Tia's Pumpkin Patch Report

SMAS Staff and Students at the Pumpkin Patch
Tia is 2nd from the left in the back row, in a navy blue shirt and sunglasses

Tia Marlowe does many things at our school. She is the Student Data Analyst, teaches basic computer skills to English Language Learners, manages the Student ID program --- and she is co-advisor to the Student Ambassador program, along with Marina Kravtsova. Here is her report about the recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

Our trip to the Pumpkin Patch/Farm came about after we (I and Marina) 
discovered that many of our Student Volunteers had never been to a Pumpkin 
Patch/Farm such as the Andreotti’s Farm. It was decided that those students 
who volunteered to help with the Halloween festivities be offered the opportunity
to visit the Pumpkin Patch/Farm. 

The group consisted of Student Ambassadors, Student Council Members, 
Garden Club Members, I (Tia), and Marina with Stefania W., and Stephanie K. 
agreeing to arrange transportation and be our drivers.

The day ended up being so much fun! Through the generous donation of a community member, the whole group was able to go on a hayride, which was not only fun but very informative. Dawn who is married to Farmer Frank who is a fourth generation Farmer was excellent as our tour guide on our hayride. Also, as Marina puts it “I believe the trip was also very important in educational aspect. In Russian we say it is better to see something once than hear about it 100 times. Meeting real farmers; riding around the fields and being able to ask questions are worth more than reading the agricultural articles”. 

The students were captivated. We later picked out pumpkins for our schools pumpkin carving contest and then ended the day with lunch back at the Adult School.

I, Marina, Betty and Stephanie K. were very happy to offer all of these hard working Student Volunteers a fun free excursion. Many of the students are members of multiple Student Programs/Clubs, which means that during one week they could be helping with ESL Orientation in the morning, and then later running the farmers market during break time or presenting at the Student Council meeting and then later helping serve food to Students on campus. They all really deserved a fun carefree day and from what they shared with me later on that day, they got it.