Led by their teacher, 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year Joshua Chard, third-graders from East End Community School designed nature-themed ornaments that are now decorating Maine’s tree as part of the 2024 National Christmas Tree display at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The students created the ornaments as part of the “America Celebrates” ornament program, an annual collaboration of the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Education, and the National Park Foundation. Through this program, ordinary Americans from every state, territory and the District of Columbia create ornaments to symbolize the history, heritage, and culture of their homelands. The ornaments adorn 58 smaller trees that surround the National Christmas Tree at the White House.

Chard recently represented the state of Maine and his students at the 102nd National Christmas Tree Lighting event in Washington, D.C. The tree-lighting ceremony, which took place Dec. 5, is scheduled to air on CBS on Friday, December 20.

“In third grade, my students explore the history of the Presumpscot River, which flows into the bay visible from our classroom windows,” explained Chard. “We learn how the Wabanaki tribes have served as water protectors of these rivers, both in the past and today, and we take action to support rivers and the diverse life they sustain. Our ornaments showcase the flora and fauna found along the banks of the Presumpscot, symbolizing what we strive to protect, as we join the Wabanaki in being water protectors.”

The Portland Public Schools is a leader in Maine in building a preK-12 Wabanaki Studies curriculum.

Read more about Chard’s visit representing Maine in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about the America Celebrates ornament program.

Photos: (Above) Joshua Chard, East End Community School Teacher and 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year, standing next to Maine's national holiday tree.

(Below)Tree with student-designed ornaments hung on it.

Close-up of student ornament on Maine’s national holiday tree.

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with nearly 6,600 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically disadvantaged.