Cape Hatteras Secondary School decks the halls with Christmas tree project
On Friday, December 1, the foyer at Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) was transformed into a winter wonderland for a few hours, thanks to a team effort by students and staff.
In a school-wide community service project, teachers and students in different departments decorated trees for the holiday season, beginning on Tuesday, November 28, and culminating on December 1.
Eleven fully decorated trees appeared one by one on Friday morning around the perimeter of the CHSS main foyer. The creativity of the CHSS students was on display with ornaments ranging from store-bought garland and ornaments, to handmade paper, wooden, and painted ornaments, to handmade paper garland and even hand-strung popcorn garland.
Students and staff voted for their favorite tree during their lunches on Friday, and at the end of the day, the tree decorated by the CHSS Band (tree #1) was the winning tree garnering over 20% of the total votes cast.
The band tree will remain at CHSS for the remainder of the holidays while the other trees are already moving on to their new homes.
On Sunday and Monday, with the help of Cape Hatteras Baptist Church, Buxton United Methodist Church, and Hatteras Island Meals, the other 10 trees are brightening the homes and lives of Hatteras Island residents who might not have been able to have a tree to celebrate the season.
“It is our wish that this project helps make the holidays brighter for some of our friends and neighbors,” said CHSS’ Coach Keith Durham in an announcement about the project. “It also shows our students the real value in giving back and helping others.”
“A special thank you to everyone at CHSS that participated and made this possible… [and] huge thanks go to Ashley Mihovich at Dollar General in Buxton for working above and beyond to get the trees for us in a timely manner.
“Teachers and students are already talking about doing this project again next year and what we can do to improve it.”
