Article by Phoenix writer Ailish Blaney ’28
This year, Kellenberg started Advent with spirit. On December 2, Kellenberg hosted its annual door-decorating contest. Each homeroom transformed doors and classrooms into candy-land forests and winter wonderlands.
Halls blasted Frank Sinatra while students draped banners and hung Christmas ornaments. With everything on the line, homerooms viciously competed to win best decorated.
Freshman homerooms had the theme of “A New York City Christmas” with each door featuring an iconic NYC landmark. From Central Park to the Empire State Building, each classroom was setting up tough competition.
Mrs. York’s homeroom decided to spread cheer by turning her students into the Rockettes. Her classroom was strung with lots of shimmer and perfectly symmetrical paper-string. Three words to perfectly describe her room? Mrs. York exclaimed, “unique, glittery, and neat.”
Regardless of how unique, glittery, and neat the halls were, the day was not just about perfect decorating. Ms. Kass, moderator of homeroom 10B, states, “Activities like door decorating foster school spirit, not just for the Christmas season, but as a school community as well. Students and teachers alike are able to get involved, get creative, and enjoy friendly competition.” Freshman Ava Rose Joneleit chimed in, “They build connections in our homerooms which set us up for the next four years.”
When asked their favorite part of the day, many claimed to enjoy wearing sweaters in place of the usual uniform-attire.
A piece of advice for the 2026 Advent Decorators: be patient and don’t get overwhelmed. Not everyone can make a NYC Christmas festive decoration that’ll make Kevin in Home Alone red with jealousy. (Or the Grinch green with envy.) Nevertheless, everyone can celebrate Christmas NYC style.
Although every classroom was as festive as the North Pole, some homerooms really put in the work. Homerooms 6D, 8D, 9C, 9J, 10A, 11K, 11N, 12L, and 12F won the great 2025 door-room decorating contest, with moderators being Mrs. Riiska, Mr. Brennan, Miss Hartung, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Huggard, Mrs. Frem, Mr. Flood, and Mr. Miles. Mr. O’Brien’s homeroom, 10A, decided to make a Christmas tree on their door. The ornaments featured a baby-picture of each student, and that surely put them in the winner’s circle.
The day ended with lots of school spirit and more importantly, the spirit of Christmas. With all of the stress of the world, it can be easy to miss the true meaning of Christmas: the Lord. At Kellenberg, the meaning is never forgotten. Throughout the day, students take a break from the troubles of Physics and History—instead soaking in the season of Advent and preparing for the real reason one is here: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
