turkey bowl

A Thanksgiving tradition that started at Shive Elementary back in 2016 was carried over to Vernon Elementary School last year and was back for year number 9 this year and it was better than ever! The Turkey Bowl, which is sponsored by the VES Student Council raised $3,100 this year with those funds going to purchase gifts for children on the Vernon Jaycees Star Tree.

The Turkey Bowl is actually the culmination of an event that last several weeks. At the first November, each homeroom receives a featherless turkey which is pinned to their bulletin board. The student council then sells feathers for 25 cents that students can buy to help “dress” the turkey in their homeroom. This year students bought an amazing 12,400 feathers!!

Last Friday, the two homerooms that bought the most feathers from each grade competed in the Turkey Bowl with all of their classmates enjoying treats and cheering on from the stands. There were also a few events, like the turkey gobble and walk and the feather relay, that some of the students had fun participating in.

After each student in the winning classes took a turn bowling, the total pins were tallied up to determine the winners. Here are the results for each grade: 2nd Grade -- 1st Place -- Ms. Blair; 2nd Place -- Mrs. Wendler; 3rd Grade -- 1st Place -- Ms. White; 2nd Place -- Mrs. Jansa; 4th Grade -- 1st Place -- Mrs. Inman; 2nd Place -- Ms. Hines; 5th Grade -- 1st Place -- Mrs. Craighead; 2nd Place -- Mrs. Haight.

The top bowler in each homeroom then competed for a frozen turkey, with a winner from each class receiving a frozen turkey to take home for Thanksgiving. Turkey winners were: 2nd Grade -- Arya Coleman; 3rd Grade -- Natasha Nubumrung; 4th Grade -- Ellis Wilson; and 5th Grade -- Bacilio Camacho.

When this all began, the Turkey Bowl was a wild and messy event—students bowled with frozen turkeys on a soapy tarp, trying to knock down 2-liter soda bottles. But with the new elementary school and gym, adaptions were made. Now, the students use a giant plastic bowling set, keeping the fun alive while protecting the gym floor.

Enough money was raised from the Turkey Bowl to allow the student council to select 15 stars from the Star Tree. During the first week of December, members of the student council will go shopping and to purchase items on the lists of the stars.

This event teaches so much more than fundraising. The students who buy feathers learn how small acts of generosity add up to make a huge impact, and the student council members who shop gain real-life lessons in budgeting, teamwork, and compassion. It’s been amazing to see how this tradition has evolved over the years into something that not only brings our students together but also teaches them valuable lessons about giving back and making a difference.