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MOUNTAIN TOP — The bird was the centerpiece and the fixings were traditional but the pilgrims and Native Americans who came together to break bread were pint size versions of their historic counterparts.
Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students sat with parents and teachers for a Thanksgiving-style feast at the St. Jude’s School. A holiday-worthy spread of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing and cranberry sauce was served as children dressed as pilgrims and colorfully adorned Native Americans gave thanks and honored their elders.
School publicity chair and kindergarten teacher Linda Brittain said the adults are guests of honor at the yearly luncheon because of their service as volunteers.
“They come faithfully every day to help with lunch and cleaning up the tables afterward,” Brittain said. We’ve been doing this for 20 years. The kids made their own costumes and they also made their place mats and wrote down five things they are thankful for.”
Deacon Gene Kovatch said grace before the meal began, focusing on giving thanks for blessings bestowed upon the group. Kovatch said when instructors start talking about giving thanks, the children quickly catch on to the concept.
Five-year-old Jackson Harvell, of Mountain Top, said he was thankful for his grandparents and his mom and dad.
“And my stuffed animal puppy, because he’s really cute,” Jackson said.
Parents and faculty helped little ones get their bountiful trays safely to the tables inside a smaller dining hall off the school cafeteria before helping themselves to the harvest and joining their children and students.
Missy Thomas, of Mountain Top, said it was wonderful to be a guest of honor at the event.
“I volunteer two to three times a week here, and it’s nice to be able to sit down with the kids,” she said.
Thomas’ 5-year-old son, Paul, said turkey was his favorite part of the meal and he was most thankful for his mom.
Kathy Murphy, of Drums, was in attendance with her granddaughter, 6-year-old Hannah Fauerbach, and Murphy said she felt “very, very special” to be her granddaughter’s guest.
Hannah said she was thankful for her little brother, and she named cranberries as her favorite part of the celebratory meal.
St. Jude’s principal, Sister Ellen Fischer sat at a table full of students with a proud smile on her face.
“We are doubly blessed to be here with our preschoolers and kindergartners,” Fischer said. “They’re our little treasures. We have much to be thankful for here at St. Jude’s. We’re building a new church, and it’s a very exciting time. This is our way of thanking our volunteers.”
