If Brynne Margolis, 9, could give a present to all of Park City, "It would be a free ski pass, so everybody in Park City could ski."
"Because people get a lot of exercise in the winter by skiing," Margolis added.
Margolis might not get that wish, but Zions Bank helped her and other kids at McPolin Elementary School start the holiday season on Wednesday with the annual "Lights On" event.
Students visited the Park City Zions to make ornaments and decorate the tree. In return, the bank will donated $300 to McPolin, which is about enough to fund a field trip, according to Andy Garland, manager at Zions Bank’s Park City office
Second- and third-graders made ornaments in their own classes like Popsicle stars or bead candy canes, which they gave to the Zions tree. While they were at the bank, they painted their own light bulb ornaments which they took home.
"I think to mix the paint real well, you’ve got to spin it a lot so all the paint gets sort of clobbed together," said Cole Garda, 8.
Madelin Knauer, 7, said, "It’s fun to make them because you get to keep them. I think I’m just gonna hang it on the Christmas tree." Zions offices have hosted "Lights On" for more than 30 years. This year, more than 60 elementary schools in Utah and Idaho participate in the "tree-trimming tradition," according to a press release. "It’s all fun and happy and they love Christmas, it has a good feeling when they come," said Lyndsay Sessions, Zions customer service manager. Ellie Meyer, 8, said, "This was really, really, really fun because I got to walk all the way down here and make ornaments." Kevin King, 9, said he enjoys "Christmas and holidays and toys and presents." "It makes me think of joy and it makes me happy," King said. Valery Garcia, 8, likes Christmas "because it’s fun" and to get presents. If she could give a present to her teacher, Linda Ferguson, it would be flowers. On Thursday, fourth-grade students from Trailside Elementary took part in a natural history-themed "Lights On" celebration. They decorated a tree inside Zions’ Newpark office with ornaments they created with Utah Museum of Natural History volunteers. This "Lights On" event is in conjunction with the museum and included Navajo treasures, dinosaur skeletons, hands-on activities for kids, and 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Shea. Zions will display the decorated trees in the Park City bank lobbies until Dec. 21, then donate them to needy families in the area.