Holiday high spirits - A celebration of giving

Dancing Santas, Christmas trees and snowmen decorated the gymnasium at Blanchard Elementary School where students gathered for a winter wonderland party Thursday.

Paper chains, reindeers and snowflakes hung from the walls and ceilings inside several classrooms at Orchard Elementary School in Jackson.

Today's school parties are less about Christmas and more about sharing, giving and celebrating the end of a semester.

And area children don't seem to mind that the focus has shifted.

"If we didn't do this we'd just be working," said Kryston McWilson, a Jackson third grader.

Laekyn Moore enjoyed decorating a sugar cookie with white icing, candy sprinkles and chocolate during the party at Blanchard. Jondre Grant and Logan Hollinger weren't sure what request to make of Santa as they stood in line to have their picture taken, but they knew it was Mr. Jones, the school custodian, not the real North Pole Santa. It was the beard that gave him away, they said.

Students at public schools in the area have adapted to parties that are more focused on winter themes and holidays minus any religious affiliation, said Donna Sanders, who teaches third grade at Blanchard.

Teachers and administrators know they have to be careful when talking to students about Christmas and other winter holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa because of their religious and cultural connotations. Instead of talking about the religious aspects, the teachers use lessons about math, science and social studies with winter themes instead.

"They are adapting so well," Sanders said. "What we're trying to teach is that it's a celebration of sharing and giving and not getting all the time."

Each student helped contribute to the party by bringing undecorated sugar cookies, drinks or other snacks or helping offset the costs with cash donations. The Parent Teacher Association helped with the remaining costs.

In Jackson, the parties are a way for the children to celebrate the end of the semester, said Clay Vangilder, principal at Orchard Elementary School. It just happens to be around Christmastime.

"Usually it's gingerbread houses, snowmen and reindeer" that decorate the classrooms, he said.

And instead of relying on teachers and parents to plan several dozen classroom parties, Blanchard opted to have combined parties in the gymnasium.

"Each child gets the benefits of creative parents and it works out beautifully," said principal Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld.

Parent Kellie Barnes agreed. "It's hard to come up with the ideas and sometimes one parent ends up doing it all."

Volunteers and parents set up 10 different activity stations in the gymnasium for the children to make ornaments, play games or decorate cookies.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126