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Watermelon feed closes out first day of school for IC kids

  • Payton Hadley (left), Sofia Parrott (middle), and Elizabeth Field enjoy a watermelon feed on the first day of school at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Charles City on Thursday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Ingri Tutu (blue shirt) hands out watermelon on the first day of school at Immaculate Conception on Thursday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Plenty of watermelon to eat ended the first day of school for students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School on Thursday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Jeanne Hansen helps hand out watermelon on Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic School on Thursday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Hazel Hansen (left) and Olive Tracey take part in the watermelon feed on Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Marty Ashley (left) and Charlie Sweet have fun on the first day of school at Immaculate Conception Catholic School on Thursday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Fifteen watermelons cut into 480 slices is a whole lot of fruit.

And it didn’t take long for that red, delicious snack to disappear.

For plenty of hungry school kids it was a treat on the first day of school at Immaculate Conception Catholic school Thursday in Charles City.

Lisa Soifer, chairwoman of the Parent Teacher Organization at IC, came up with the idea last year for a watermelon feed to close out the very first day of school.

It took all of 15 minutes for the 15 melons to be consumed by the kids. The whole melons were each cut into 32 individual slices and handed out near the IC playground.

Soifer said there was a competition by a few students to see who could eat the most — 13 slices became the number to beat.

“I don’t know if there was anyone higher than that,” said Soifer.

The tradition, in only its second year, will likely become an annual event to kick off the school year for IC students.

“Kids were talking about it on orientation. They were saying, ‘Are we having watermelon on the first day school?’ said Soifer.”

Kids were eager to help Soifer when her car pulled up to the school.

“They knew it was coming and they were ecstatic about it,” said Soifer.

Ingri Tutu, Jeanne Hansen, Brandi Lantz and Deanna Wheat also helped hand out watermelon along with Soifer.

Charlie Sweet, a second-grader in Mrs. Anderson’s class, said he had a very good first day of school. He got to bring his game to school, “Catch the Fox.” His buddy, Marty Ashley, brought his own game too – ”Pop the Pig.”

Sweet said he is looking forward to bringing a pumpkin home during Halloween like he did last year.

Another highlight of Sweet’s first day of school?

“We didn’t do any math,” said Sweet.

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