The winners of the Barriere Star/Journal’s annual Christmas Story contest have been named and they were all such a delight to read it was difficult to place them! The stories were filled with imagination, creativity and humour. A big thank you goes out to our young authors and to the teachers and parents who supported them.
Winners from Division 1
1st Place
Mrs. Claus takes the reins
By: Bonney Aldridge Grade 3
It’s the Christmas season, but no one knew that Santa was sick! Mrs. Claus had to take the reins but she didn’t know how to control the deer. She was scared that she was going to crash the sleigh! She did not know what to do. So, she asked Santa. She got the information that she needed to start driving the sleigh. She started to get the hang of it, and she was having fun! Mrs.Claus started delivering the gifts. It’s Christmas time, and every kid was so Delighted to get their gifts! Mrs. Claus went back to the North Pole with Santa.
2nd Place
My favourite thing about the Christmas season
By: Aiden McDaniel Grade 3
My favourite thing about the Christmas Season is the ice! I can play hockey and play it with my dad and friends and I can sled down snowy hills. On Christmas morning I can open gifts and have hot cocoa with marshmallows too!
3rd Place - Tied
Merry mischief
By: Willow Williams Grade 3
The story begins when Anne was singing Christmas carols in her room and her brother barged in and said it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas tomorrow and Anne said I know but don’t make any wishes OK he said yelling in her face.and then we went down for breakfast. My Mom and Dad took Anne and Jakob to the closet where the presents were. Mom and Dad said you can look but it will ruin the surprise on christmas day. Then Anne went to the living room.Jakob on the other hand he. went to the closet but first he dragged Anne along.They went in the closet but Anne couldn’t dare to look Anne’s brother didn’t look ether but Jakob WISHED he said I wish to have our parent’s lives for Christmas brake nothing happened but when they opened the closet door they switched lives with there parents.they are scared so they drive to the doctor how will we drive to the doctor said Mom Dad Anne and Jakob say you will ok said Mom.so they drive to the doctor but they get cot By: santa cop and he asked them why the kids are in the front and the adults are in the back!? We will switch seats said Mom wait but Mom I don’t know how to drive .it’s fine said Mom.ok we’re at the Doctor’s office I’m santa said the doctor now what is your problem WE SWITCHED LIVES!!!! We all said very loud.not possible but I will give you a potion you will be fixed on boxing day.so Anne Dad Mom and Jakob drank the potion gulp gulp gulp gulp.Today is boxing day!!!!!!said Anne showing a lot of excitement but everyone else is disappointed.and then Anne releases the potion did not work. So they start grabbing one of their Favourite foods and drinks. Jacob chose banana and sprite Anne chose mac and cheese and hot chocolate mom chose burger and coffee dad chose salmon and coffee they mixed it all together and it worked.
Merry mischief
By: Jase Brown Grade 3
When two kids Aaron and Sophia wake up on Christmas day they woke up as their parents! First they go down stairs and say Mom can you make us some breakfast please. Their Mom says no you guys have to make us breakfast! They say but we don’t know how to make food. Their parents say well, you’re gonna have to learn. The kids sigh. So they make breakfast and the only thing they know how to make is toast. so they put some bread in the toaster and they give it to their parents. Their parents eat it and say, thanks now lets go and open up presents! They go to open their presents and the first person to open a present was their Mom. It was a really cool looking globe. It was from Grandma and it was magical but they didn’t know that yet. So after they opened up all their presents they put the globe in their room. Next day it started to float. They all came and saw that it was floating! They all wondered how it was floating? Their parents asked I wonder what store Grandma bought it from? We don’t know, so should we just leave it? Sure, let’s just leave it. By: the third day the kids really wanted to be kids again. Their parents also wanted to be parents again! The globe that Grandma gave them came in handy, because it turned them back to kids and parents and they were all happy. The End.
Winners from Division 2
1st Place
Mrs. Claus takes the reins
By: Lolah Kennedy Grades 5/6
One year on Christmas Eve, Santa called Mrs.Claus down to where he was resting and said that he was too sick to deliver all the presents to all the wonderful boys and girls around the world. Mrs. Claus told Santa to rest in bed with some hot cocoa and that she would deliver the presents this year. She walked into Santa’s mailroom to check the naughty and nice list. She made sure to check it twice! Mrs. Claus walked down to the reindeer stable to make sure they were ready for the long trip. An elf sat down and told her that Rudolph can guide the reindeer and the sleigh so she wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost during her trip. Mrs. Claus settled down into the big red chair in Santa’s sleigh. She called out to Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Commit and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. All the reindeer started to fly up into the northern lights and before they knew it, they were already at the first house. Mrs. Claus snuck into the living rooms of all the houses a little differently than Santa. She snuck around faster than Santa because she was a lot smaller. She put down the big and small presents, she ate all the cookies and drank the milk and she even filled the stockings with goodies. She came home to sit with Santa and had candy canes and hot cocoa By: the sparkling Christmas tree. With the luck of magic, Santa was feeling a lot better.
2nd Place
The Christmas switch-aroo
By: Finn MacDonald Grades 5/6
There were two brothers, named Johnny and Mikey. They were mischievous trouble makers, for sure on Santa’s naughty list. They were alllllllwwwwaaaays pranking their parents. Once they unscrewed the salt and pepper shakers and their mom had a salty surprise and their dad had a sneeze attack! Another time they switched coffee with cocoa, they were then bouncing off the walls and the parents had a sickly sweet cup of “coffee”. They went to the mall to see Santa, like every year. They noticed Santa was different from years before. They shrugged their shoulders and went and told Santa what they wanted. Santa swiped his nose and sent the kids off. When they got home their Dad was standing there “You kids couldn’t last a day in my shoes”.Johnny realized his Dad found out what he said earlier that his dad wouldn’t be able to last a day is HIS shoes. That night the Johnny went to bed restless because his dad found out what he had said. The next morning they woke up to the realization that they had swapped bodies with their parents and all screamed “ahhhhhhh”. “If you’re Dad, then I’m….Mom????” Questioned Johnny. They all freaked out for a bit but then realized the boys had final exams they HAD to get to and the parents would have to go to school for them. Confused, the parents went to school in the kid’s bodies to take the exams. They left class realizing how hard it was to be a kid. Meanwhile the kids realized how much parents had to do, go to work, clean the house, play bills, make dinner and take care of the dogs. They got home exhausted, and happy to see each other. They had no idea how much work it was to be each other. They all hugged and decided to go bed early. The next morning they woke up back in their own bodies. Relieved and happy as it was Christmas morning and they ran downstairs to their presents and note from Santa: Dear Leon Family, Sorry I had to do this. I just wanted you to know what it was like to be each other so it wasn’t so hard to forgive one another. Love, Kris Kringle xoxo “The mall Santa!” Said Johnny. The end
3rd Place
These are 10 of the best things in the Christmas season
By: Graham Jim Grade 5
Having dinner is a fun and yummy thing to do. In my family we go to my Grandma’s house. Going and getting a tree is a fun family thing. You can go with your dad and your mom and brother or sister. I go with my dad, mom and my brother. If you are a girl you will love this one wrapping presents! Who doesn’t like wrapping presents with your mom or sister. I do it with my mom. And building a snowman feels great to do it with your mom, dad, brother, or sister. And the moment you’ve been waiting for my favourite seeing lights is a jolly thing to do. I go to the Barriere to the fairgrounds and sometimes to Kamloops. Setting up lights with my dad on the house at my grandma’s and at the front of the farm. I love that and jumping off the ladder into the deep snow. Untangling all the Christmas lights. Nothing is better than waking up and seeing some good old presents under the tree. And sometimes you have to drive long and far to give a big hug. Setting up the tree is a fun thing to do with your mom and if you have siblings you can do it with them. Helping to cook is a fun thing you can do because your mom and dad probably need some help cooking a big meal. And those are 10 of the best jolly season feelings.
Thank you to all our honourable mentions for your fantastic stories:
Milly and Lilly story
By: Ariel taylor Grades 5/6
One day two kids Milly and Lilly met at the park.They make a wish to swap bodies with their parents.It was daylight because it was 12:00. Milly is rich and get’s a lot of gifts for Christmas. Lilly is poor and gets 1 gift for Christmas. Lilly wants to swap bodies with her mom to become rich. She ran home to swap bodies. She worked hard all day and night because she wanted to become rich for her mom. She swapped bodies back. Her mom cried happily. They had a wonderful Christmas. The end.
My Favourite thing about the holiday
By: Reese Wright Grades 5/6
So my Favourite thing about the holiday is hockey because it’s real fun. Where you skate at a lake in my backyard at the rink it’s always really fun with your friends. I like going g-ting at Laszlo’s house or at my grandma’s house. It’s so fun when you crash into other people on the hill. My friend Laszlo is pretty cool. Last year we played mini sticks on his outdoor rink it was like the winter classic but me and laszlo won the series and the trophy so those are my Favourite thing about the holiday season.
THE END
Favourite holiday season
By: Laszlo Reid Grades 5/6
My Favourite holiday season is hockey going to lakes and rivers and my outdoor rink at my house. It is very peaceful on lakes and also in the winter like going sledding with my friends and family. I like going behind my side By: side or going down steep hills and I also like going sledding down big hills and I also like going skiing with my family and having some hot chocolate By: the fire and I also like opening presents on christmas morning so those are all of my Favourite holiday seasons.
THE END
Mrs. Claus takes the Reins: Santa is sick and Mrs. Claus delivers the presents
By: Natalie Ferguson Grades 5/6
Santa is sick. What is he going to do for christmas? I’ll do it. Who was this? Mrs. Claus came to the shop to give Santa chicken noodle soup. Santa was coughing up a storm! I guess Santa had a fever and his throat hurt and he was hot and cold all of the time. It was awful so a couple days go By: and Santa doesn’t get better so Mrs. Claus has to take that reins on things so she gets the reindeer all ready picks one of the elfs to go with her. The nice elves name was Jimmy and Jimmy was a very nice elf and everybody liked him and he was the best. Jimmy would make 147 toys a day and that’s a lot of work in one day for one elf! People were counting on Mrs. Claus to get the toys there . Christmas is here now YAY! People were done with their advent calendars and were excited for Christmas with the presents under the tree with the elves gone and then returned to the north pole. And the next morning PRESENTS! With the stocking full and a lot of presents under the tree, who did all this? Mrs. Claus says she hears a ho ho ho in the distance, it’s Santa he got better with all the Christmas cheer he got better finally. Jimmy the elf was so curious that he jumped out of the slay into the house and looked at the kids and just SMILED :) Sometimes just a little smile helps with the Christmas cheer.
Mrs. Claus takes the reins
By: Chanelle Nugent Grades 5/6
“Oh Santa!” Called Mrs. Clause cheerfully as she was about to knock on the bedroom door. “Knock Knock!” “Ughhhhhh Come in.” said Santa gloomily. “Oh my dear Santa, it’s time for you to deliver all the presents! “ Said mrs. Claus. “ Mmm I can’t, I’m sick.” said santa. “Oh you’re fine you big sack of cookies!” teased Mrs. Claus. “Hey! Oh umm I mean Heyyyy!” replied santa. “Can you do it for me, my lovely snow flower?” “Oh fine you lazy milk jug!” she said and left the room. “ Oh Elves!” she called. “ Yes, Mrs. Claus?” said an elf. “ Santa is sick ( more like lazy). I’m going to deliver all the presents and you’re coming with me.” said mrs. claus. “awww why us??” whined the other elf. “ I’ll give you half of Santa’s cookies. Santa needs a diet.” bribed Mrs. claus. “You guys are so lazy. Dasher, Prancer,Comet, Blitzen, Cupid, Donner and- Oh I forget! You Reindeer! It’s all your fault Dasher and Cupid for having so many babies! Said Mrs. Claus. “Come on Mrs. C you’re so old and slow!” complained the first elf. “Excuse Me!?” asked Mrs.claus. “No more cookies! You are so close to being fired!” “Eh, I don’t care!” said the first elf. “I Quit!” declared the elves as they threw their hats on the ground and marched away. A little while later after house 2,075 Mrs. C did a head count on the reindeer. “ Where’s Rudolph?” she wondered. “ Meh I don’t need Him” It was very hard for Mrs. Claus to go around but she made it. “ I’m Home! Oh Rudolph here you are no wonder i could not see very well!” Said Mrs. Claus in relief. ‘Why is there music playing?’ she thought. “Santa! What on earth are you doing!? No wonder you’re so chunky! You ate all our food!” yelled Mrs. Claus. The End
Mrs. Claus takes the reins
By: Niko Appel Grades 5/6
Once upon a time a long time ago in the north pole the night before Christmas Santa was wrapping presents and he felt a pain in his back. Santa said he can’t deliver the presents. He looked up at Mrs. Claus and he said “Can you deliver the presents tonight?” Mrs. Claus said “Ok I’m sure I can manage.” Mrs. Claus had lots of training so I think she can do it. At 12:30 am Mrs. Claus says goodbye to everybody. She took her best elfs. At about 2:30 am Santa was waiting for Mrs. Claus. She got home at 2:35. Santa had some bacon and eggs on the grill. Mrs. Claus came inside to have some breakfast. The end
Merry mischief
By: Liam Murphy Grades 5/6
Once upon a time there were two kids that made a wish to swap lives with their parents for the holiday season. So they tried to buy a magical snow globe that can give any wish but they did not have enough to buy it so they are going to sell all their toys to buy it. The kid made 10 dollars and the snow globe was 10 dollars so they went to the store and bought the snow globe so they made a wish and they lived happily ever after.
Favourite Christmas traditions
By: Lincoln Fennell Grades 5/6
My Favourite Christmas traditions are Christmas. Christmas is about spending time with your family. That’s why I love Christmas. I also like my birthday. My birthday is on the winter solstice, the first day of winter. I also like rib offs. Rib offs are like when your family cooks ribs. Whoever cooks the best ribs wins. You can drink eggnog and hot chocolate and eat candy cane and milk and cookies and you open presents and play with toys. Easter is really fun because you can get lots and lots of candy and you have a decent size diner in general easter is really fun in fact easter is like thanksgiving big diner spending time with family/ I love every holiday.
Lost down reindeer lane
By: Julia Cox Grades 5/6
One cold, snowy Christmas Eve, Santa was sick and Mrs.Claus had to deliver presents to the whole world. The elves got the presents in the sleigh and got the reindeer ready while Mrs.Claus made a special hot chocolate for Santa to make him feel better. Then Mrs.Claus took off with the sleigh and reindeer. Then 50 feet in the air Mrs.Claus realized she had never flown the reindeer before she started freaking out. Then the reindeer went somewhere no one had ever seen before. Mrs. Claus was shocked when she saw other reindeer she realized that was where the reindeer were from Mrs. Claus hopped out of the sleigh and took a look around. Mrs Claus saw candy canes and peppermints and lots and lots of snow. She was amazed. She went to give a reindeer a candy cane when suddenly Santa said, “Wake up, it’s the night before Christmas Eve and we still have a lot to do.”
THE END
Christmas ice skate
By: Eric Fraser Grades 5/6
On one Christmas Eve Eric and his good friend Reese decided to go to the pond to practice hockey. So they got their skates and their sticks and walked down to the pond and tied up their skates and got on the ice and practiced shooting pucks and passing and went back up to the house and played CHL all night.
Santa got very sick and Mrs. Claus had to deliver the presents
By: Declan Nystoruk Grade 4
Santa got very sick with covid-19 and Mrs.Claus had to deliver all the presents before morning. What might happen? Let’s find out. Santa got very sick on Christmas Eve and Mrs.Claus has to deliver all the presents before morning and then she runs into a problem. She forgot to feed the reindeer and in the middle of the flight the reindeer stopped to go to the ground to eat some grass. They take five minutes before they go up into the sky. Then they realized that they have 20 minutes till morning so she gave the reindeer a five-hour energy. Then went house to house until they were done in under five minutes. They have done it and didn’t get caught. Santa was feeling better.
The end
One early morning two kids make a wish to switch bodies with their parents
By: Abbie Bergen Grade 5
The morning of Christmas Eve a 14 year old boy and an 11 year old girl made one wish to switch bodies with their parents. But nothing happened so they just went to bed. When they woke up they didn’t notice anything until the 14 year old boy went to go brush his teeth and looked in the mirror and they discovered they looked like their parents. The parents were still sleeping so the 14 year old went to go check on the parents and when he did they looked so tiny and cute. But then they realized that they had to go to work so the 14 year old went to go get the 11 year old up. She was not ready to go so he went outside but then he releaized that one of them has to drive! The 11 year old went outside and then they did rock paper scissors and the 11 year won so the 14 year old had to drive so it took a couple of hours but the managed to get there. They had to attend a meeting and they both said that they had a lot of work to do. So the end of day comes and they drive home and go straight to bed and then in the morning the parents tell them to wish to go back so they tell the parents that it takes about a day to come true. They go to bed again and then they are back to normal and they live happily ever after.
Mrs. Claus saves Christmas
By: Kace Davis Grade 6
Santa is sick with the flu, and Mrs. Claus has to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. Santa said from his bed, the rules of Christmas are, “You have to eat all of the cookies, and drink all of the milk left By: the children. And if there is anything for the reindeer, please give it to them. Leave the presents under the tree, but if it’s a small tree, leave the presents on the floor. So Mrs. Clause set out for the sleigh to get the reindeer ready. But she forgot one thing, the magic hat! After she grabbed the hat and the sack, she went back to finish getting the sleigh ready, with the help of the elves. She set off to deliver gifts around the world. There was a bit of a blizzard but Rudolph’s red nose could find the way, good thing he’s a leader! The first house had a dog that was sleeping By: the fire, she went over to pat the dog, and the dog yawned. She saw some cookies on the table By: the Christmas tree. She took one, ate a bit, and drank the milk. Then she put the presents under the tree. She headed back up through the chimney to her sleigh and proceeded to the next house. She continued her trip around the world. It was 1:00 in the morning but she wasn’t tired because of all the delicious cookies and milk. Her favourite so far, was the homemade chocolate chip cookies she found at the Davis house! She decided to make one more pit stop to the homeless shelter. When she got to the shelter she found Santa had packed a bag full of warm clothes. She went over to the people who were sleeping and left the clothes with them. She went back up onto the roof where she found a cat in her sleigh! It was a cat that was homeless so she brought it back to the North Pole riding ·on her shoulder, she named him Red. When she got back she went to check on Santa. She talked to him a bit and asked how he was feeling, he was feeling much better! She said I brought you a gift. She pulled out a chocolate chip cookie from the Davis’! Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas Everyone!
Mrs. Claus takes the reins
By: Kimberly Leduc Grade 4
Mrs. Claus Takes The Reins Santa is sick and Mrs.Claus must deliver the presents to all the kids in the world. So all the kids can get their presents for Christmas morning, which is the most magical time of the year. Santa had a cold so he couldn’t deliver the presents. So Mrs· Claus had to engage. Mrs Claus thought it was difficult at first but then she got the hang of it. So Mrs Claus got the sack of presents and she put the presents in the back of the sleigh. Then she got in the sleigh and flew away. Christmas was saved.
Mrs Claus takes the reins
By: Finley Reid Grade 4
This Christmas Santa got sick before Christmas Eve. He.said, how will we deliver the gifts? He thinks, the elfs? No they are too crazy! He looked and looked and said, Mrs Claus, will you deliver the gifts? Mrs Claus said me? Santa said yes, you. Mrs Claus thought and said. Ok, but you have to teach me how to fly a sleigh. Santa taught Mrs Claus how to fly the sleigh. Santa and Mrs Claus went to bed. The next Morning Santa and Mrs Claus got prepared for the big night. First, they got all the reindeer ready. Then they put all the presents into Santa’s big bag. Then it started getting dark. Mrs Claus· said goodbye to Santa and flew away in the sleigh. When Mrs Claus Was over Canada On her sleigh, the sleigh started to break down. She did not know what to do. So she called Santa and said, Santa the sleigh just broke down. Can you help me get it back together? Yes, Santa said but I’m not there! So Santa told Mrs Claus to get his red to tool box. Get the spare engine out of the red tool box And get my tools to put the engine back in. So Mrs Claus got the engine and put it back in the sleigh. She went to each and every house. Going down the chimney, drinking the milk, eating the cookies, and dropping off the presents. Then when the night was done, she went back to the North Pole. When she got back from delivering the gifts Santa and the elves were so happy for Mrs claus. Santa said to Mrs Claus, now let’s watch a Christmas movie! Mrs Claus said yes, and bake some cookies! The end.
Merry mischief
By: Heidi Fraser Grade 4
Two kids Make a wish in a well. The wish was to Swap lives with their parents for the holidays. The next day the wish came true! They were so happy but they needed to hide. So they ran away for a two days, and came back on Christmas Day. That night they went back to the well and made a wish to be themselves again. The next day they were themselves again, and their mom and dad were unaware that anything happened.
