Editor’s Note: This year, the Johnston Sun Rise hosted a holiday essay contest, asking children to share Christmas and holiday memories, and tell us the season’s true meaning. We reached out to the principals of each Johnston elementary school. Three Johnston schools — Brown Avenue Elementary, Winsor Hill Elementary and Saint Rocco School — participated in the contest. Our goal was simple. The Sun Rise hoped to introduce its readers and the community to youthful perspectives on the meaning of the holidays. We picked two winners from each participating school — six winners total. We had three categories: Most Creative, Most Humorous and Most Heartwarming (and two winners in each category). Students were instructed to keep their submissions under 100 words. We promised to publish the winning entries in this week’s edition of the Johnston Sun Rise. The winners were contacted at school on Monday, and received their prize packages — Showcase Cinema movie passes and concessions for four. We told each young wordsmith to go out and treat their families to a night at the movies. Here are the winners and a few Honorable Mentions.
By Russell Maranhao
Winsor Hill Elementary School, Mrs. Silverman’s Grade 3 Class
Christmas is on the way! I like Christmas because I enjoy the time with my friends and my family. We sometimes go to a New Hampshire hotel. We often see snow from the window. It is so inviting, my sisters and I go outside and have a snowball fight. There’s a lot of laughing when my sister throws a big snowball. It’s such a festive time of the year.
By Michael Orsini
St. Rocco School, Grade 5
Two days before Christmas. John was on a mission to capture Santa. He was only ten but he had a lot of imagination.
On Christmas Eve, John set up his plan before bed. He fell asleep for three hours and awoke to the sound of his trap. Downstairs, he found Santa hanging from the ceiling!
John explained the plan to Santa, who said, “Look what you did. Now I can’t deliver gifts to kids!”
“Sorry Santa,” said John and he realized that he had missed the true Christmas meaning: giving.
By Bella Kaminski
Brown Avenue Elementary, Tiffany Lujan’s third grade class.
Holidays are special to me for many reasons. I have two elves named Snowflake and Jinglette. One morning when I woke up, I saw shredded toilet paper in the kitchen. My elves were sitting in the toilet paper. Then, my mom made a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs. I loved the smell of Christmas cookies as I baked and decorated them with my family. As soon as we finished the cookies, we began to decorate the house with Christmas things. I sprinkled ornaments on the tree and wrapped it in garland. Then, I filled my Christmas books with lots of beautiful colors. This is why the holidays are special to me.
By Sophie Tessier
Brown Avenue Elementary, Tara Iacobo’s third grade class
When I was 6 I was dackorating my Chrismas tree and rite wans we got it done and are ordmans are glas so my sister she wanted to run arawnd the Chrismas tree my Dad tolde her stop
She didint leson and she fall in the Chrismas tree and glass got in her foot.
We had to go to the doctor and we laphe now
By Ashton Laput
Winsor Hill Elementary School, Mrs. Silverman’s third grade class
Personally I think that the holidays are bout family and appreciating what you have like friends, family and a home. Some people don’t get gifts or have a family, not even a home. It’s so important to be grateful for what you have. It’s special to enjoy Christmas with your family because that’s the true spirit of togetherness. This season, may your hearts be filled with joy, and may you be shown kindness wherever you go.
By Avril Pina Mejia
St. Rocco School, Second Grade
My favorite thing about Christmas is the birth of Jesus. I think if I was there when Jesus was born Mary would have a big smile. I will never forget that. Jesus was born. It was the best thing that happened. I love Christmas so much. It is so much fun to give. I thank Jesus for coming on Christmas. It is nice to be with your family. Everybody is so friendly and giving. I love it and it and it is awesome. You have to be kind, nice and caring. We all come together to loving and celebrate. Everyone is smiling. This is Christmas!
Editor’s Note: The following are unedited entries to this year’s Sun Rise Holiday Essay Contest. There were so many excellent selections that we wanted to devote some space to essays worthy of Honorable Mentions. Look in next week’s edition for more Honorable Mentions from Winsor Hill Elementary and St. Rocco School.
By Ananthan Puppala
The holidays mean something different to me than to my friends. Diwali is a festival that means good wins over evil. This festival is about two gods from the forest, Rama and Lakshmana. Rama is good with a bow and arrow and he is a burst of RAGE!!!
Lakshmana is good with meditation, and the bow and arrow. My mom tells the story of the gods every Diwali. Two horses carry the two gods on a chariot.
This last Dawali was the best day in my whole life.
My mom cooked a feast of rice, curry and lots more. After we ate our dinner, we did fireworks.
Diwali is special to me and my culture.
By Olivia Chaves
During the winter we celebrate Christmas. One Christmas morning I woke up and skipped to my parent’s room to watch Home Alone with my brother, Charlie. After my sister Molly woke up, we slid downstairs to open gifts and take pictures. Soon after that, we got dressed and went to my Gigi and Pop’s.
When all my family members arrived, it was time to eat dinner. For dessert, we had a scrumptious vanilla cake. My cousin Ava, came up with the idea to play Christmas Freeze Dance. The room was filled with laughter and joy.
My family finished with Secret Santa. Being with my family on Christmas is what the meaning of Christmas is all about.
By Miranda Morales
For the holidays I go to Costa Rica to visit my family. On Christmas Eve me and my cousins are the first ones at the table. For Christmas Eve dinner we have steak, corn, carrots, rice, and other foods. On Christmas morning I’m sometimes the first one awake but sometimes my cousins are the first ones awake. Then my mom, dad, and my cousin's parents woke up. Then we all go the beach.
By Alexander Marrero
To me the holidays mean family, joy, candy giving and getting presents. When I open my gifts, I Love playing with them.
We sometimes watch Christmas movies. I also play with my little brother.
My Elf Christopher made a mess and did something funny. The first night Christopher came to my house, he parachuted down and got stuck on my garland!
Every New Year's Eve I’m always excited to celebrate the new year.
By Luke Celeste
Holidays are special to me because of Christmas. I like the decorations, the tree, the ornaments, the stockings, the presents, and SANTA and all the other traditions you celebrate on Christmas. But to me, the true meaning of Christmas is being with JESUS the son of GOD. Did you know that Easter and Christmas are both about God and Jesus? Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead. Christmas is Jesus’s birthday. I hope you learned what the true meaning of the holidays means to me.
By Logan Magidin
Holidays are special because you can spend time with your family. Having fun with your family, and enjoying time with loved ones make it special. My favorite holiday is Christmas. Elves are special on Christmas because they can see if you're nice or bad. My favorite part about Christmas is when Santa makes my family smile and happy. I have an elf named Cornelius Pumpernickel. He is one of my favorite parts about Christmas. When I woke up one morning he was on top of the tree. That's why holidays are special to me.
By Cora Lynn Sciotti
I love Holidays and what they mean to me is really important. To me, Holidays mean spending time with family and friends. My favorite Holidays is Christmas. Christmas is my favorite because you get a lot of presents. I also love to see the smiles on peoples’ faces when I give them a gift . This is the only time of the year when you get to see most of my family members. Getting a Nintendo Switch and a Tv have been my favorite Christmas gifts. A funny moment I remember is when my elf, Jingles cut out a piece of paper and colored it in. When he was done, he had a Spider-man mask. My elf doesn’t look like any elf. My elf is short and doesn’t have one certain color. He has white, red and green. I love spending time with my family during the Holidays.
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