Kyrene Cerritos holds the annual pumpkin drop

In the cloudy courtyard of Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary at the base of Ahwatukee’s South Mountain, hundreds of students gathered to watch their classes’ pumpkins fall from the roof and to see which one would survive the fall.

Principal Matt Martin and Assistant Principal Catie Perry hosted the annual pumpkin drop event in their pumpkin-themed attire and counted down as school staff dropped the pumpkins from the roof of the school library.

Martin says the tradition is so old that no one knows exactly when it started, but that each school year it’s one of the school’s most sought-after events.

“As the new principal, I want to make sure that I’m keeping the traditions going,” Martin said.

Martin and Perry are both new administrators to the school, both leaving schools that closed at the end of last school year.

The event was similar to an egg-drop experiment. Each class received a pumpkin this week and had to create a contraption that would protect the pumpkin from splitting open.

Many classes used pool noodles, paper, foam and even a pillow and marshmallows to cushion the fall.

Students also decorated the pumpkins and their contraptions to fit the Halloween theme and show off their artistic talent.

Martin says that the whole day is themed “fall” and the students enjoy themed activities for math, English and specialty subjects.

“We’re using everybody’s skill set to come together and make something better than what one student can do on their own,” Martin said.

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