by Stella I.

As the holiday season approaches, Alamo Heights Junior School embraces the festive spirit with a number of traditions and giving opportunities to engage students and teachers before they leave to celebrate with their families. The holiday season is an opportunity for students and staff to participate in charitable events, and it’s a time to slow down, blend celebration, and create a connection with one another.

“We have holiday giving that’s coordinated by Ms. Lucas, our wellness counselor. We also have the candy grams that the National Junior Honor Society is doing. We also had the Toiletry Drive. That’s also handled by Ms. Lucas, so she really is the one who spearheads a lot of our holiday giving,” said Mrs. Alexander. All the money spent on candy grams goes to the custodians, so we are giving gifts to friends and people who work for our school! The toiletry drive is when all the students bring full-size toiletry items like toothpaste, soap, and lotion for people in need. A big part of the holidays is giving, and The Junior School always embraces it.

At AHJS, there are a variety of different religions followed and many different holidays celebrated. Dr. Guthrie shared how, when we celebrate, we strive to keep our celebrations inclusive of all traditions. “So, when you have a public school, you have to keep your traditions a little bit generic. And what I mean by that is you really don’t emphasize Christmas over Hanukkah or anything else that people may celebrate during the season. We put up Christmas trees in the offices, we have some menorahs, and we try to represent as many of the religions as possible when it comes to celebrating here… We decorate our doors for the winter holidays, but for the most part, we keep it really simple.”

Something everyone can enjoy is pajama day! The last Friday before winter break is a half-day pajama day! “Some traditions that we’ve started in the past couple of years, we like to let kids be able to wear their pajamas on the last day. We do have early release. We also do holiday giving where we can help out some staff and students,” Mrs. Alexander said enthusiastically.

With everyone anticipating the holidays, people start to show their excitement through festive clothes and accessories. “You’ll notice that before we get to the last day of the holiday, students and teachers will start to wear more holiday clothes, sweaters, and things that kind of indicate that they personally are ready for the holidays,” Dr. Guthrie said.

Dr. Guthrie’s perspective on the end of the year is that we get a fun time to relax and think about the things we have learned and accomplished throughout the year. “I think this time of year is a time for all of us to reflect on the year; the year’s coming to a close. Obviously, we have major holidays at the end of December. You know, Hanukkah and Christmas, and there are some others as well. And I think it’s just a time to celebrate. It’s time to slow down.”

AHJS has traditions that make the end of the year more exciting and encourage students to push through to the break. “I think each administration comes with their own traditions and things that they’d like to see implemented, but when we have success, we want to go ahead and make sure that that stays,” Mrs. Alexander shared.

In summary, AHJS creates a warm and festive atmosphere throughout the holiday season by thoughtfully including everyone and building excitement and anticipation for winter break. From giving opportunities to fun dress-up days, AHJS ensures that the holidays are a time of joy, connection, and reflection.