DANVILLE, Il. (Chambana Today) — After a lot of hard work and collaboration with students in different classrooms, the Cunningham Home’s Circle Academy Vermilion, won the Grand Champion Tree of the Junior Parade honor at this year’s Festival of Trees in Danville.
Last year, students from the Circle Academy Vermilion participated for the first by decorating a 7.5-foot tree. This year students were invited back to decorate a 4-foot tree for the festival’s Junior Parade, with Ms. Kayleigh leading the project.
“A few months ago, our Academic Coordinator asked me to take charge of decorating a smaller tree,” Kayleigh said. “I knew our students would do a great job; they always do.”
The theme for this year’s event was Jingle All The Way, where students created ornaments inspired by bells. Her classroom made bells by using small cups, pipe cleaners, tiny bells and bows. In addition, Mrs. Pratt’s homeroom turned pinecones into painted glittery bells, each finished with a bow. Then Mrs. Smith’s homeroom created mini wreaths made from small jingle bells tied together with ribbon.
“With the help of a few extra ornaments, we were able to build a beautiful tree,” Ms. Kayleigh added. ‘I was very proud of my students and how hard they worked. They never question my crazy ideas; they just go with it and make whatever I ask.”
All that hard work paid off, when the judges announced that the Circle Academy Vermilion Tree was named as Grand Champions.
“I was so excited to hear that they had won,” Ms. Kayleigh continued. “It felt great to see their hard work recognized.”
“This project brought holiday cheer to our students and our community, and it showed that beautiful things can be created when we work together. As we celebrate this spirit of connection, we invite you to support Cunningham through this holiday season.”
Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana is a safe place where children and adolescents with serious emotional and behavioral disabilities can heal, learn and grow. It was founded in 1895 and today offers residential treatment, special education and community-based services to more than 700 children, youth adults and families each year. Cunningham Home is a community that converges to give hope to those who need it most.
