Barren County Middle celebrates Christmas with games, gifts

Published 6:52 pm Tuesday, December 24, 2024

by David Horowitz

A student and his school principal face off at the Barren County Middle School gymnasium. In the boy’s hands: two pies. On BCMS Principal Joey Bunch: goggles and a high-visibility safety suit. More than 660 students and some 60 staff watch in anticipation.

The boy throws, and Bunch leaps forward to dodge — but the student follows up: SPLAT. The crowd roars! Bunch falls backward onto the first pie when a second student lands two more, and 10 school cooks stick a bunch of pies onto Bunch’s head.

So began BCMS’s final Friday event, a festive succession of holiday activities for pajama-clad students prior to Christmas break. There was a raffled-off PlayStation 5; students played Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Cups; Bunch raced two others in inflatable costumes; and nine staff competed in musical chairs.

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Then, as school day concluded, Bunch announced the much-prepared surprise: a gift for every student and employee.

The school’s parent-teacher-student organization funded the giveaway. Bunch, who became principal in summer after serving as the director of transportation, envisioned it in July.

“It’s always been important to me for these kids to know how much we care for them, not just during testing or any other time of the year,” Bunch said. “We want to give them a specific (…) time of year to let them know (…) how hard they’ve worked. That they’re great kids.”

Students held their gifts as they sat in some 20 circles across the gymnasium floor with their teachers. On Bunch’s count to three, students and staff tore them open — throwing the wrappings into the air and unveiling maroon, school-themed T-shirts.

Each reads, “2024 2025 BCMS,” surrounded by a chain, stating:“We are stronger together.” 

“We are a chain here — we are a better school because of each and every one of you that are getting a shirt today, and our parents and everyone else,” Bunch told the school.

BCMS student J.P. Ross said he didn’t expect to get a present.

For BCMS student Trent P., that was the best part.

“It’s pretty cool. I’ll probably wear it out,” he said.

Asked about his favorite part of the gymnasium gathering, Bunch said, “It’s the eyes when the paper went throwing, because it’s a thrill watching them open presents …

Yes, it’s just a T-shirt — but it’s their T-shirt, and it’s our T-shirt, and it’s us together as a small community.”



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