Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Parents and loved ones of Presque Isle Middle School students found something special under their tree this past Christmas, thanks – in part – to one special “elf,” Gary Barnes, technology education teacher at the school.
For the second consecutive year, Barnes offered students the opportunity to make a handmade present to give to someone they care about at Christmas.
“A couple years ago, we started talking about how some kids at this age are more interested in themselves rather than others, and we wanted to give them a chance to make something for somebody else,” he said. “These crafts are homemade, and when they signed up, they had to tell us who was going to be receiving the gift. Plus by doing our Santa’s Secret Workshop, it broadens their horizons and they can see that these items can be done by someone their age.
“This year, we offered the workshop to one classroom at a time,” said Barnes. “I made a short presentation to the homeroom two days before, left a sign-up list with the teacher, called back reminding them, and then went to get the kids. Our participation was way up this year and things ran much smoother than last year. I’d estimate that we were in the neighborhood of 85 percent.”
Barnes and Ed Tech Paula Dyer ran two sessions a day and gave the students three craft options.
“Last year we had eight choices which was challenging because the students couldn’t make up their minds,” said Barnes, “so this year we limited it to three choices – candles, bulletin boards or refrigerator magnets – and had them sign up ahead of time. It helped give us better control.”
While Barnes and Dyer did some of the prep work, the goal was to have the students do as much as possible.
“We gathered up the materials, cut out the wooden shapes (stars and hearts) that the students used as refrigerator magnets, and cut up old ceiling tiles that were used for bulletin boards,” Barnes said. “Then the kids would come in and decorate either the magnets or the bulletin boards, or make white, scented candles using old baby food jars.”
Barnes said he hoped the students got the satisfaction of doing something nice for others this holiday season.
“It’s a lot of fun and we love doing it,” he said. “The kids are very appreciative and we get a lot of ‘thank yous’ and ‘it’s nice of you to do this.’ We’ll definitely do it again next year.”
Seventh-grader Austin Albert opted to paint a heart magnet for his mother.
“I made a candle last year for my sister, and thought my mom would like this better,” he said. “I painted ‘#1 Mom’ on it. Stuff that you make that comes from the heart is much more appreciated than stuff you buy at the store.”
Seventh-graders Jessica Cameron and Alex Michaud both made candles this year.
“My mom likes candles,” said Cameron. “She’s obsessed with them, so I figured it would be a good gift. Being 12 years old, we don’t get a lot of money, so we don’t usually have much to buy Christmas presents with. This really helps.”
“My mom really likes candles, too, and she’s going through a tough time,” Michaud said, “and I think it would be good for her. Plus it’s a gift that I made and she really likes those. I really appreciate that Mr. Barnes and Ms. Dyer gave up their lunch breaks to allow us to do this.”
To help put the students in the holiday spirit, Christmas music played in the background and many wore Santa or elf hats as they made their gifts.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
JESSICA CAMERON, a seventh-grader at Presque Isle Middle School, pours melted wax into a baby food jar as she creates a scented candle for her mother during the Santa’s Secret Workshop held recently at the school’s technology education lab. Looking on is Gary Barnes, technology education teacher.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
ALEX MICHAUD, left, a seventh-grader at Presque Isle Middle School, receives some gift-wrapping assistance from Gary Barnes, technology education teacher, during the recent Santa’s Secret Workshop event held at the school. Students could choose to make either a candle, bulletin board or refrigerator magnet to give to someone special this Christmas.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE MIDDLE SCHOOL SEVENTH-GRADERS Chelsy Argraves and Austin Albert put their artistic abilities to use as they paint wooden refrigerator magnets for loved ones during the school’s recent Santa’s Secret Workshop. The workshop gave all students the opportunity to make a handmade present to give to someone special this Christmas.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MICHAELA DUMAIS, a Presque Isle Middle School sixth-grader, glues fabric to a ceiling tile that she made into a bulletin board as part of the Santa’s Secret Workshop held at the school just before Christmas.
