Teachers know that it's hard to get students to do much the day before Thanksgiving.

Local schools usually turn to volleyball tournaments and other diversions to entertain students who have little interest in cracking the books the day before the holiday.This year, the Parent Teacher Organization at Panther Valley High School tried something unusual - turkey bowling. And in the process, they got students to think about who they are thankful for.If the reaction from students is any indication, the event should be a pre-holiday tradition for years to come."This was something different," Deanna Christman said. "It was fun."All morning Wednesday, students took their turn hurling a frozen 13-pound bird at a set of makeshift pins. Instead of a lane, they slid the turkey along a plastic runway sprayed with canola oil.With the right speed and angle, some of them actually hit a strike."It's all slimy - and you have to throw hard," said senior Ashley O'Brien, who was one of several JROTC members volunteering at the event.Noah Easterly dropped down and demonstrated how he would use his bowling technique to sling the bird."I'm gonna hold it with one hand underneath, and one hand on the side, and just push it down and curl it," he said.The idea of turkey bowling was a joint effort between the PTO and high school Principal Joseph Gunnels.The PTO wanted to do something for students, while encouraging them to express some gratitude around Thanksgiving.Students also wrote short essays expressing what or who they were thankful for. If students wrote an essay, they were put in a drawing to win a free turkey."We don't always tell people we are thankful for what they do," Kathy Gieniec, who coordinated the event for the PTO. "It's our first time, and we had a great turnout."The PTO asked local businesses to donate turkeys for the cause. Local doctors, attorneys and businesses contributed.Gunnels said the day before the holiday is actually a half-day, and it's a good time to let students relax.He was the bowlers' biggest fan, cheering and encouraging students as they rolled."It's a day that you don't get a lot of academic stuff done," he said."We try to reward good behavior with the opportunity to do some leisure activities."