Isle of Wight students ‘paint the plow’ – Smithfield Times – Smithfield Times

Published 3:52 pm Thursday, November 30, 2023

Four Isle of Wight County schools are the first in Hampton Roads to participate in the Virginia Department of Transportations Paint the Plow initiative.

The program, which entails having students paint snow plows during the fall offseason, is intended as a means of promoting safe driving in winter.

Painting the snowplows brings more notice to them when theyre on the road; it provides a unique, hands-on experience for students, county Transportation Coordinator Julie Boswell told Isle of Wights supervisors on Nov. 16.

The plows arrived at Smithfield Middle School, Smithfield High, Georgie D. Tyler Middle and Windsor High, on Oct. 15, giving students enrolled in art courses at each school just over a month to cover VDOTs standard bright orange paint with a design of their choosing. VDOT collected the plows on Nov. 17 and is displaying the completed designs outside the countys government complex on Monument Circle this week.

One of the plows, painted by Georgie D. Tyler students, now sports a Christmas snow scene and the town of Windsors heart of Isle of Wight slogan. Another painted by Smithfield High School students, in a nod to the schools Packer Pig mascot and the towns centuries-long association with meatpacking, features an image of Santas sleigh being pulled by a team of hogs.

The public will have additional opportunities to view the plows during Smithfields and Windsors Christmas parades.

All four will be in each parade, according to Boswell and IWCS spokeswoman Lynn Briggs.

The Windsor parade is set for 4 p..m. on Dec. 2, beginning on Holland Drive and continuing down Roberts Avenue, Church Street and Duke Street.

The Smithfield parade is set for 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 9, starting at the west end of Main Street and continuing downtown through Mason, Grace and James streets.

Parade organizers for each town have created a special judging category this year for best plow.

Isle of Wight County will also set up online voting for the public to select a peoples choice winner.

Photos of the other plows are below:

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Isle of Wight students 'paint the plow' - Smithfield Times - Smithfield Times