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NORTH SHELBY – More than 600 students at Inverness Elementary School had the opportunity to make Christmas-themed crafts thanks to the school’s Parent Teacher Organization.

The Holiday Craft Workshop has become an annual event at IES, and this year’s effort was held during the week of Nov. 27.

PTO member Emily Slay said the Holiday Craft Workshop has been held for about six years, and this is her second year of leading the effort.

Slay said she begins by seeking out ideas and trying them herself to see how they work.

Then, she takes the best ideas to the full PTO for approval.

After the crafts are set, the group purchases supplies.

Parents of participating children are asked to send $10 to cover the cost of the materials and are also given the option of sponsoring children whose parents may have trouble paying.

“We have great parents who are willing to help kids in their class and make sure everyone can participate,” Slay said.

A team of volunteers decorates the PTO classroom at the school and organizes the materials.

One at a time for a whole week plus a make-up day, each class at the school visits the PTO classroom to make their crafts. Each child’s crafts are kept separate and then given to them to take home.

“It takes a ton of people to make it work,” Slay said.

Students were in the PTO classroom for about an hour and created three crafts: a reindeer ornament, wreath and snowman magnet.

Kindergarten teacher Brittany Heard has about 20 students in her class and said they enjoy hands-on activities—even as part of their everyday studies.

“They need to touch it,” she said. “This is probably all they’ll be talking about today.”

Heard, who has been at IES for six years, said the students look forward to the workshop each year—and so do the teachers.

“This is my favorite time of the year,” Heard said. “I love Christmas.”

The Inverness Elementary School PTO also holds an annual Gingerbread House Making Day, which this year will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, PTO President Beth Beard said.

During this free event, the PTO provides a pre-made gingerbread house, which students then decorate with various treats.

McDonald’s provides pancakes and sausage for the event, which is held in the school cafeteria.

View and purchase photos at ShelbyCountyPhotos.com.

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