Photos and Story By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Saturday December 6, local children enjoyed lots of FREE Christmas activities thanks to the Chester High School Student Council. From 1:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m., Student Council members hosted their first “Christmas Extravaganza” at Chester High School’s Dr. James F. Sharp Cafeteria and Colbert Memorial Gymnasium.
The event was held on the weekend of the Annual Christmas on the River” celebration in Chester. Student Council Co-Sponsor, Erin Conley said, “The Student Council has wanted to conduct this activity for some time, but it never really got off the ground until this year. The ideas were there, but no one really took charge and led the event.”
Senior Student Council member, Southern LaChance, agreed to lead the “Christmas Extravaganza” this year and the exciting children’s activity was off-and-running!” LaChance said, “We are very happy we were able to conduct the program this year, and hopefully future Student Council members will continue to host the activity in years to come.”
“Lots of work and coordination went into sponsoring the event”, said Student Council Co-Sponsor, Amy Miller, “but the kids did a great job and most all have come out today to make it all run smoothly”.
The entire area of the Dr. Sharp Cafeteria was filled with activity stations for the entertainment of the children. At one station kids could color Christmas pictures. Another station had Bingo games which awarded small prizes to the winner.
Student Council members were offering Glitter Tattoos to children at yet another station. At another station, Council members assisted kids in writing letters to Santa Claus. These letters could then be personally handed to Santa during their visits with Santa.
The Student Council held a Bake Sale at the east end of the cafeteria with fresh baked cookies, brownies, and a wide variety of other Christmas style goodies. Profits from the bake sale will be use to help sponsor other Student Council activities and events in the future.
Santa Claus and the Grinch made a special appearance about halfway into the event and gave children the opportunity to sit with Santa and tell him their gift wishes for Christmas 2025. A photographer was on hand to take pictures of the kids with Santa and/or the Grinch.
In Colbert Gymnasium other members of the Student Council were preparing refreshments for the guests. Every visitor received FREE popcorn and hot chocolate. Other concession items were on sale at the normal ball game concession prices. Once again, profits from those sales went into the Student Council fund for future projects and events.
Another feature of the day was a special showing of the popular Christmas movie, “The Grinch”. The huge video screen in Colbert Gym was prepared for the event. Movie attendees were encouraged to bring blankets or other comfortable methods of watching the show.
The CHS Student Council “Christmas Extravaganza” was deemed a big success and the sponsors and Council members did a great job of planning, organizing, and implementing the project. Hopefully, next Christmas will bring the 2nd Annual Chester High School “Christmas Extravaganza”.
CHS Student Council members work hard to prepare refreshments in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium for guests at the “Christmas Extravaganza” Movie, “The Grinch”. Each child in attendance received FREE popcorn and hit chocolate at the event. Jim Beers Photo
Santa and the Grinch made a surprise visit to the 2025 CHS Christmas Extravaganza Saturday December 6 at Chester High School. Jim Beers Photo
One of the activity stations at the CHS Student Council “Christmas Extravaganza” provided FREE Glitter Tattoos. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Student Council members played BINGO with visitors at the “Christmas Extravaganza” held at the Professor James F. Sharp Cafeteria Saturday December 6. The event was open to the public and offered a fun-filled day of Christmas activities from 1-4 p.m. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Co-Sponsors Amy Miller and Erin Conley pose for a photo at the 2025 CHS Student Council “Christmas Extravaganza” Saturday December 6. Jim Beers Photo
Several members of the CHS Student Council served as Santa’s Elves at the 2025 CHS Christmas Extravaganza. Jim Beers Photo