SOUTH PARIS – The Oxford Hills Middle School students spread cheer by decorating grocery bags with holiday cutouts and poems. This year, in addition to the eighth-grade students, Team 2 of the seventh-grade joined in the project.

The tradition was begun by Donna Marcotte-Bell, an eighth-grade language arts teacher. The project was something she and her students had done when she worked in another school district and she wanted to bring the tradition to the Oxford Hills.

“The people of Oxford Hills are so generous to our students during the year and this is such a wonderful way for our students to say thank you and Happy Holidays,” said Maureen Howard, director of the Education Exchange.

The first year 125 decorated bags were delivered to Hannaford and this year 400 bags were delivered on Dec. 19.