Adviser’s Note: This year’s winner announced! Congratulations to Mrs. Mayer and her students.
Notre Dame Academy’s halls will be looking a little brighter this holiday season as the 7th annual Door Decorating Contest sets off. Since it began in 2019, the door decorating tradition has grown into an advisory favorite, combining both students and staff.
“This is year seven of the contest. It started in December of 2019, and it’s just gotten more fun each year,” said Mrs. Kathryn Bialk, who helps coordinate the event.
This year’s contest includes a new helpful decorating perk, which is scheduled advisory worktime to encourage more classrooms to participate.
In the message sent to all advisors, the social committee wrote, “This will only be as fun as we all make it! Let’s get the kids energized and lighten up the stress of finals!”
If advisories choose to participate in decorating their classroom doors, safety guidelines do not change. Doors must be able to shut and lock, windows cannot be fully covered, no real tree materials can be included and plug-in lights are prohibited.
Bialk explained that these rules come from NDA’s maintenance team, and it is important that they are followed.
Even though this contest mainly consists of advisories, it is not limited to them. Decoration of office doors by staff members is encouraged as well.
“It is not limited to advisory groups but is limited to doors. If your advisory isn’t decorating, feel free to talk to other offices in the building,” Bialk said.
Over the years of this contest, the halls of NDA have seen themes from elves causing mayhem to references to classic Christmas movies. The list of theme ideas provided ideas such as the Nativity scene, The Grinch and the Polar Express.
The contest has been set in motion.
“I sent out the information last week, and many have started decorating,” claimed Bialk.
Final photos are due to the shared drive by December 10, and students will vote during the December 11 advisory show using a Google Form ballot.
The winning advisory class will be gifted a bucket of treats, a trophy and bragging rights. This heartfelt contest is a joyful way to end the semester and bring holiday cheer at the time of finals.
