Combining literacy with holiday cheer, this year’s Parade of Trees took place in the commons on Saturday evening.
Led by a CFD fire truck, a small parade whisked Santa around town and then brought him to the school where kids were waiting to tell him their Christmas wishes.
“We tied a literacy night activity with Santa to do a whole event that helped spread the joy of the season,” said Title One elementary teacher Chris Seeman, who, along with Community Ed director Rich Kern organized the event.
Around the walls of the commons, each grade-school class had a tree decorated with ornaments they made, 21 trees total. The decorations were based on the theme of a holiday book that the class read.
“Parents can come and see the fun things their kids are creating in the classroom,” Seeman said.
While they were waiting to tell their Christmas wishes to Santa, kids could decorate cookies, make Christmas ornaments and color.
Seeman put together a raffle where kids could get a chance to win books.
Although it was a bit icy outside, the turnout was still good, Seeman said.
“Our Cleveland school kids are tough. They handle this Minnesota weather like nothing.”
Brad Strobel and son Seth drove Santa around town.
Rudolph and Frosty on a lighted parade float.
Kids got wound up…
…when Santa arrived.
Vinny Stoffel gets a big hug from Santa.
Kids could make ornaments.
Kindergartener Kinslee Anderson gets some face time with Santa.
The Grinch hands out candy.
Kids posing with Santa was a holiday photo op.
Gingerbread Man, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa, The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman…all the icons of the season were on hand. Here they pose with organizer Rich Kern.
Jasmine and Jordan Wolf take their turn with Santa.
Fifth grader Ethan Traxler collects a chocolate coin from Santa. On the right is his first-grade brother Jacob.
The Roe family, Cecille, Iliya (preschool), Clarence (grade five) and Landon (grade three), decorate cookies.
The Holt brothers tell Santa their Christmas wishes.
Third grader Madison Green shows the ornament she made during the Parade of Trees.
Chris Seeman and her son Brayden draw the winners for the book raffle.
Lynell Rohlfing’s preschool class read “The Biggest, Best Snowman” and made snowman ornaments from egg cartons, buttons and felt.
Jesse Lindsay’s preschool class also read “The Biggest, Best Snowman” and made snowman ornaments from egg cartons, buttons and felt.
Karin Miller’s kindergarten class read “Little Snowflake” and colorful snowflake ornaments.
Tonja Baker’s kindergarten class read “Gingerbread Baby,” “Gingerbread Friends,” and “Gingerbread Christmas” and made gingerbread man ornaments.
Katie Wippeling’s kindergarten class read “If You Take A Mouse To The Movies” and made angel ornaments with their faces on them.
Maggie Weideman’s first-grade class read “Sneezy the Snowman” and made snowman ornaments from cardboard tubes, scraps of cloth and buttons.
Brooke Vogel’s first graders read “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and made Rudolph ornaments with felt and candy canes.
Lucy Nicolay’s first grade class read “There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell” and made bell ornaments from egg cartons.
Clara Lynch’s second-grade class read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and made Grinch ornaments from log slices.
Wendi Honza’s second graders read “Mr. Willoby’s Christmas Tree” and stuffed clear bulb ornaments with cloth balls.
Emily Elverum’s third-grade class read “Tough Cookie” and made gingerbread men (and women) ornaments with their photos on them.
Sidney Johnson’s third-grade class read “elf” and made elf hats out of construction paper and felt.
Heather Smith’s third graders read “Santa’s Book of Names” and made ornaments of their names. In front of the tree is class member Evelyn Ernsting. At left is her second-grade sister Wren, and in the middle is first grader Gwen Otto.
Jordan Elias’s fourth-grade class read “Ugly Christmas Sweater Rebellion” and made ornaments with a photo of their face stuck on an ugly sweater. With his ornament is Avery Miller.
Cassidy Block’s fourth-grade class read “Polar Express” and made hot chocolate ornaments.
Emily Manser’s fourth-grade class read “How to Catch a Snowman” and made snowman ornaments with log slices.
Katie Wolf’s fifth graders read “How to Catch a Reindeer” and made reindeer ornaments with yarn and popsicle sticks.
Jeff Skinner’s fifth-grade class read “Mooseltoe” and made moose ornaments using popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and fuzz.
Bree Meyer’s sixth-grade class read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and made grinch bulb ornaments.
Brady Hahn’s sixth-grade class made skibidi rizzmas ornaments. The term is gen alpha slang that, depending upon the context, means good or bad charisma.
