HUMANS OF SHS

KYLE TOPPE

Isabela Diaz | Staff Writer & Abby Doriot | Staff Writer

It is the very first day of November. Some people might be starting to plan their family’s Thanksgiving; who is going to host, what the menu is, who is sitting where for football. Not Kyle Toppe (10) though. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 25, Toppe wears a different Christmas shirt. He owns at least 60, probably even more, Christmas shirts. Toppe started wearing the Christmas shirts in the seventh grade. Through the years, he has acquired quite the collection, but he can’t pick a favorite of all his shirts.

“School is depressing, so why not make it fun for two months? I wear the shirts to try to promote the holiday spirit with my classmates and friends,” Toppe said.

One of Kyle’s favorite shirts is a red shirt with the words “World’s Tallest Elf” in white lettering. The “E” in “Elf” has a green Santa hat on it.

In addition to wearing the shirts, Toppe also brings candy canes to share with his classmates in nearly every single class. The types and flavors of the candy canes he brings varies from week to week. He brings the traditional peppermint candy canes, but he also brings different flavored ones. On those days, his classmates rush to him to secure their candy cane.

His main goal when wearing the shirts is that other students will see them and start to get into the Christmas spirit as well. He believes that the sooner students can get into the Christmas spirit, the more fun it all could be.

“I like the idea of the Christmas shirts. I think that they get the students that are around him more excited and cheerful for the holiday. Even if they don’t celebrate Christmas, [the shirts] are still usually something to smile at,” Mella Neace (10) said. I WEAR THE SHIRTS TO TRY TO PRO- MOTE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH MY CLASS- MATES AND FRIENDS,” Kyle Toppe (10)

Kyle Toppe (10) sits in front of the Christmas tree in the Commons displaying one of his numerous Christmas shirts. Photo by Jaiden Herald

How do you celebrate the holidays with family?

Every Christmas morning, we read a Bible story. After that, the kids have to take turns opening their presents oneby-one.”

Tiarra English, English teacher

One Christmas tradition that we have is my siblings and I still get matching Christmas paja- mas on Christmas Eve. So, it’s the one present we get to open on Christmas Eve to this day.”

Alex Johnson, science teacher