8 December 2025 · Frisco, Texas
Every table was decorated by the students themselves, with objects from their own cultures and traditions.
Ann and Lori welcome their ESL family to the 2nd annual ESL Family Christmas Party.
The ESL Family Christmas Party is exactly what it sounds like: students, families, food from everywhere, and a room that feels nothing like December in Texas and exactly like the holidays everywhere at once.
Each table was decorated by the students themselves. They brought pieces of their own traditions — objects, colors, and arrangements that reflected where they came from. No two tables looked alike. Together, the room looked like the world.
The ESL family, gathered.
Light a Candle
Ann Pierson taught the class a song to perform at the party. It was called “Light a Candle,” and the words were simple enough to learn and big enough to mean something:
The ESL 360 class performs “Light a Candle,” taught by Ann Pierson. Sing peace around the world.
Light a candle for you, light a candle for me,
light a candle to shine all the way around the world…
Sing peace around the world.
They performed it together, holding candles, in front of the whole room. At this moment in history when the world is in tumult, it was a fitting song for our international students to perform.
The best part of any party.
Happy holidays from the ESL 360 family — from all of our countries, to all of yours.