Students and teachers at Thomas Jefferson Elementary worked together these past weeks gathering as much history as they could about Bee County.

“It all came together the week before the Thanksgiving holidays,” said Sarah Jaure, elementary school principal. “Every teacher had their material ready to go such as decorations for the Christmas trees and posters... that sort of thing.”

The hallways of Thomas Jefferson are lined with trees, decorated with handmade ornaments depicting the many businesses that were around during the early days of Beeville.

Each tree was decorated by teaching assistants and custodians.

But the children did more than just make the ornaments.

“In the classrooms, the teachers discussed the theme of their tree and gave them historical background on what the tree was about,” she said.

“The kids not only learned a lot about the history of our town but also about some of the businesses that were here way before they were born.”

Jaure said that even she learned something about a place dear to her heart.

“I did the door on the history of our school,” she said pointing behind her in the hall.

“I discovered the original A.C. Jones High School was here at our current address.

“We believe the old band hall and the gym were originally part of the old A.C. Jones High School before it became the junior high, then the intermediate and, of course, now an elementary.”