There’s something about decorating a pumpkin just days before Halloween that brings out the kid in all of us. Last Friday, four “kids” from the Rotary Club of Farragut, all dressed as witches, spent the afternoon helping approximately 15 elementary school kids from Ridgedale School decorate their pumpkins.
A few samples of the kids’ pumpkin decorating handiwork
It was Fall Festival Day at Ridgedale, located at 4600 Ridgedale Road, just off Oak Ridge Highway. This fall, Farragut Rotary and Ridgedale became Partners in Education. The club is helping the school with several projects during the year, and the Fall Festival is one such project.
Many know this school as Ridgedale Alternative. The first level is a school for middle school students with disciplinary issues. The upper level is K-12 for students with developmental disabilities. On Friday we were working alongside kids with disabilities.
Principal Diana Gossett told us that these kids love to decorate pumpkins. Turns out she was spot on.
But to have four witches in the classroom wearing their long-tipped hats complete with capes was extra special. The kids all would pause at the door before walking in when they spied the witches. The Rotary Coven included club president Chris Camp, T.J. Fox, Mary Ann Imgram and Amanda DeBord. The two warlocks were Tom King and Paul Sehgal, assisted by Paul’s wife Judy.
“Where’s your broom?” one kid asked Witch Amanda as he walked in.
“Right here,” said Witch Amanda as she grabbed the broom she parked next to the classroom door. He was impressed!
The kids were all impressed. It’s safe to say they had a blast between decorating the pumpkins and bantering with the witches. It was a hoot, and there was not even an owl in the room.
Amanda DeBord and her broom
And these kids were creative. One pumpkin was a pirate’s face, complete with an eye patch. We had scary faces of course and some cute little girl faces with big smiles and big teeth.
Witch T.J. Fox wore her bright red witch’s hat. One little brave lad approached her and pointed his finger at her and said: “Don’t you put a curse on me!”
The best thing about the pumpkins our club donated? The kids got to take their pumpkins home to share their handiwork with Mom and Dad and the family. “The students told me that they had so much fun and were so excited to have pumpkins to take home with them,” Gossett said.
And she added this about the day: “Having Farragut Rotary involved in our school is something I am thrilled about. I believe our students and staff and the members of the Rotary Club will both benefit from this partnership.”
It was, in short, a great day at Ridgedale!