Students take pride in Salvation Army kettle drive

Eighth grade marked the last holiday season a class of Fair-Mont-Egan School students would ring bells together for the Salvation Army before moving on to high school.

The bell-ringing tradition spans back to kindergarten for many of these students.

“This was our last big hurrah with our group,” said eighth-grader Ashlyn LeClercq.

The tradition began with the LeClercq family.

“I’ve done it since my brother was little,” the 13-year-old said.

Ashlyn’s mother, Kristin, who works in the school office, said her family began bell ringing for the Salvation Army when Ashlyn’s older brother Caleb was around 3. When he was old enough to attend school, the LeClercq family invited his class to participate. The invitation then extended to Ashlyn’s class once she started attending school.

Kristin said she wanted to instill the importance of community service in her children.

“I wanted to broaden their Christmas experience,” Kristin said. “Spark them to think of helping others outside our core family.”

Many eight-graders chose to participate this year, according to Ashlyn and classmates Leah Spangler, 13, and Grayce Siderius, 14.

“It’s a pretty established tradition now,” Ashlyn said. “Every year my grandfather comes from Washington and he bakes cinnamon rolls and we make hot chocolate for all the bell ringers.”

A tradition the eighth-graders look forward to each year.

“I love when everybody knows it’s coming and everybody is kind of excited for it, because it’s one of our big class traditions every year,” Ashlyn said. “And doing it for a good cause.”

This year, the Fair-Mont-Egan eighth-graders took a four-hour shift at their usual spot in front of the Kalispell Center Mall. Over the years students have entertained people in various ways to help brighten spirits and raise donations. When Ashlyn was younger she remembered her brother would dress up as Santa and played the trombone while she wore festive dresses and rang a bell.

Now, there’s “A lot of singing and dancing,” Leah said.

Being courteous and polite is just as important. Grayce and Leah said the teens would do things such as opening doors for people, wishing them good morning or merry Christmas.

The trio named similar reasons why the bell ringing became a mainstay through the years.

“We really just love doing it together,” Ashlyn said.

Leah added, “It’s fun.”

“And we’re just doing it for a good cause,” Ashlyn said, the others agreeing.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.