See Cedar Ridge Elementary’s Winter Wonderland during Christmas event Saturday

Heath Wilson

By Brianna Goodman, Special to White River Now

While many people spent Thanksgiving break relaxing and filling their bellies, Heath Wilson spent his time at school. Wilson, Cedar Ridge Elementary’s long-tenured janitor, decorates the cafeteria for every occasion. In spring, bunnies and leprechauns cover the walls. For Halloween, fake spiders hang from the ceiling. But his Christmas decorations stand in a league of their own.

With more than 10 Christmas trees and thousands of lights, Wilson turns every inch of the cafeteria into a winter wonderland.

Wilson graduated from Newark High School — now Cedar Ridge — in 1988 and has worked for the district for 34 years. He has a deep-rooted love for the Newark community, which helps explain why he goes above and beyond each year: to make students smile. Despite being deaf, students have learned to communicate with him, forming friendships with the man responsible for their “Christmas magic.”

Students from kindergarten through fifth grade anticipate the day after Thanksgiving break every year just to see what Mr. Heath has created. They enjoy eating breakfast and lunch surrounded by his decorations each day, and the community gets to see them once a year at the annual Christmas Craft Fair and Pancake Breakfast.

The event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and offers photos with Santa, a pancake breakfast, student singing performances, and booth shopping from local businesses and crafters — and, most importantly, a chance to step inside the “North Pole” of the district.

Wilson’s work is more than decorating a space; it is a tradition Cedar Ridge students will remember for years to come. His quiet dedication is a reminder that the best gifts are the love we give to others.

Images provided by the Cedar Ridge School District