Metter school chosen to represent Georgia at White House tree lighting

METTER, Ga. (WTOC) - Students at Metter Elementary will have their artwork featured on the National Christmas Tree in Washington this holiday season after Gov. Kemp selected the small, rural community to represent Georgia.

Twenty-four of the school’s students were chosen to display Georgia-themed ornaments on the Peach State tree, school officials said. The National Christmas Tree lighting display will be on view to the public Dec. 6 through Jan. 1.

“We’re in a very rural part of the state of Georgia, so for our little community to be put on the map for something like this, it’s really a great honor for us,” said Tami Wallace, assistant principal.

School leaders said the White House invited one school from each state each year to design ornaments for the state trees that are displayed outside the official residence. When Metter received the invitation, teachers and students began working on the prompt, “What makes Georgia beautiful.”

Jodie Kemp, the school’s art teacher, said the students were in disbelief initially. “They were pretty excited. Some were kind of like, ‘Are you serious?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, we are!’ ” she said.

The ornaments include images of Georgia peaches, the state flag and state flower, along with other scenes students selected to represent the state. School officials said Metter did not have an art program 12 years ago, making the honor especially meaningful to the students and the wider community.

The White House also invited the students to visit the tree and tour the White House. To cover travel and chaperone costs, local community members raised $28,000 to pay expenses for the students selected to go.

“I was really happy that everyone in the state of Georgia and people from all over the country would know where Metter, Georgia, is,” said Jase, a student.

Locally, copies of the students’ ornaments are now on display on the official Metter Christmas tree in downtown Metter.