Saltus Prep School students are sharing in the Christmas spirit through a `Skills for Living' project organised by their teacher Jennie Beard.

They have decorated a tree using wooden ornaments donated by the Gibbons Company.

The tree, which is being displayed in the firm's Reid Street windows for a two-week period, will then be donated to the Sunshine League for the charity's annual Christmas celebrations.

Under the direction of teacher Carolyn Conway, Saltus' Junior School students were engaged in a collection of tinned food to help the Lions Club's Christmas Basket Project.

Another junior school teacher, Lilian Williams, is raising money to help the Island's handicapped children through the sale of a book, "Bermuda As We See It 2'' written and illustrated by the children themselves.

One thousand limited-edition copies are currently being sold to benefit the Committee of 25.

Saltus Senior School students are also thinking about the community's needs and are focusing their efforts on helping the abused and the homeless.

The Student Council has organised a collection of tinned food destined for the Physical Abuse Centre and senior students have also decorated the front of the old `Woodlands' mansion in the heart of the Saltus campus as part of BELCO'S Festival of Lights contest.

Their theme is `A School Yule' featuring nine festive Christmas wreathes adorned with broken and recyclable objects found in rubbish bins located in the school's major academic departments.

*** The Bermuda National Gallery is inviting all its members to do their Christmas shopping at the Gallery's museum shop.

The shop is offering, members only, a 25 percent discount on all items in the shop including a new shipment from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and there is also a unique selection of African pieces.

Also available is a sale table with items offered at a 50 percent discount.

Both special offers will continue through Christmas Eve.