2024 Christmas Greetings - Zone 3

Foley MHS decorates cookies for students

BY SARAH MIDDENDORF | STAFF WRITER

Sweet treats are often found during the holiday season to spread Christmas cheer and place smiles on people’s faces.

Foley High School

Minnesota Honor Society members aim to personalize a decorated sugar cookie for each student district wide during the holiday season.

“It’s a small act of service,” said Montanna Gapinski, chapter president. “Each cookie is decorated in its own way, (and) it’s given out to its own student. It’s a special little thing.”

FHS food service staff bake the cookies and prepare the frosting for the MHS students.

Last year, nearly 1,700 cookies and 35 pounds of frosting were used.

“It’s a way to give back to other students,” Gapinski said. “You sit there and decorate (the cookies) with your friends. It’s a fun time to be more festive.”

MHS members gather in the cafeteria prior to the start of the school day each year. Gapinski said this year, on Dec. 17, they are planning on starting at 7:15 a.m., and she is anticipating the decorating

Spreading frosting, holiday cheEr

“We go through them really quickly,”

Gapinski said.

process to take around 30 minutes. Last year, they had 20 less people to decorate cookies, and it took the group around 45 minutes to complete the task.

round 30 ar, te MHS hly ween

PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN MinnesotaFoleyHighSchoolHonorSocietychapterofficers — Alaina Cielinski,Anderson(fromleft),Megan MontannaGapinskiand Hannah Evenson — smile in a kitchenclassroomatFoleyHighSchoolNov. decorate19inFoley.TheMHSchapterwill sugarcookiecutoutsDec. 17 for each student in the district to receive at lunch. NotpicturedisSamantha Buerger.

The Foley MHS chapter has roughly 60 members between the eligible grade levels — juniors and seniors.

“My favorite part is watching the students work together and see their creativity in their decorations,” said Michele Gross, co-adviser for the Foley MHS alongside Andrea Pelowski.

The cookies are passed out during lunch later that day by the food service staff.

“You don’t get cookies every single day at lunch,” Gapinski said. “It’s just kind of a way to make it more personal to our school versus just having the lunch ladies make everything.”

There are a couple different cutouts the students can choose from

5 STAR AGENT ON

when decorating. Cookies range from Christmas trees, bells, gingerbread men and stars.

“The Christmas tree (is my favorite) because it’s really fun and there’s different variations,” Gapinski said. “(Using the frosting), you could put on little lights with Christmas bulbs.

… There are a lot of options.”

Foley MHS students have been decorating cookies for 19 years.

“It’s just another way to get the holiday spirit up and get people excited for the holidays,” Gapinski said. “We have our own school group that’s doing that for their peers. It’s not a huge thing that

needs months of planning, but it’s kind of important.”

Cookies page 3C

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Foley High School

Minnesota Honor Society members hold piping bags December 2023 in the cafeteria at Foley High School in Foley. MHS students have been decorating cookies for 19 years.

Dear Santa

Sandy’s Daycare

Dear Santa,

My name is Murphy. I am 3 years old. I live in a house far away. For Christmas this year I would like a barbie with a suitcase, a guitar and a microphone and some make up. Thank you, Murphy

Dear Santa,

My name is Joshua. I am 4 years old. I live in a house by Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a guitar, dinosaur, a new bed, blankets. Thank you, Joshua

Dear Santa,

My name is Walker. I am 2.5 years old. I live in a house over there. For Christmas this year I would like a tractor with a bucket on the back. I want a Mickey Mouse phone. Thank you, Walker

Dear Santa,

My name is Mya. I am 5 years old. I live in the country by Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a barbie house, a baby and a guitar. Thank you, Mya

Dear Santa,

My name is Lincoln. I am 4 years old. I live in the country by Sandy. For Christmas this year I would like a red tractor and a rock wagon. A manure spreader too. Thank you, Lincoln

Dear Santa, My name is Stetson. I am 5 years old. I live in the country-Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a rocket ship. Thank you, Stetson

Sarah’s Daycare

Dear Santa, My name is Charlie. I am 4 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like two bubble shooters and a snowglobe. Thank you, Charlie

Dear Santa,

My name is Olivia. I am 2 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like Christmas gloves, markers, and babies. Thank you, Olivia

Dear Santa, My name is Colt. I am 5 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like Hot wheels color changers and Lincoln logs. Thank you, Colt

Dear Santa, My name is Keaton. I am 4 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like RC monster truck, bubble machine, airplane toys, and golden rings.

Thank you, Keaton

Dear Santa, My name is Crew. I am 6 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like calico cat, robot transformer, tv, fox. Thank you, Crew

Dear Santa, My name is Brody. I am 5 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like Nintendo Switch. Thank you, Brody

Dear Santa, My name is Leo. I am 4 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a sled, farming stuff, and monster trucks. Thank you, Leo

Amanda’s Daycare

Dear Santa, My name is Adelaide. I am 1 year old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like animal books, baby doll. Thank you, Addie

Dear Santa, My name is Flynn. I am 3 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like treats, cars. Thank you, Flynn

Dear Santa, My name is Annie. I am 2 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like Elsa and Anna, princesses, presents from Santa. Thank you, Annie

Dear Santa,

My name is Jamie. I am 4 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like Elsa and Anna toy, Elsa shirt, Elsa puzzle. Thank you, Jamie

Dear Santa, My name is Bowen. I am 4 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like cars with a playset with a dragon on top, cars with a remote, tractors, animals. Thank you, Bowen

Dear Santa, My name is Ryker. I am 2 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like dog, tractors, legos. Thank you, Ryker

Dear Santa, My name is Amelia. I am 6 months old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like baby dolls, books. Thank you, Amelia

RC Monster Trucks

Thank you, Aiden

Dear Santa, My name is Aiden. I am 1 year old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like books, tractors, cars.

Dear Santa, My name is Tori. I am 10 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I want a Stanley for Christmas please can I get a Stanley for Christmas. Thank you, Tori

Submitted

Dear Santa, My name is Winslow. I am 1 year old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like pom poms and snacks. Thank you, Winslow

Dear Santa, My name is Reese. I am 5 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like Barbie dream house, princess tonies box, cat stuffy, elephant. Thank you, Reese

Dear Santa, My name is Tucker. I am 4 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like outside toys. Thank you, Tucker

Dear Santa, My name is Caleb. I am 2 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like Lego’s. Thank you, Caleb

Dear Santa, My name is Elizabeth. I am 9 months old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like a baby doll. Thank you, Elizabeth

Dear Santa, My name is Evelyn. I am 3 old. I live in Cedar. For Christmas this year I would like a unicorn to ride on, a reindeer ride, a new magic wand, a big crown, and a firefighter hat. Thank you, Evelyn

Dear Santa, My name is Everett. I am 6 years old. I live in Cedar. For

Christmas this year I would like a backhoe that comes with a trailer and a big semi to pull the trailer. Santa we love you and our elf, Elfie! Thank you, Everett Foley

Dear Santa, My name is Sebastian. I am 5 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like monster trucks, games, toys for puppy Luna. Thank you, Sebastian

Dear Santa, My name is Abby. I am 6 years old. I live in Foreston. For Christmas this year I would like a toy puppy. When you touch it’s nose it closes it’s eyes. And a digital camera.

Thank you, Abby

Dear Santa, My name is Lilly. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like an elf collechion and lots of Christmas stuff Thank you, Lilly

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Pearl. I am 6 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like anaxoit.

Thank you, Pearl

Dear Santa, My name is Royal. I am 6 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a 151 ultra premium collection in pokemon and the big hot weels set that has dinosaurs on top. Thank you, Royal

Dear Santa, My name is George. I am 7 years old. I live in Oak Park. For Christmas this year I would like a ps5 and a controller. Thank you, George

Dear Santa,

My name is Charlotte. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a phone. Thank you, Charlotte

Dear Santa,

My name is Millie. I am 7 years old. I live in Gilman. For Christmas this year I would like phone, x-box, v-r, football gloves. Thank you, Millie

Dear Santa, My name is Mallory. I am 7 years old. I live in St. Cloud. For Christmas this year I would like stick a stale and stick pluse and a big stick pluse macup closs a macup bag.

Thank you, Mallory

Dear Santa, My name is Lauren. I am 7 years old. I live in St. Cloud Foley. For Christmas this year I would like doll kitchen and dolls and its kool room and a tee ree and a bunc bed and stuffes and slime.

Dear Santa, My name is Walter. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like ntendo swich, nut kracr’s, vbuck’s, chanzs, fortnite, achin figr’s. Thank you, Walter

Dear Santa, My name is Brinley. I am 4 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a water bottle, a tablet, a sparkley ring, new markers.

Thank you, Lauren.

Thank you, Brinley

Dear Santa,

My name is Mason. I am 5 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a huge dinosaur, a ramp for my cars, tigers, shark, monster truck.

Thank you, Mason

Dear Santa,

My name is Ava. I am 5 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like squishmellow.

Thank you, Ava

Dear Santa,

My name is Trey. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a robot that cleans my room.

Thank you, Trey

Dear Santa, My name is Marlee. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a unicorn mermaid and a unicorn snowglobe and a micky mouse make up.

Thank you, Marlee

Dear Santa, My name is Alette. I am 8 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a little live pet, cinecters, more stuffys, blankeys, and powlos. Thank you, Alette

Dear Santa, My name is Elijah. I am 8 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a pokemon toys and bexblades.

Thank you, Elijah

Dear Santa, My name is Tessa. I am 7 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like my sistr to be nice to me all the time. Thank you, Tessa

Dear Santa, My name is Abdimalik. I am 7 years old. I live in St. Cloud. For Christmas this year I would like a play station 5 and soccer goals and a mansion and windows competer set up, v bucks.

Thank you, Abdimalik

Dear Santa, My name is Rowan. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like ps5 and a xbox and a car.

Thank you, Rowan

Dear Santa, My name is Keaton. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a ulechrec scoodre. Thank you, Keaton

Dear Santa, My name is Wade. I am 8 years old. For Christmas this year I would like a new skateboard and bow.

Thank you, Wade

Dear Santa, My name is Mazie. I am 7 in a half years old. I live in Hillman. For Christmas this year I would like mini brands, a very fancy chair, a lego braslite, a ipad, a barbie dream house, barbie dolls. P.S. My friend Rudy misses you. Merry Christmas Santa! Thank you, Mazie

Thank you, Leahnova

Dear Santa, My name is Bristen. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like to get a ps6 and two controlers, and a tractor, and a skidloader John Deer. Thank you, Bristen

Dear Santa, My name is Easton. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a huskeys jerey. Thank you, Easton

Dear Santa, My name is Victor. I am 8 years old. I live in home. For Christmas this year I would like rollr blazz. Thank you, Victor

Dear Santa, My name is Leahnova. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a gum boll machine, a pet brid, my talr swif shrt.

Thank you, Haylee

Dear Santa, My name is Haylee. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a case of popits.

Thank you, Summer

Dear Santa, My name is Stella. I am 8 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like new ice skates and pop it’s and nee pads and elboo pads and a ps5 and a xbox and a sinaing scope! Thank you, Stella

Dear Santa, My name is Ryan. I am 7 years old. I live in Milaca Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a phone, air pods, fortnite skins, 1,0000 $, nike air jordans, nike socks, vbucks, ro bucks, ps5. Thank you, Ryan

Dear Santa,

My name is Rylan. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like an x-box and a baby puppy. Thank you, Rylan

Dear Santa,

My name is Silas. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like ps5 and a Nintendo swich. Thank you, Silas

Dear Santa, My name is Aubrielle. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a stufhe and makeup. Thank you, Aurbrielle

Dear Santa,

My name is Josie. I am 6 years old. I live in Sauk Rapids. For Christmas this year I would like a Nintendo switch and monster high dolls. Thank you, Josie

Dear Santa,

My name is Jaxson. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a ps5 and a nhtendo switah. Thank you, Jaxson

Dear Santa, My name is Tinley. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a rainbow pinlow and a rainbow blanket. Thank you, Tinley

Dear Santa, My name is Levi. I am 7 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like slepenbag, frmen tree.

Thank you, Levi

Dear Santa, My name is Benny. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like train bok bolders, rocks. Thank you, Benny

Dear Santa, My name is Case. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a robot dogs and robt cats. Thank you, Case

Dear Santa, My name is Mason. I am 7 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a baitcaster and spinr bet araplu and a bashook, a lago set. Thank you, Mason

Dear Santa, My name is Gunnar. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like mune 1000000000. Thank you, Gunnar

Dear Santa,

My name is Harper. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a wond, and a black cape, and a stuffy. Thank you, Harper

Dear Santa,

My name is Madelynn. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like lizrd yith remo te con trol.

Thank you, Madelynn

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa, My name is Asher. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a laeo set rascor thas for seviny ruofs. Thank you, Asher

My name is Jennessa. I am 7 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like baby golden retriever, a white fanny pack, n apple watch. Thank you, Jennessa

Dear Santa,

My name is Blakely. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like wosh that hass pps and ipad and a phane. Thank you, Blakely

Dear Santa,

My name is Bentley. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like lizrd yith romo control.

Thank you, Bentley

Dear Santa,

My name is Jonathon. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like cars. Thank you, Jonathon

Dear Santa, My name is Penelope. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a big stuffy dog and a gift card to Mall of America.

Dear Santa, My name is Kellan. I am 7 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a lego sets, football helmet, viking helmet, how to draw book.

Thank you, Kellan

Dear Santa, My name is Dakota. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like minne maschupr roller skates.

Thank you, Dakota

Dear Santa,

My name is Dawson. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like cors, hulk shoes, rolr skats.

Thank you, Dawson

Dear Santa,

My name is Grace. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like wosh and ipad and phone. Thank you, Grace

Thank you, Penelope

Dear Santa, My name is Wyatt. I am 6 years old. I live in Rice. For Christmas this year I would like a jon deer hepr trprler. Thank you, Wyatt

St. John’s Area School

Dear Santa, My name is Evan. I am 7 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a giant lego set and internet and a tablet and a Iphone 16.

Thank you, Evan

Dear Santa,

My name is Deglan. I am 8 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a catchers glove, a hype fire, football gloves, a playstation 5. Thank you, Deglan

Dear Santa, My name is Paxton. I am 8 years old. I live in Foreston. For Christmas this year I would like a playstatation 5. I would also like Madden 24. I would also like football cards. I would also like a iphone 16. Thank you, Paxton

Dear Santa, My name is Harlyn. I am 8 years old. I live in Foley. For Christmas this year I would like a dog because they are cute.

Thank you, Harlyn

My name is Leah. I am in fourth grade. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. Christmas means spending time with our family and Christmas is the most important holiday because you get to do fun stuff all day and open presents or you might make cokies with your family and you might watch a movie but what I love is waking up on Christmas morning with my sisters.

My name is Olivia. I am in fourth grade. Here is a summary of what

Pleasantview Elementary School

My name is Stevie. I am in second grade. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. Christmas means spending time with family. Chrismas means to me presents. Christmas means fun playing baseball with my sister.

My name is Paisley. I am in second grade. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. I like my elves when they come, love, family, the elves have pets for the spring and sumer I men’t winter.

St. John’s Area School

My name is Harlyn. I am in second grade. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. Celebrate Jesus birthday and celebrate with family.

My name is Bexley. I am in kindergarten. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. Decorating the tree.

My name is Jayde. I am in kindergarten. Here is a summary of what Christmas means to me. My sister and I decorate the tree.

Foley Family Dental