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Making the holidays religion-free photo by Bob Pennell Lincoln School first-grader Colin Chasey sees the light during a candle-lighted Christmas program at the Ashland school Monday. By Sara Murphy Santa probably won�t pay many visits to the public K through 12 this year � and that�s probably a good thing, school administrators agree. In the secular world of public education, schools are tossing out Christmas like last year�s tree in lieu of seasonal celebrations that focus on cultures, community and sharing. Anything that tilts toward religion or personal beliefs is touchy territory on the public turf, so many schools these days are celebrating "the holidays" without a specific holiday in mind. �Art Soup� Need to jingle yourself into the holiday spirit? Lincoln Elementary School in Ashland is inviting the community to its "Art Soup" talent show and auction Thursday evening. Students and parents will juggle, sing and show off their other talents from 7 to 9 in the Lincoln gymnasium, 320 Beach St. A silent auction of gift baskets will begin at 6:30. Proceeds from the student-built baskets will help fund an artist-in-residence for the next school year. Themes from last year�s baskets, which raked in about $3,000, included board games, gardening supplies and sports equipment. "We don�t actually celebrate Christmas, per se, but we do celebrate the holidays," says Bob Reese, principal of Orchard Hill Elementary School in Medford. "We try to keep it as neutral as we can, especially in this day and age." Over the years, Orchard Hill has swapped Santa songs and Christmas carols for more generic Jack-Frost jingles like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Winter Wonderland," Reese says. Classroom trees are about as likely as reindeer having wings and gift exchanges are often against the rules, but one way schools seem to avoid the Scrooge-factor is by collecting food and toys to give to folks who need a little help stuffing their stockings. "You want the students to learn how good it feels to give to people who are more needy," says Mary Barker. "It�s a wonderful lesson." Barker is principal of Hanby Middle School in Gold Hill, where the honor society and leadership students organize canned food and toy drives each year before heading off for winter break. "We try to focus on community service and doing good things for other people," Barker says. "It�s wonderful to see them bring in their cans." The giving spirit is also alive at Lincoln Elementary School in Ashland, says Principal Susan Hollandsworth. "This year we did put a tree up, but we�re calling it a giving tree," Hollandsworth says. The tree, surrounded by dozens of plush toys headed for the Children�s Advocacy Center, is just one way the school is celebrating the season, however. Several classes at Lincoln participated in a winter solstice ceremony Monday. The students listened to a story about children who brought light to their village after the darkest day of the year, then walked through a spiral of pine bows and lit candles off a flame in the center. "I think that�s actually a pagan thing," Hollandsworth says. "We really do a little bit of everything." The bit-of-everything approach is also popular with Joan Howell, a music teacher at Phoenix Elementary who uses the school�s winter program to teach students about history and different cultures. "I don�t avoid holiday songs because they�re part of history," Howell says. In last week�s program, "Hands Around The World," students performed pieces with both Christian and Jewish origins along with a xylophone-rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Howell says. "I look for songs that are musical, that are easy for kids to sing," she adds. "I do try to pick songs that are from different traditions." Being aware that not everybody celebrates in the same way is an important lesson � for students and faculty, says Hollandsworth. "I think the key is just to be really sensitive to everyone�s beliefs," she says. "That�s what we try to do and that�s what I think all public schools try to do." Focusing on spending time with family and sharing with others is "pretty universal," she says. Reese agrees: "We try to celebrate the holiday season and the spirit that people want to be kind to each other and have good manners, share with others," he says. "That�s the best kind of religion, if you want to call it that." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Sara Murphy at 482-4655, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.