enthusiasm in the eighth grade is very high.”