Thanksgiving. A time of family get-togethers, food, and traditions. Each family has its own history, and certain traditions that they follow on this holiday from year to year. Here are traditions that some BAHS teachers have in their families. 

“For the McDermitt’s, our Thanksgiving Day traditions are simple… Faith, Family, Food.  Every year for Thanksgiving, my wife and I host 40 relatives from my mom’s side of the family.  Some come from Connecticut, some from Ohio, some from Wisconsin, and some from a military base in California.  It is best described as ‘organized chaos’ in our house.  Everyone pitches in and brings food to share, and I always deep fry a turkey.  Before we eat, we read scripture and pray as a family.  After dinner we enjoy fellowshipping with one another, watching football, and fighting the temptation to drift into a food coma.” 

Math teacher Mr. Matt McDermit

“One of our traditions is to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.  In the past, we would also go to work at a local church and food bank to help others.”

History and Psychology teacher Mrs. Christine Morris

“Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite holidays. I’ve lost exact count, but I think it’s been around the past 12 years that I’ve planned the family dinner menu and done a lot of the cooking, along with a good friend. I typically do a turkey (I have a number of recipes that I cycle through or blend together) and a few sides that I make, along with making gravy from the turkey.

My family would typically have a larger gathering of anywhere from 18-25 people (family friends, my wife’s family, relatives), but this year it’s just going to be a small gathering of my family along with both of my parents. The change is something that I’m grieving a bit, just because it was so much fun having a full house and really having this tangible feeling of love being around the table with everyone. However, we’re still going to make the turkey and the food, everything will just be on a much smaller scale this year.

Having young kids is also fun around this time of year, especially since Hannah (our oldest, who’s 3.5) is really starting to understand the holidays and seasons. It’s enjoyable to see things through her eyes.” 

Band Director Mr. Caleb Rebarchak