Tara Crisan Sweatt

Happy Thanksgiving, Ashville! We at the St. Clair News-Aegis are grateful for our readers. and this columnist is grateful to cover such a great city.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Ashville Elementary School ranked second in the St Clair County district. Once again, the little dogs come out faster and further than much bigger ones in the race. These days, that is no small accomplishment.

Goals are becoming progressively more difficult for students. The school year is longer. It used to start the day after Labor Day. Now some schools start as early as July. There is much more sophisticated technology. and while they may not realize, it children are being educated to compete in the global economy.

So, hopefully, all parents with a child at Ashville Elementary will come to family fun night Nov. 28. There will be fun, but there will also be much more. There will be demonstrating ways to help your child grow with strategies like math and reading games to play at home. There will also be tech support to help parents learn how to access Power School systems. Good to the Bone food truck will be there in case you get hungry while learning how to help your children learn.

Thanksgiving weekend in Alabama used to mean three things. Food, family and fun. Many of us either went Christmas shopping or enjoyed leftovers while we decorated our trees or went shopping on Friday. Saturday was the Iron Bowl.

More people are enjoying Christmas shopping from the comfort of their own home by doing it online. Although USA Today has estimated there will be 182 million shoppers at brick and mortar stores Friday. So, if you’re going, prepare for the crowds.

Many people already have their trees up. Some choose to wait until December. Others celebrate a different holiday or none at all.

However you spend the weekend, we hope you enjoy it and that you still watch the game. This is, after all, the state of Alabama. Roll Tide.