Matthew Paterson Third Graders Celebrate History

The Third-Grade Harvest Festival at Matthew Paterson Elementary School is an event that brings students, teachers, staff and families together to celebrate an American tradition. 

Parents dressed as Pilgrims and helped the third graders with activities, including grinding apples to make applesauce. The apples were donated by Fishkill Farms in East Fishkill and Wilkins Fruit & Fir Farm in Yorktown  

“This is a great tradition,” said Dan Minieri, who dressed as a Pilgrim for the event. Mineri’s son, Dan, is in the third grade.     

The lack of rain this fall led to a burn ban throughout Putnam County, so the tradition of cooking applesauce over an open flame was replaced by a safer inflatable campfire toy with a smoke machine.  

“It was still great fun,” said Third Grade Teacher Michelle Belasco.  

Among the events were teachers and students racing in a pumpkin rolling contest. 

“You guys left me a square pumpkin,” said Third Grade Teacher Gina Boalt as her students beat her across the finish line. “I can’t roll a square pumpkin.” 

Other children played mini-pumpkin Tic Tac Toe, Cornhole and competed in Hoola Hoop races. The fun continued inside the classrooms, as kids played Thanksgiving Bingo and more.  

“This event encompasses our Carmel 6Cs and it is something we look forward to each year,” Belasco said.