Forty scarecrows strut their stuff at Montgomery school
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY The students at Orchard Hill Elementary School had an eclectic group of lunch guests for a few days this week as they shared the cafeteria with Elvis, Curious George, Johnny Appleseed, Harry Potter and even a few of the country’s founding fathers.
Although the guests were only theoretically alive being scarecrows and all they still provided the school with an ample share of excitement, because they were evidence of Orchard Hill’s first "Scarecrow Idol" contest.
To participate in the contest, each of the school’s classes, kindergarten through second grade, constructed a figure that it felt was worthy of idolization. Then, last week, the scarecrows convened in the cafeteria, with transportation provided by their creators.
Students voted for their favorite scarecrow by placing a nickel in the bucket by their preferred character. All of the collected money will be donated to UNICEF, Vice Principal Barbara Sutterlin said.
"We wanted to do it around something that was important to them," Ms. Sutterlin said. "But also, we wanted to bring the school community together."
On Wednesday the final day of voting students, brought down class-by-class by their teachers, observed the scarecrows and took on the grueling task of deciding which one deserved the company of their nickel. The creators of the winning scarecrow, explained Ms. Sutterlin, will have an in-class party at which she will provide refreshments.
Be it Derek Jeter, SpongeBob SquarePants, Darth Vader, school Principal Tom Barclay or Neil Armstrong make that Armstraw the more than 40 scarecrows represent a diverse population of childhood icons.
One would think the students would unquestionably vote for their own work, but Ms. Sutterlin said, that hasn’t necessarily been the case.
"They’re really picking who they like the most," she said. "They are being very honest."
As Genifer Leimbacher’s second-grade class was admiring their lunchroom company, some students divulged which scarecrow was their favorite. Students said that Darth Vader and Pokémon character Pikachu were strong contenders.
Ms. Leimbacher’s class the creators of Neil Armstraw chose their idol to correspond with a classroom project. "When we were deciding who to make, I said it had to be educational," Ms. Leimbacher said.
Because Ms. Leimbacher’s class is studying space, they thought Mr. Armstraw would fit in nicely with their curriculum. The class plans to invite the astronaut back to their room as inspiration during their continuing studies of space, Ms. Leimbacher said.
According to second-grade teacher Kim Charette, "the kids are loving" the activity. "They have been very excited," she said.
Also applying curriculum to their choice of scarecrow, Ms. Charette’s class based theirs after Curious George and the man with the yellow hat, characters from the popular children’s books. "We are going to see the play at Raritan Valley Community College," Ms. Charette said.
"I guess the kids go for the characters they are really familiar with," Ms. Charette said while observing the children gawk in awe at Pikachu and Darth Vader.
At the conclusion of the contest, the scarecrows will be placed throughout the school grounds for continued enjoyment, Ms. Sutterlin said.

