On Nov. 30, students from Ripley Central School came to the library, class by class, to decorate trees with ornaments of their own making.

“It is really wonderful. The kids are so creative,” said library director Rhonda Thompson. “I am very excited that the school is willing to work and participate with us.”

Thompson purchased eight, 3-foot high trees a month ago and got the idea to invite the students to decorate them.

“We thought, ‘What if we had the kids come over to decorate the trees?’ I’m so glad we did it,” she said.

A gingerbread house and people tree was one of the themes created by students from Ripley Central School District.

She presented the idea to Ripley Principal Micah Oldham, who thought it would be an excellent activity for the kids.

“I thought it would be a great crew project,” Oldham said. “It’s a great opportunity to get kids out of the school building and do service for the community.”

The students created their own ornaments during the month of November, Oldham said.

“It was a very carefully guarded secret in each class,” he said. Each Crew, that is grade level, came up with their own theme.”

Thompson said she was amazed by the creativity the students showed. There was an edible tree on which every ornament was crafted with edible items, including fruit loops, lucky charms, candy canes, marshmallows and dried orange slices. There was a gingerbread house and people tree; a rainbow tree; and a classroom tree, featuring framed pictures of every student.

Photo two – students from each grade in Ripley elementary School created handmade ornaments to decorate Christmas trees at Ripley Public Library.

The tree created by the pre-school students centered around the award-winning childrens’ book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. which tells the story of letters trying to climb a coconut tree. Instead of an angel or a star topping the tree, a paper coconut rests on the top branch.

Thompson said the students’ excitement level was very high and most of them were very engaged in the decorating.

“I’ve had a few kids come in during the past month and say ‘We’re working on our ornaments.’ I’ve even had parents tell me how their kids were working on creating their ornaments,” she said.

The experience has not only been a good one for the students, but for the library, Thompson said.

“I’ve been having a great time with it. The younger students, especially are totally into the decorating,” she said.

Of course, Thompson said, she is hoping this experience will foster childrens’ interest in using the library.

“What I’m really hoping in this is to get more kids using the library on their own,” she said. She noted that several students have recently applied for their own library cards.

Oldham also said he hopes the relationship between the school and the library will continue to grow.

“I’m looking forward to doing more activities with the library,” he said.