Christmas may be long past us, but three students have taken prizes from Pembroke Rotary Club after charming the judges of the latest Christmas essay competition.

Rotarians heard the top essays recited this week when the primary, middle and senior school winners joined them for breakfast at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on Thursday.

Jaden Jacobs Furbert, from the Berkeley Institute, shared Deck the Halls with Thoughts of Giving, while Jake Roberts, from Mount Saint Agnes Academy, read out The True Meaning of Christmas.

Saltus student Leo DeSousa read How to Make Christmas Better.

The essays incorporated the Rotarian values enshrined in the club’s four-way test that judges whether words and actions are true, fair, building goodwill and beneficial to all concerned.

Winners were presented with plaques and $150 in prize money.

Club president Jason Taylor said the Christmas theme was good for reflecting on “thinking of others, giving, and making people feel better”.

“Most years are good, but we had some really great essays this year,” Mr Taylor added.