Some of our students are working hard to decorate Ms. Sumlin’s classroom with several creative works that celebrate our differing holiday traditions, as pictured below. Yet in the Work Study journalism class, we are looking around the present, plus backwards and forwards in time, for the true meaning of this festive season. Here’s a bit of what we are thinking and feeling.
ABBY CRISWELL
My favorite Christmas memory is that, when I was a little girl, I had a party at my elementary school in Vidalia, Ga. I was probably six or seven years old. My classmates and I bought presents for our parents from special tables set up for us, and then we all wrapped those presents and put them under the Christmas tree at home. When I saw my parents and other family members opening these presents on Christmas morning, it made me happy. I got my dad a special tool kit, and my grandparents on my mom’s side some things to bake with. I don’t actually remember what I gave to my mom, but I know she liked the present a lot.
TREVOR SHEEHAN
I have a Christmas wish, and one of the wishes I’ve had has already come true. Earlier this year I wished that a voice actor named Frank Welker would play Max the dog in the new Grinch movie. After all, he played Max in that earlier Jim Carrey movie about the same story. Frank Welker also gives his voice to Curious George, as well as to Scooby Do and Fred. I really want to meet him someday. I also want to meet a voice actor named Jim Cumming, who voices Winnie the Poo and Tigger, and also Jeff Bennett, who is the voice of the Man in the Yellow Hat in Curious George. This Christmas my family and I are going to my uncle’s new house for our Christmas dinner.
JOHN SURINGA
I really like the cooler weather in December, but for theholidays, I’d really rather be on some tropical island. These are waiting for us in Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and a lot of other places, and it’s always nice to escape the cold weather that so many people seem to love at Christmas. I think warm weather is better, because it lets you go to the beach, go shopping for warmer-weather clothing, and other island-like stuff. During the days I would go swimming in the pool and the ocean with friends. At the end of the day, I would go out to dinner, watch the sunset, go to a party, or listen to tropical music. I know that people think of Christmas as snow and ice, but I am quite the opposite.
BEN SHUE
I am going to Richmond on Christmas Eve, going to see family there. We eat a lot at the Richmond house, and there are a lot of traditions. The whole family wears new PJs that our parents give us. The hardest part is always waiting for my parents to wake up Christmas morning, so we can open our presents around our big Christmas tree. One of our traditions is eating peppermint bark at breakfast, which everybody loves. I really like decorating the Christmas tree with my family, and I am going to get cool stuff for Christmas.
SIDNEY WU
I am looking forward to getting gifts from Santa. I am also looking forward to going with my community friends to see two different movies, the new How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Bohemian Rhapsody at the AMC Tyson’s. I am going to ask Santa for a time machine, and when I get it I will go back to January 2011 just in time for New Year’s. I am also looking forward to getting a dip net from Santa and spending time with my family.
MICHAEL SHANK
What I want for Christmas is A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey playing Scrooge, because that’s who I’m playing in our school play. By then the play will be over and we will be on Winter Break. I plan to watch that movie on Christmas Day, maybe at the same time I’m opening my presents. I will decorate the house with my family, so then Santa can come down the chimney and put presents under the tree and fill all of our stockings.
JACOB DeVORE
I am excited about Christmas because of all the presents.I like to open presents. Music plays a big role in Christmas to me, so I like the holiday best whenever music is playing. Music is always my favorite Christmas memory. This Christmas I’m getting either a game or music. I like to open presents, and I like to watch movies all day. Because I’m a fan of Queen, I hope to see the new movie Bohemian Rhapsody this year during our Winter Break.
THE WORK STUDY WORD 