JC Door Decorating has been a well-loved tradition for many years. However, this holiday season, a new decorating element was added: club trees.

JC’s new Festival of Lights was an event being hosted this year to show off the creative doors and trees of JC students and faculty.

Every club at JC had the opportunity to decorate their own Christmas tree with a theme pertaining to their club. Sports teams were also invited to decorate a tree.

Some of the club trees presented at the Festival included: The Black Student Union, Women’s Empowerment Club, Mock Trial, OneLove, Yearbook, Student Government Association, and the Boys Basketball Team.

Each club was provided with guidelines they were required to use to decorate their tree. Clubs were required to provide a tree that was at least four feet tall. The trees were not allowed to have electric lights, only battery powered, and they were asked to make a sign for the tree labeling what club it represents.

Clubs were able to begin working on their trees in early November up until Friday, December 9, when they set them up in the Learning Commons.

Some clubs met after school to create decorations and set up their trees as the Festival of Lights came closer.

Black Student Union (BSU) leader, Junior Tatiana Wilkins, shared that she feels the club trees were “a great way for our club to be promoted and represented in the school.”

Tatiana revealed that her club tree was “designed to represent the cultural backgrounds of the members in the BSU. . . Each student chose a flag that they wanted to see represented on the tree, which they then helped to color and string onto the tree.” The BSU tree also has a paper garland in the colors of the Pan-African flag, which Tatiana shared “serves as a symbol of unity for Black people in America.”

OneLove moderator Mrs. Meghan Doyle shared her excitement as well. She thinks that the club tree is “a way to raise awareness not only about our club but also about our club’s purpose which is to raise awareness on how to be in healthy relationships.”

Mrs. Doyle shared that the inspiration behind her tree was to “spread messages of love.” She also hopes to share “messages about how we are all worthy and deserving of love.”

Trees were set up in the Learning Commons alongside Santa and his elves. A variety of decor was present on the trees. Some clubs crafted ornaments out of paper or pipe-cleaners such as OneLove and the Women’s Empowerment Club. One of the participating sports teams, the boys basketball team, used pre-made baubles and tinsel.