On Tuesday night, December 11th, the 8th-grade MERIT team at Thomas County Middle School gathered to celebrate the students' accomplishments as part of the MERIT family. Most of these students were celebrating their fourth year in the program for gifted and high achieving students. After remarks welcoming parents and students from TCMS Principal Jamie Thompson, Program Director Dr. Dale Graham, and MERIT Coordinator Dana Studdard, TCMS band, under the direction of William Majors and Ryan Booth, shared a medley of Christmas tunes.
Students then presented their hand-made ornaments and hung them on the tree. This years' theme was "A Part of the Family". Students were given blank puzzle pieces and asked to design an ornament showing their favorite accomplishment or memory from their time in the MERIT program, or show what makes them a unique part of the MERIT family. Each student explained their ornament and what was special to them about being a part of the MERIT family.
Following the ornament presentations, Lara Deason of Love for Liberty accepted gifts donated by students in each of the five homerooms on the team. Homerooms adopted two children from the Liberty County, Florida area who were impacted by the recent hurricane. Each child received clothes, shoes, pajamas, toys, and games from their Christmas list. Love for Liberty is a volunteer organization that works to provide Christmas to families in need. Churches, other organizations/clubs as well as individuals 'sponsor' a child or a whole family and purchase items on their wish list. The goal is for each child to receive one toy/gift item, an outfit, a pair of shoes, and a jacket. There is a screening process to ensure families that receive donations are in fact needing assistance and are not sponsored by multiple agencies/organizations. This year with the hurricane and the massive destruction it caused, there was a much longer list of families who needed assistance in order to provide their children with Christmas gifts. Caregivers/parents are delivered items in time for them to be wrapped and ready for Christmas. Teacher Lesley Doughty is originally from Liberty County and had seen, first hand, the need in that community. "Our children gave so generously; ten children will have a great Christmas this year because of our students and their families," Doughty said. The gathering was followed by a time of refreshments and fellowship with a cookie bar and punch. Parents and students enjoyed celebrating the accomplishments, uniqueness, and generosity of the members of the "MERIT Family".
