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WEDNESDAY, XXXXXX
Independent Appeal
CHRISTMAS Making seasons bright for more than 100 years
Volume 107, Number 31, Wednesday, December 21, 2011
C Section
2011 Christmas Essay Contest winners Editor’s Note: As Christmas approaches and we prepare to bid farewell to another year, we at the Independent Appeal would like to wish everyone in the community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and thank our readers and advertisers for their trust in allowing us to be the most read newspaper in McNairy County. In the coming year, we pledge to show you the same level of integrity and devotion in bringing you the most timely, comprehensive and informative news and sports coverage available. The following are the winners of the Independent Appeal’s Christmas essay contest for 2011. We would like to thank all the students for sending in their fine essays. There were so many good ones that it was really hard to pick the winners. This year, we have also decided to include a number of honorable mention essays to our list. While no official awards will be given for these works we included these to recognize the hard work and talent demonstrated by these students. This year’s essay’s covered various topics and styles, so we tried to select a variety of work, including fictional stories about Christmas, essays about the meaning of Christmas, and true accounts of their favorite Christmas. The primary considerations in judging were creativity, originality, relevance and emotional impact. Spelling and grammar were secondary considerations, and some editing for grammar and spelling was applied. We would also like to thank all the students for sending in drawings and poems. We used as many of them as we could, and there were a lot of great ones. Lastly, Santa Claus sent us a list of all the letters he got from our area, and we are including them inside this special section exactly as they were written. We hope everyone enjoys this special body of work put together by the children of McNairy County, and we wish everyone a very merry Christmas.
Fourth Grade First Place Essay Victoria York Selmer Elementary The True Meaning of Christmas Christmas means the birth of our savior, Jesus. The Christmas story says nothing about presents, but instead focuses on the birth of
Grant Taylor, and me make fun of how she wipes her moth. She can’t get her lipstick off or she will put more on. That’s how I have a good Christmas at her house making fun of her. Honorable Mention Hunter York Ramer School
The time I heard Santa Claus On Christmas Eve I was in first grade. It was 1:40 p.m. I was dying to make Santa Claus some cookies and a glass of milk and I went to bed at 9:00 p.m. and at 3:00 a.m. I woke up and heard footsteps. I got up and I heard a ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas and this is the time I heard Santa.
Fifth Grade First Place Essay Callie Parmely Ramer School
What Christmas Means to Me Christmas is a time of giving. You don’t have to have fancy things to make it a present. Sometimes a present can be a gift from the heart. It is the gift that counts. Sometimes, when you get a gift, a needy person may even want it even more than you do. Second Place Essay Benjamin Mattingly Worthey Ramer Elementary School
Allison Sweat baby Jesus. The wisemen followed the star, which led to the manger. Baby Jesus was born in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were shepherds out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born for you! He is Christ the Lord!” Christmas has never been about presents, but about the birth of baby Jesus. Second Place Essay Abbey Yopp Ramer School The Christmas Miracle! There is one elf that is in charge
and his name is Jarred. Jarred goes around telling elfs what they are suppose to do for the big night. One day Jarred asked Santa what they were going to do elfs kept getting sick. So Santa said”Well me and you and the elfs who aren’t sick do it.” So they did but something went wrong they didn’t have enough time to make all the presents. What were they going to do. Santa said “Maybe some of our elfs that cook can help.” They did but they still didn’t have time. So his worst nightmare he would have to use his machines will have to help but they haven’t been used in so long. Now he just couldn’t do it so he didn’t use them. He was just going to have to work all night long. So he did. It’s time to go now he was finally here. So he went off and it
was a miracle no machines all that hard work for us. He went to one house and he dropped off the most special thing of all toys, a bell off of Rudolph the Red nose reindeer. He said that will make her the happiest person alive. That’s when Santa was a very happy and jolly person. The end! Third Place Essay Jenni Grace Lewis Ramer Elementary School Christmas Traditions in my Family Christmas day when we wake up we go to see what Santa has brought us. Then we get ready to go to my grandparents’ house. When we get there the grandkids open their stockings. Then, we talk. Later, we eat. After we eat we watch TV and talk. After that we eat leftovers. Then we open our presents. Later we leave and go home. Then we watch TV sometimes if we can. That is our family tradition. Honorable Mention Colton Fortune Ramer School Memory! My Favorite Christmas My name is Colton Fortune, and this is my favorite Christmas memory. My favorite Christmas memory was the day I woke up with a four wheeler in my yard and a bicycle in the house. I was so excited. I almost passed out! I ran into my dad and mom’s room and yelled, “WAKE UP!” The End Honorable Mention Kaylee Wallace Ramer School Funny Times Once upon a time there was a little girl and boy. They have wanted to see Santa and the reindeer. They said if they don’t see Santa they won’t believe in him. This year what they wanted for Christmas was a dog, horse, and a new house. And this year when he came to see them a thunderstorm came. Santa and the reindeer were really scared of storms. So was Rudolph the red nose reindeer and Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitson, that’s all the reindeer. My favorite part of Christmas is when I open presents at my dad’s house and then go to mamaw’s. She always burns the biscuits and me and my cousins, will, chase,
What Christmas Really Means Christmas is a great holiday. It is filled with fun and caring. Many people think Christmas is all about presents, lights, Christmas trees, and snow. What it’s really about sharing, caring and most important celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Many folks don’t think about Jesus’s birth. All they think about is toy dolls, toy cars, and toy robots. But there are some who know Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ. So now you know Christmas is not about dolls, cars, robots, video games, and other toys. It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ and how he was born in the manger in a stable with dirty barn, animals, shepards, and wisemen and angels rejoiced. So this is what Christmas means and always has. Third Place Essay Latesha Mercedes Phinnessee Ramer Elementary
Do You Know What Christmas Is All About? Christmas is all about Jesus, and what he did for us. Jesus died on the cross for us so we would not have to do the same thing that he did when he was a little boy. Christmas is the most popular holiday ever. Jesus loves when baby’s laugh or kids play and have fun. Jesus just wants every one to just have fun and enjoy your life, he don’t want you to just not have fun and go to places. Jesus always treats everyone equal to each other no one is more pretty or perfect than one another to him we are all the same. If it wasn’t for Jesus we would not have been on this planet right now, so I think Jesus is the only and always will be my King. Honorable Mention Willie Stone Teague Ramer School
What Christmas Means To Me To some people Christmas means Santa Claus and getting presents. But to me Christmas means we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is fun to get presents, but you have to remember the real reason for the season, Jesus’ birth. Jesus has already given me and you the two greatest presents ever. He gave us life, and forgiveness of sin. If Jesus hadn’t died on that cross for us, he would have never been able to forgive us of our sins. In John 3:16 it states “for God so loved the world.” I want you to think of that everytime when Christmas comes around. So remember that Christmas isn’t about Santa and getting presents, it’s about our Savior Jesus Christ. And that’s the real reason for the season.