18-year tradition continues for students at Callahan School

LYNN – Callahan Elementary School teacher Deb Jamieson and her students carried on an 18-year tradition Tuesday when they laid out a Thanksgiving spread and opened their classroom door for all to partake.”(It) started very small at the Ford School. Then it grew at the Drewicz (Elementary School),” said Jamieson. “And now here at the Callahan, I have so many great assistants that help me.”Two platters of turkey, baskets of rolls, pans of stuffing, and pots of vegetables and mashed potatoes and gravy filled a long table at the head of Jamieson’s classroom.View photos of Thanksgiving events around townOn one side of the room was a constant turnover of teachers, staffers and parents who slipped in, piled their paper plates high, ate and slipped out. On the other side were the students who had worked hard for their dinner.”We sliced and diced,” said Anne Duarte, one of Jamieson’s students.”We cut up carrots and potatoes,” added her classmate George Tithty.George, an experienced cook who said he can also make bacon and eggs, said he liked Thanksgiving, particularly turkey, corn and gravy. Anne said the holiday makes her happy because it brings her family together for the day.Jamieson said each year the students in her intellectually impaired class help with the dinner’s prep work. Along with slicing and dicing the vegetables, they snapped fresh green beans and mixed up ingredients for apple pies and pumpkin pies.”Then we took the pies home and baked them,” Jamieson said.For Jamieson the event is also a bit of a family affair. She said her father often takes over roasting one of the turkeys, another volunteer roasts a second one, and her sister, Judy, helps serve.Judy Jamieson said she’s been helping her sister out longer than she can remember.”Some of my friends from work even come,” she said. “The kids are just so great and it’s so much fun to watch them ? it’s a joy to be able to help.”When asked what they were thankful for this year, George said, “God,” while Anna said “this wonderful meal.” Her classmate, Alexander Towles-Emmons, didn’t disagree.When Alexander asked for a third helping of his favorite turkey and gravy, a volunteer asked, “Where do you put it all, Al?””In my belly,” he said, pointing to his stomach.Callahan Principal Edward Turmenne also stopped by for dinner. He praised Jamieson and her kids for their hard work.”She’s been doing this a long time,” he said. “You don’t do something like this unless you love it, and she loves it.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].