The centerpieces being created by students in Christy Schmitz’s advanced art class at Northern Heights High School are a sweet project — the students are building the decorations out of hard candies.
They will decorate the tables at the school’s annual Senior Citizens Dinner. The dinner has been held for more than 20 years at the school and honors North Lyon County senior citizens. The free dinner is on Dec. 12.
“It’s a thank-you to them for giving us their support,” Schmitz said as her students buzzed about her classroom making centerpieces out of hard candy.
Kim Dhority, who also teaches at the school, said invitations are sent to everyone over the age of 62 in the school district. Take-out meals are delivered to those who can’t make it to the dinner. The school served more than 150 meals last year, Dhority said.
“It’s really a district-wide project,” Dhority said.
The entire Northern Heights student body gets involved in the dinner by seating, serving and making decorations for the guest. The elementary schools make placemats and each of the four schools cooks a portion of the meal. The family and consumer sciences department makes small loaves of bread to send home with the guests.
Students in Schmitz’s class started early preparing the centerpieces and making the hundreds of ornaments that will be sent home with the guests. There are 18 tables with nine centerpieces that need to be made. Both the centerpieces and ornaments are made from peppermint hard candy.
Massive amounts of hard candy has been stored all around the room and some students admitted to sneaking a bite or two while making the centerpieces. The centerpieces, when completed, won’t be edible because of glue used to put them together.
Making the centerpieces has been trial and error, Schmitz said. Hot glue can’t be used because the candy won’t stick. Another type of glue will work, but the candy has to be taped on overnight so it can set. Schmitz said her class has made the centerpieces all but one year she’s taught there. They missed the one year because Schmitz being treated for breast cancer.
“They’ve been pretty hard at it trying to come up with different things,” she said.
Katelyn Zornes, a sophomore at Northern Heights, was gluing her centerpiece together Monday morning.
“I’ve been working on it for a week and a half now,” Zornes said. “You have to glue it first and then tape it on. We help each other. All of us have been working together.”
Melissa Whittington, a junior at Northern Heights, also was working hard at her centerpiece.
“I designed mine to be different,” Whittington said. “I just kinda make it up as I go.”