SIDNEY — Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks for things that happen in our lives everyday. Six Longfellow Elementary School first-grade students, along with Principal Fran Dembski, were asked several questions about the holiday.
Thanksgiving means “being happy,” to Tessa Curl, 7, daughter of James and Christina Curl.
“I thankful for my teachers,” said Carleigh Henline, 7, daughter of Tom Henline and Christina Anderson.
Hapsa Sow, 6, is thankful for the food she’s going to eat on Thanksgiving. She is the daughter of Demba Sow and Aichata Louzolo.
“I’m thankful for the food,” said Alexander “Ace” Elliott, 6, son of Chad and Joanne Elliott.
Jason Gonzales, 6, son of Franklin and Norma Gonzales, is also thankful for the food.
“This is the best holiday every,” said Maurice Lake, 7, son of Maurice and Erin Lake. “You get to spend time with your parents.”
Dembski said Thanksgiving is a time to spend with her family and to just relax.
The day is a time to spend with family and friends, they all agreed.
“We go to my grandma’s house in Sidney,” said Tessa. “There’s lots of relatives there.”
Carleigh said her family goes to her mom’s church and “have a great big dinner at the church.”
“We invited people to my grandma’s house,” said Hapsa. “My great-great-grandma and grandpa will be there.”
Her aunts and uncles also go to her grandma’s house, she said.
“I go to my mama and papa’s in Piqua,” said Ace. His brother, Tenton, is also in on the family celebration.
Maurice said his family celebrates at their apartment.
“When we’re done eating, we go outside and play football,” he said.
Dembski said her holiday celebration varies from year to year.
“This year is going to be just our immediate family,” she said. “We might have an extra person that might not have a place to spend Thanksgiving. So we’ll invite them to our home.”
The toughest part about Thanksgiving is how to stuff the turkey. While most of the first-graders didn’t know how to stuff it, Maurice had his own explanation on how to cook it.
“My mom takes a knife and cuts the legs off because we don’t like legs,” he said. “Then she cuts the wings off. She uses thyme and other stuff on it. Then she puts it in the oven and lets it simmer. Then we gobble it all up.”
Dembski said her family doesn’t like stuffing inside their turkey.
“I put the turkey in a bag and cook it,” she said.
“You put it in the oven,” said Tessa “There’s nothing inside it though.”
And what is their favorite part of Thanksgiving?
“The turkey and my relatives I don’t get to see a lot,” said Tessa.
“I get to see all my cousins” said Carleigh.
“I get to see my relatives,” said Hapsa. “I also like to lay down and put my feet up and I watch television.”
Ace’s favorite part of the holiday is the food and then going outside to play. His dad watches football after eating the holiday feast. He also likes to play video games.
Jason’s favorite part is being able to play on his phone.
“I like it when we get to eat and then go outside and play,” said Maurice.
“I like to relax and be with my family,” said Dembski.
All the first-graders said they like to watch the football games on television, too.
Turkey was the overwhelming favorite food of the holiday. Tessa, Hapsa, Ace and Jason all like turkey. Carleigh likes the chocolate chip cookies with icing on them.
Ace and Jason also said their favorite food was pizza, which they have after eating their turkey.
“I like everything,” said Maurice.
Dembski, who admitted she’s not a turkey fan — she eats it once a year on Thanksgiving — said her favorite food is pumpkin pie with a little Cool Whip on it.
