The annual Christmas door decorating contest was held at Lord Tweedsmuir this week.

For the contest, students decorated their classroom doors using a limited amount of items they were given in a Christmas gift bag. Kids were also allowed to augment their festive creations with any amount of recycled materials they could find.

Christina Smith, a teacher and student council coordinator, said the student council worked really hard to set up the contest this year.

鈥淭hey came up with the design and created all the bags that were used (to decorate) the doors,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 really want to thank them.鈥�

She said the student council put in a lot of work preparing for the annual contest. New this year was the idea to reuse everyday items for decorations. Smith called it a 鈥渞eally big push鈥� on the part of the student council to incorporate recycled items鈥攊n addition to what they received in a Christmas bag from the council鈥攊nto the door decorations.

鈥淲e wanted the doors to have a 3D effect and we wanted to emphasize the use of recycled materials,鈥� Smith added. 鈥淚t's such a big thing for our school and for our environmental club.鈥�

About two dozen classrooms participated in the contest. The judging committee, conisitin of staff and alumni, walked the school鈥檚 halls to grade each entry on a number of categories.

Former student Alan Clegg, who is a judge every year, said he enjoys coming back to his alma mater (Class of 1960) to give his input and to interact with both staff and students.

鈥淭he most positive part is that so many students have got involved to do something outside the classroom," Clegg noted. "I think that's very good."

He said he feels its important to come back to the school as a former student and help out in any way he can.

鈥淭he alumni group always sends judges,鈥� explained Clegg. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 a good way to keep in contact with the school, both for us as individuals and the alumni association.鈥�

He said it鈥檚 also nice to see how much effort students put into the doors and how each class interprets the relevant contest theme each year.

鈥淪ome can get really creative,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice way for kids to get into the holiday spirit.鈥�

Ken Hignell, fellow judge and Lord Tweedsmuir principal, said he was very impressed with the creativity and talent of the students this year.

鈥淭he doors were wonderful,鈥� he said. This really helps to build community spirit, bring us together as a family, and celebrates all that the season is.鈥�

The judges awarded first prize to Rebecca Robinson鈥檚 English First Peoples 12 class for their door display called 鈥淐loverdale Christmas.鈥�

鈥淎ccording to the class, when they considered what to create on their door, they thought about how Christmas represents home, which for us and our school represents Cloverdale,鈥� Smith explained. 鈥淭heir door made excellent use of 3D elements, including the Cloverdale Arena, which opened up to show skaters on the ice.鈥�

Second place was awarded to Angela Mudge鈥檚 Social Justice 12 class for their 鈥淐hristmas hearth鈥� scene that extended beyond the door and onto classroom windows beside it.

鈥淭his class made the best use of recycled materials on their door, using only what was provided by the student council and materials recycled from previous projects or other learning activities in the class,鈥� Smith added. 鈥淭heir door included a Christmas tree with presents underneath it and a hearth with a cozy-looking fire.鈥�

The judging committee also named three honourable mentions: Manmitdeep Sagoo鈥檚 Physics 11 class for their Polar Express train scene, Mr. Oswin鈥檚 BASES class for their reindeer carolling design, and Rick Kumar鈥檚 English First Peoples 12 class for their 鈥淜umar Express鈥� train scene.