ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Some of Escanaba’s youngest citizens are getting involved in the heart of this year’s Christmas celebration.
Wednesday afternoon, more than 100 third graders from Escanaba Upper Elementary School got to leave the classroom to go downtown. There, they got to watch decorations they made be hung up on the Center Court Christmas tree.
“Students were able to create their own ornaments that Kobasic Creations cut out for us,” explained third grade art and gym teacher Emma Johnson. “The students were able to decorate them in our art class.”
It was one assignment the students were more than happy to take on.
“She told us we were going to be painting ornaments, and we were super excited about this field trip,” said student Charlie Pinar-Brandt. “It was super fun.”
Each ornament turned out just as unique as the student who crafted it.
“Mine is a snowman,” young artist Oaklyn Dombrowski said. “It has a hat and it has a scarf, and it has blue and then it has red in it, and I mixed it together.”
“I got a stocking,” said classmate Jojo Young. “I decorated it red and green, and I put a ‘J’ on the top.”
While some students used traditional Christmas colors, some got their inspiration from other places.
“It’s a star,” Jerzie Shanahan said of her ornament. “I painted it all blue because my favorite color is blue.”
Elliot Frizzell said, “I made a snowman, like a rainbow snowman.”
The artists enjoyed cocoa and snacks from the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority. As they ate, they watched North Country Electrical Line School students hang their masterpieces on the branches.
“It’s super cool because now you can get to see it decorated,” said Escanaba student Charlotte Strong.
“I was so excited when I saw it getting hung on the tree,” echoed third grader Marcus Taivalkoski. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’m so excited!’ I wish everyone could see my ornament. I like it.”
North Country students used their bucket trucks to place some of the ornaments all the way at the top of the tree.
“It feels cool, but scary at the same time!” said Jojo.
The students are thrilled to share their holiday spirit with the entire community.
“It’s really important for them to see that their hard work is being hung up, and they can watch that and see it represented in the community,” Johnson said. “I’m so glad that the students are able to create something that they are proud of.”
“It’s very pretty, and I hope everyone loves them,” said Oaklyn.
The public can see the ornaments at the annual tree lighting ceremony on November 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information on the event, click here.
