Students decking the halls to benefit Relay for Life

Christmas came a little early this year to George Rogers Clark High School. Well before Halloween, students already were thinking about Christmas decorations, and teacher Bonnie Bradley said she had a lighted tree on display in her classroom for two weeks.
To help raise money for the Clark County Relay for Life, the school-wide community service project, students, teachers, clubs and athletic teams spent the fall decorating Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands to display and auction at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum.
“It’s all student donated, 100 percent,” Bonnie Bradley, Future Business Leaders of America advisor, said.
For the past four years, FBLA has sponsored the project, and students in all practical living and vocational studies classes donated money and ornaments to create a University of Kentucky-themed tree. Previously, the Christmas decorations were displayed in the school library, but Bradley said the partnership with the Bluegrass Heritage Museum was an opportunity to get more community members involved.
“It’s been awesome, we just don’t have the traffic (at the school),” Bradley said.
Trees were finished in time for the annual downtown Holiday Open House the first weekend of November and the silent auction bidding will continue until the annual Christmas parade, Saturday, Dec. 3.
All trees are different sizes and styles, with themes chosen by the individuals and clubs participating in the project. The GRC Senior Advisory created a pink tree, in honor of breast cancer awareness, and the Scrapbook Crop Club created a garland with handmade holiday greeting cards. Crop Club members include Betsy and Allison Fink, Heather and Megan Rowe, Donna Ritchie and Lori Rogers.
In the future, Bradley said, students and teachers hope to involve more community groups, like the Crop Club.
“It’s a great program,” Bradley said of the fundraiser.
Bidding is open during regular museum hours, Monday-Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m.
There will be no admission charge through the end of the year.
The Bluegrass Heritage Museum is located at 217 S. Main St.

Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com, or follow her on Twitter at @ParsonsRachel.