Murphy – Dec. 15 was both fun and educational for students and visitors at The Learning Center charter school.
Students, teachers and staff participated in a door decorating contest that embodied holidays around the world and different cultures. Guest judges for the contest included Earl DelValle and pastor Mike Crowe from MountainView Church.
The two categories for the contest were student- and teacher-created doors; and the doors of the kitchen staff, offices, and all special and elective teachers. The door-to-door tour started at noon with the kindergarten class and proceeded through each of grade.
Each class and teacher door was judged on visual impact, craftsmanship, completeness, creativity, originality and holiday theme. The judges added points for each of the criteria. The overall points were then added up to determine the winners and it was not an easy task as each door displayed the effort and hard work that went into the door’s creation.
Awards for both of the categories were for overall grand prize, most original and most festive, with additional honorary awards as well.
The first-place title and bragging rights went to the grades 7-9 class, whose door depicted holidays around the world, with each ornament representing a different country’s flag and each present under the tree told of the customs of each of the countries.
Second place went to the sixth-grade class, whose door explained the customs of Austria. Third place was picked up by the first-grade class, whose door showed a cozy fireplace setting with Santa’s hand reaching in for the milk and cookies.
The first-place adult winner went to Cindy Harmon, Robyn Woods and Kaitlyn Gibby of the kitchen staff, whose door portrayed the holiday in Hawaii.
Tables were also set aside with numerous items on them, with the help of some parents and some good deals and discounts, so young shoppers could inexpensively purchase presents for their parents for Christmas and also have them wrapped. The visual and educational experience made all the hard work that went in to the project a success.