ELK POINT – A tradition some 47 years in the making continued at F. G. Miller High School on Dec. 20 as students, staff and special guests gathered in the gym for the annual Christmas dinner.
This was just two days earlier in December than the first of these, which occurred on Dec. 22, 1977, according to the 1977 Supplement to Reflections, a History of Elk Point and District. That volume stated, “The teachers and Mrs. Modin put on a Christmas dinner for all of the students from grades 7 to 12. Guests were the bus drivers, the superintendent, the mayor, and various other representatives from other groups. The meal was a great success.” Margaret Modin was the school’s secretary at that time, and Phil Matveyenko was FGM’s new principal, who had joined the staff in September.
While the teachers prepared the annual feast for many of the following years, that has now changed to the Grade 12 students, who more recently have prepared and served the long lineups of students, staff and special gifts a dinner with all the Christmas favourites, from roast turkey to pyrogies, lazy cabbage rolls and vegetables to a wide array of tempting desserts, with principal Colin Bjorkman and his staff following close behind.
Special guests this year, in addition to St. Paul Education deputy superintendent Keith Gamblin and board vice chair Darcy Younghans, were three members of Elk Point Helping Hands, who were also on hand for a very large presentation of 950 food items for their program of assisting those in the community who are in need. The food drive included a challenge won by Mr. Ung’s class, with 354 donations, Miss Sam’s class with 185 and Mr. Randall’s class with117.
One special guest who has reportedly attended the annual feast for close to 30 years was right behind those ladies in the lineup. That, of course, was Santa Claus, who came for dinner and stayed to hear the seasonal wishes of students who wanted just one more photo with Santa to wrap up their high school years.