Pumpkin Chukin Participation Is Incentive for Good Grades

captions & photos by Amy Bartelloni

Thursday, October 20th, was the date of the annual Pumpkin Chunkin event at Bellingham Memorial Middle School.  Seventh-grade teacher and organizer Lisa Powers noted that students have to be in good academic standing to participate, something that serves as an incentive for keeping their grades up. 

This year, forty-four catapults of all sizes were built and lined up on the field behind the school, and parents were invited to come and watch the fun.  Mrs. Powers estimates the event had an 85-90% participation rate for the seventh grade, which she hopes is a good science-related activity, as well as a family fun event. Wenger's Farm of Bellingham donated the pumpkins, and each team took turns launching them across the field.