ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Escanaba thanks to some creative students and a local trade school.
On Wednesday, 144 third grade students from Escanaba Upper Elementary School flooded the Downtown Center Court for a special holiday field trip.
“The Escanaba DDA approached me about my third graders creating ornaments for the city Christmas tree,” said Courtney Wiltzius, the students’ art and physical education teacher. “Kobasic Creations created the wooden ornaments and then our students painted them in art class.”
They enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate while students from North Country Electrical Line School hung their work on the tree. For line student Coleton Labadie, it was an opportunity to put his training to use while spreading some holiday cheer.
“It’s more like real-life stuff rather than more classroom stuff,” he said. “It really gives us an idea and a perspective of what it’s like and kind of what to expect. It feels good. It makes them happy and brings the Christmas spirit. Every little kid loves Christmas!”
The branches were quickly filled with bright, colorful ornaments.
“We all got to do one and I got to be creative about it,” said third grader Blake Towns. “I got to decorate with different paints.”
Each ornament hanging on the tree is as unique as a snowflake.
“I put a pink scarf on it, the eyeballs are blue, and my smile is flat,” Charlee Earls said of her ornament. “It was really fun!”
Students like Nicholas LaMarche dedicated their creations to someone special.
“The ornament I decorated, I made it after my mom because I like my mom,” he said. “She works at Great Lakes Fitness, and she’s a really kind mom.”
On Tuesday, the community will gather to light the tree and ring in the holiday season. Wiltzius said the students are thrilled to have their artwork at the center of the festivities.
“It’s really cool for them to be part of the community, and especially for them to be part of something so exciting as Christmas,” she said. “They’ve been talking about it for weeks and the city went all out for us. They’re really proud to be part of the community and for the community to see their hard work.”
“It’s a really beautiful tree and you should thank all the people that are working to put all this stuff up,” said Nicholas.
Tuesday’s tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with a performance by the Escanaba City Band. Click here for more information on the event.
