The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The seventh and eighth grade Science Elective class of Daphne McIntire at St. Mary Catholic School were instructed to take large cans from the cafeteria and make baskets representing a Jesse Tree. The students painted the cans green, cut holes in the sides and put ribbon through the holes for handles. The students then painted “Joy” on the cans.

The Jesse Tree baskets were then passed out to Pre-K and first grade students to put goodies in to take home after their Christmas parties at school. The younger students were excited to get the gifts.

The Jesse tree represents Jesus' family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David. The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus' birth.

Pictured are some of the baskets stacked in Ms. Regan Slovak’s 1st Grade classroom.