Students in each home room class througout the school have adopted areas of the campus and decorated them for the season with pumpkins, scarecrows and other harvest decor.

"We have such a large area," said Principal Teresa Leonard, "and every year we have a dilemma over what to do with the bare spots where shrubs have died."

"I decided," she said, "that it would be a good idea to have each class adopt a spot and decorate it." Each homeroom class has an area, and some classes share areas. The spots are marked with stones bearing the name of the class.

Students, teachers, parents and even staff members joined in and decorated the areas, paying close attention to criteria which include the use of natural materials, wood and homemade scarecrows.

On Monday prizes were given out to winning classes in four categories: most improved, most creative, best of show and "beyond belief".

Leonard said that the students have had a wonderful time decorating their areas, and that they spend time outside whenever they can. "When it's nice outside," she said, "the students enjoy taking walks around the grounds and they enjoy their time outside so much more."

Not only have the students enjoyed the decorations, Leonard said that people from the community and visitors from other areas have stopped by the school to comment on the job the students and parents have done with the campus.

"From this," said Leonard, "next year we are going to have a garden and raise our own pumpkins and our own squash for the decorations. Any left overs we are going to sell in a fundraiser for the student council."

The school also plans to continue decorating the campus for each season.