Owen Harrington, Staff Writer

December 8, 2023

The halls of Shattuck are filled with holiday cheer as students and teachers alike are eagerly awaiting the rapidly approaching winter break. While this excitement is palpable, the decorations are heavily lacking. We may find the occasional string of lights or discarded candy cane, but what we really need is a towering centerpiece to sit in the middle of Gleason Hall. So, I have set off scouring campus to find the perfect Christmas tree to increase holiday spirit at school. 

There is an art to picking the perfect tree. It must have strong branches to hold a vast  collection of ornaments and an eye-catching shape that will complement the space that it fills. That being said, on a campus with such diversity in foliage, it would be a shame to restrict ourselves to the classic frasier firs and white pines that normally grace living rooms across the world. As a result, some of the trees on this list may seem slightly non-traditional at first, but I assure you that they will be perfect to complete the school.

Tree 1: A birch from the beach.

The stand of white birches are a wonderful source of shade and style which perfectly compliment the fun environment of the beach, but  I don’t think Buildings and Grounds would mind if we moved just one inside. They are a bit tall, but if we trim a little off the bottom, one should fit perfectly. A few white twinkling lights and some fake dusted snow scattered on and around the tree would go far in transforming Gleason into a cheerful winter wonderland. 

Tree 2: Charlie Brown tree near library.

While this tree is small and perhaps sickly, it has an undeniable charm. It would certainly have no trouble fitting in the space, and the tree would be beautiful with colorful lights and ornaments draped on its small yet sturdy branches. It would serve as a wonderful reminder that looks can be deceiving and even the smallest of trees can bring the greatest holiday charm to see us through the dark and challenging winter months.

Tree 3: Already cut down tree in front of the MAC. 

I would imagine that members of EAC would not be happy reading through this list of charming trees that I am eager to chop down. To limit backlash, I propose that we use one that has already been cut down. While we would need to track it down, the great oak which once welcomed us to the MAC would be a perfect addition to Gleason hall. Some giant ornaments would perfectly adorn its huge branches and be exceptional for completing the space. 

While I may be partial to the birches, any of these trees, decorated with plenty of lights and ornaments, would make an excellent addition to the holiday atmosphere of the school, and as long as Mr. McHugh doesn’t find out, it’s time to get chopping.

(Photo Credits: Zack Mittelstadt)