CANTON — Superintendent Derek Folan and John F. Kennedy Elementary School Principal Saundra Watson are pleased to announce that JFK’s second grade classes were winners in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) contest to name a snowplow.
On Nov. 28, MassDOT announced the launch of a new “Name A Snowplow” contest for statewide elementary school students in Massachusetts. The contest sought to solicit names for 12 MassDOT snowplows and to help recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during the winter.
JFK teachers Aimee Lyden, Julee Huffstutler, Shannon Mahoney and Sue Dunlap worked with their second grade students to come up with the best name for the plow.
A selection panel of MassDOT employees chose winning entries from two elementary schools in each of the six highway division districts. Winning names were announced on Jan. 20.
The JFK Elementary School won one of the coveted spots with the name “Arctic Beast.”
“We are so excited that the name our students created will be displayed on one of the fleet’s trucks,” Lyden said. “The kids had some terrific ideas but ultimately voted for ‘Arctic Beast’ and I guess Mass DOT likes it as much as we did. This was such a simple and fun way to show kids that they can be involved in their community and in this case, their idea will have a lasting impact.”
The JFK Elementary School winners and their teachers will receive a visit from a MassDOT plow vehicle with the winning name on it. The date has yet to be determined.
Other winners from schools across Massachusetts included “Blizzard of Oz,” “Sled Zeppelin,” “Sherlock Snowmes,” “Plower Ranger” and more.
“Thanks to all the participating classrooms for submitting hundreds of creative and unique plow names to make our selection,” Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. “We are proud to celebrate these winners and recognize the hard work that is performed by hundreds of employees and vendors statewide who work around the clock during major weather events.”
More information about the winners of the contest can be found here.
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