THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412230276
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: By TOM HOLDEN AND BILL REED, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 157 lines
CHRISTMAS IS A holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, but it also has become a celebration of kids.
It's about their hopes, their dreams and the way they look at the world through wide and wondering eyes.
A sampling of first-, third- and fifth-graders at a handful of Virginia Beach elementary schools provides some insight into how kids view the yuletide season and what they expect from it.
Christina C. Hughes, an 8-year-old third-grader at Seatack Elementary School, put it simply when asked what Christmas meant to her.
``Christmas means showing love and giving presents to people and caring for your family.''
Tops on her wish list this year is a set of Rollerblades ``because they're fun to ride.'' Asked if she'd like anything else, Hughes thought a moment and then realized a little planning might be in order.
``I'd like some elbow pads and knee pads.''
Her schoolmate, Sharve Smith, a 6-year-old first-grader, figured it was time to get specific about the meaning of Christmas.
``It's baby Jesus' birthday, and it's a time to be with family. And it's a time when Santa brings all the children toys and presents.''
Sharve would be a happy little girl if Santa brought her two Barbie dolls. A Jazzercize Barbie would be nice, thank you. And, she wanted a leather coat.
Rudy Fuentes, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Seatack, took the lead from his classmates handily.
``Christmas means celebrating the birthday of Christ and spending time with relatives and friends. And, of course, giving and receiving presents.''
On that last point, Fuentes had a few suggestions for Santa.
``I want a bird, a parakeet, because you can teach them to talk.'' The bird would make a nice companion to his pet fish ``Cowboy,'' and he'd like an Nintendo game called Troy Aikman Football.
First-grader Katie McLaughlin , 6, at Creeds Elementary School, knows exactly what Christmas means to her.
``Santa Claus, presents. Getting together with my grandmother and my aunt,'' she said, then got right down to the nitty-gritty - her gift list.
It starts with an electric keyboard, continues with G.I. Joe dolls, Legos, stuffed animals and ends with a dog.
``You should have heard what she had on her list before I suggested she trim it down a little,'' principal Gay Kampfmueller said.
Nine-year-old Chris Spillers, a third-grader at Creeds, drew an admiring, ``How old are you?'' from fifth-grader John Turner, 10, with his assessment of the meaning of Christmas.
``Christmas means Jesus' birthday should be celebrated and we should have peace on earth,'' said Chris, who put in a word to Santa for a fishing pole, tackle box and bicycle.
Young Turner sized up the holiday observance pretty much as Chris had, adding that Christmas for him meant ``being with my family.''
As for a wish list, John had only one request from Santa - a go-cart.
At Bayside Elementary School, Justin T. Daniels, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, said Christmas is a time ``to spend with the family and get together to celebrate Jesus' birth.''
He was equally clear about what he thought might make a nice series of gifts this year. First off, a computer - a Macintosh is preferable - so he can write Christmas and Easter stories. And, if anyone is listening, he wants a new bicycle.
Classmate Tina M. Fleck, an 8-year-old third-grader, said Christmas means ``happiness and to give and receive presents. I like to give presents, but nothing too expensive. It makes me happy when I can give presents.''
Her fondest desire this year is a telephone, ``so I can call my friends and stuff from my bedroom.''
Asked what she would talk about, Fleck said, ``school, things to do, and asking friends to come over.''
It'd be nice to have some tapes for her Walkman, she said, adding that Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul would be nice.
Justin T. Bialas, a 6-year-old first-grader, said simply that ``Christmas means having people over and giving thanks.''
But when it comes to what the little guy would like from Saint Nick, the matter gets a bit more complicated.
``I'd like lots of things,'' he began. ``I'd like a remote-control four-wheeler with a winch - just a little one. I'd like lots of rope because I like climbing trees in my back yard. And I'd like a harness to help me climb. And I'd like one of those little computers that have the screen that fold up. I'd like one of those, but in a Macintosh.''
At Red Mill Elementary, fifth-grader Elizabeth Thuma, 10, quickly summarized what Christmas meant to her. ``The spirit of giving - not how many presents you get,'' she said.
Now that didn't mean Elizabeth was averse to receiving gifts. First on her list to Santa was a keyboard. Next was a room all to herself at home - one that she doesn't have to share with her brother or sister. Well, she wouldn't mind sharing it with a kitten, which also is on her list.
Red Mill third-grader Katie Davis, 9, felt Christmas was for ``spending time with relatives and family. It also meant a long, long wish list, which started with a Magic Video Painter and Indian bead works and ended with a Barbie doll selection.
Giving is Christmas to first-grader Erica Bailey, 7, but that doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't like to see a little something under the tree, such as Kirsten American Girl Doll, a bike or a real live parrot.
At Point `O View Elementary School, Alishia A. Anderson, a 6-year-old first-grader, had no trouble saying what Christmas meant to her. ``It's Jesus' birthday and it's fun. You get presents and you get to take pictures with Santa.''
She was equally clear about what she hoped might appear under the Christmas tree this morning.
``A TV,'' she said firmly. ``Dad always watches all these football games and I just hate them. This way, I can go upstairs and watch my own shows. Football is boring.''
Aaron S. Avery, an 8-year-old third-grader, agreed with his classmate on the holiday's meaning. ``It means joy and loving because it's Jesus' birthday. It's nice because you can take 30 minutes to be with your family and it just means happiness.''
The young boy said he hopes to receive a remote-controlled car ``so I can run it in the street. I had one but it's broken. It was my uncle's but I think he dropped it or something.''
The holiday's meaning was not lost on Meredith P. Wilhelm, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, who pointed out that it was about the birth of Jesus and a time to give and receive presents - two things that she liked to do.
This year, she wants a Sega Genesis game called ``Sonic & Knuckles.'' No more. No less. ILLUSTRATION: [Color cover student illustration]
[photos of elementary student and drawings(illustrations) by
students]
Graphic
MOST WANTED
As Christmas Day arrives - at long last - kids all over the
country are going gaga over the following toys. The alphabetical
list of ``hottest selling'' items was compiled by the Toy
Manufacturers of America, Inc., an industry trade association.
Barbie (Gymnast, 35th Anniversary, Dr. Barbie, Bedtime Barbie,
Bicyclin' Barbie).
Biker Mice from Mars.
Cozy Coupe.
Creepy Crawlers Workshop.
Dr. Dreadful Food Lab, Drink Lab.
Great Adventures Castle.
Hot Wheels Cars.
Jibba Jabber.
Lion King (Talking Simba).
Magic Scent Crayola Crayons.
Matchbox Cars.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Mouse! Mouse! Get Outta My House.
Musical Princess Dolls (Snow White, Belle, Jasmine).
Nickelodeon Floam.
Play Doh.
Talking Whiz Kid Laptop.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cyber Samurai Squad.
X Men.
KEYWORDS: TOYS TOP TOYS by CNB