A Children’s Celebration Turns Into A Winter Wonderland

By Shannon Hicks

A small children’s choir welcomed the earliest attendants to this year’s workshop, “The Children’s Tree,” which returned for its second year to the side courtyard of C.H. Booth Library in Newtown on December 2. The children were from the Fraser-Woods Montessori School, a private school in Newtown, which sponsored the event.

Sisters Kelsey and Morgan Hopper performed as a duo the songs “Frosty the Snowman” and, appropriately, “Winter Wonderland.” While there may not have been any snow on the ground in Newtown last weekend, the temperatures certainly made last weekend’s early December days feel winter-like. As a result, organizers quickly arranged for the workshop to be presented in two locations, with one group working outdoors and a second group in a classroom of Booth Library’s children’s department.

The cold weather was barely a detraction for the free workshop, which was open to the public. Over 300 children, from Newtown and surrounding towns, turned out for the workshop, and these were kids who were showing up without even knowing about their option of working indoors if they chose to.

The featured ornaments this year were beaded snowflake and icicle designs and sock snowmen. The tree has been topped with the same book that was created by parents last year for the tree.

“The Children’s Tree” has been carefully created to be a presentation of winter-oriented ornaments. Teachers and parents of Fraser-Woods School have purposely set out to create something that all children can participate in, with a non-denominational spirit surrounding the finished product. As a result, the finished tree each year has presented a simple winter theme covered with the innocence and creativity that belongs to every child.

Parents and school volunteers spent part of their day at the library on Saturday, lending a helping hand when it was needed, offering advice and a bit of creativity. Not that the children needed much guidance when it came to their ornaments — a look at the finished tree shows a colorful variety of ornaments. The tree would have a few more ornaments on it, but some children reportedly loved their creations so much they couldn’t bear to part with them and instead took them home.

Wendy Janesky helped organize and publicize the workshop. The holiday singing was led by Mary Jo Duffy, a parent of the school, Newtown resident, and professional performer. Parents also provided baked goods and juice for those participating in the workshop.

The Children’s Tree will remain intact until January 2. On that day, children are invited to return to the library to claim their ornaments (names were put on the back of each creation as it was finished). Any ornaments not picked up that day will be kept for their owners at Fraser-Woods School, 173 Main Street South.

Until then, the public is invited to visit a winter wonderland as seen through the eyes of hundreds of area children.