LAKE MURRAY, SC (WIS) - It s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only one month away. And with the holidays fast approaching, a third grade class at Lake Murray Elementary school is busy on a very special project. It looks like art class, but the Lake Murray Elementary third-graders are really brushing up on their Christmas spirit, making ornaments for a tree in Washington, D.C. The Christmas ornaments that will decorate the South Carolina tree on the White House lawn.
The idea came from their teacher, Mandy Derrick, when visiting Washington last holiday season. “I thought what a wonderful opportunity for my third-graders to do this.” Mrs. Derrick wrote to the National Park Service. They awarded the honor to her class. The 51 hand-painted ornaments will decorate the state tree as it sits alongside the national tree on what s called the Pathway of Peace.