By Carol Azizian
Special to The Review
Students in Ashley Wilkinson’s art classes at St. Joseph School in Lake Orion created ornaments to decorate the Michigan Christmas tree, one of 56 small trees to surround the National Christmas Tree on the White House grounds in December.
Art teacher Ashley Wilkinson said the school received 12 clear’plastic globes and filled them with pieces of Michigan nature. Every year, one-of-a-kind ornaments are made by Americans representing every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
The ornaments symbolize the history, heritage, and culture of their homelands. The ‘America Celebrates? display surrounds the National Christmas Tree, which will be lit during the 93rd annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. Dec. 3 on the Ellipse at President’s Park (White House).
The trees will be displayed throughout the month of December.
‘Students were asked to collect and bring in specific items such as pinecones, Petoskey Stones, robins nests, white pine needles, beach glass, sand, Birch bark’or any other natural material found in Michigan,? Wilkinson said.? Many of our students have northern vacation homes and they collected the items from their cabins. We received a ton of great items and I organized a design for each class to complete.?
This is the first time St. Joseph has ever done this.
‘It is a really big honor,? Wilkinson said. ‘After telling each class about the project, many students were in pure shock and excitement. They felt honored to be selected to take part in such a great event. I told the students about the large tree that the president will light and then we talked about the 50 smaller trees that surround the large tree and the students put together that there is one tree for each state. (There are also six other trees for each U.S. territory and the District of Columbia.) The Pathway of Peace is what it is called and we are so excited to be a part of it this year.?
Students in preschool through 8th grade worked on the globes. ‘It was a challenge to make sure that everyone had a small job to help create the globes,? Wilkinson said.
‘For instance, fourth grade students painted pinecones on the inside of the globe, preschool students put their thumb print in each small pinecone painting and then the middle school students finished it by adding real pinecones and needles to the inside of the globe.?
Eighth grader Rachel Falkowski said , ‘It is such a privilege to have taken part in this once in a life time experience. I hope these ornaments will bring even more joy to the people at the National Christmas’Tree lighting.?
Sixth grader Grace Hallett added, ‘This was such a fun project and such a high honor!? And seventh grader Olivia Wood said, ‘This process really brought us together as one.?
Rebecca Steketee of Oxford, whose children attend St. Joseph School, was instrumental in arranging for the school to decorate Michigan’s tree.
She and her husband, Aaron, are former park rangers for the National Park Service. ‘As a result, we have many contacts who work in the national parks,? she said. ‘One of our friends (Peter Lonsway) is the park manager of grounds around the White House, called President’s Park.?
Steketee said Lonsway contacted her and asked if the students at her children’s school might be willing to decorate the state tree. ‘I said they would probably love that!?
The ornaments will be created with the theme of the national parks. ‘In 2016, we’re celebrating 100-year anniversary of the National Park Service,? Steketee said. ‘They’re asking all of the states to decorate ornaments with the theme in mind.?