Newtown Middle School students gathered in the school's auditorium on Wednesday, September 7, to learn from NMS art teachers Leigh Anne Coles and Kristen Ladue about this year's eighth grade Scarecrow Contest.

"We've had a lot of interest in it this year," said Ms Coles, before students gathered.

Two days after the assembly, students were expected to submit their ideas for this year's scarecrow entries.

Ms Coles told the students the contest has "been in town for a really long time. It is older than you guys."

The scarecrow contest began in 1996 and has been running since, with a hiatus in 2003 and 2004. Each year NMS eighth grade students are challenged to design and create a larger-than-life scarecrow that can withstand the elements while on display on the front lawn of Newtown Middle School. Students and community members are then invited cast their votes for their favorites in $1 donations. Groups are limited to spending $25 on the creations.

Last year's winning entry was "Snoopy Halloween With the Dog House" by students Rick Irving, Jack Wojtowicz, and Colin Zhang. In second place was "WaLL-E" by Eugene Hong, Sullivan Koekkoek, and Constantine Kyprianou, and in third place was "Cinderella's Carriage" by Abby Kelly, Margaret O'Sullivan, Jackie Tibolla, and Alyssa Zajac. Last year's contest raised $1,102, which was divided among the top three groups and then donated to the charities of the winning groups' choice.

Ms Coles said it is preferred that students work in groups to create the scarecrows, and between three and four students per group is ideal.

The students will have six weeks to work on their scarecrows before they will be put on display October 21 on the front lawn of the school. Voting on the entries will be open Saturday, October 22, and Sunday, October 23, and volunteers will be available during the day- with hours to be determined- to collection donations votes. The scarecrows will be taken down between October 23 and October 28.

Ballots for the contest will be available at NMS in person the Saturday and Sunday the scarecrows are up, and will also be printed in the October 21 print edition of The Newtown Bee and can be dropped off with the corresponding $1 donation either at NMS that weekend or at The Newtown Bee's 5 Church Hill Road Office, in an envelope marked for "NMS Scarecrows," in the letter slot on the front door.

Ms Ladue said there was a good turnout for the meeting.

"I am hoping to see the whole front lawn full," she said.