Holiday Extravaganza Held at Silver Lane School!
Holiday Extravaganza Held at Silver Lane School!
Holiday Extravaganza -- December 15, 2010
Silver Lane Elementary School
East Hartford, CT
Special Event Provides Gifts for Children to Give to Family Members!
On Wednesday, December 15, 2010, the third annual Holiday Extravaganza was held at Silver Lane Elementary School in East Hartford. This event, which is part of the school's Family Involvement initiative, provided an opportunity for students to choose holiday gifts for their family members without cost to them.
Special Education teacher Lori Gosselin began this tradition three years ago, and it continues to be one of the days staff and students look forward to all year!
In preparation for this exceptional event, generous staff members and their families contributed hundreds of gift items, wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue and lots of hard work to make this a very special day for the entire school. All of the gifts were donated by school staff and were free for the students. "This event benefits so many people those who donate, knowing their items are going to a good cause; every staff member who is involved in the preparation, shopping and wrapping; and every student who will experience the joy of giving during the holidays.", explained Mrs. Gosselin.
Many hours were spent preparing for this special day. Paraprofessionals, tutors, teachers, custodians, and even the school nurse, devoted hours to sorting, packing and labeling items. Days before the event were spent moving boxes, decorating and setting up displays in order to convert the school library into a festive holiday store.
Eyes twinkled as brightly as the holiday lights when children arrived in the school's library wing for their turn to shop. Each child was prepared with their shopping lists to choose five gifts to be wrapped and delivered to family members just in time for the holidays. Many staff members came down to help the children shop and find a special treasure. It was so wonderful to see the satisfaction and joy on the children's faces when they were able to find just the right gift for a loved one. Justice from Ms. Winiarski's fourth grade class said, "I can't wait to see their faces at Christmas because they won't know what it is!"
After the gifts were selected, the children returned to their classes where the wrapping began. Older children, as well as paraprofessionals and tutors, helped younger ones to make their packages sparkle, while festive holiday music filled the air.
Nathen from Ms. Winiarski's class said, "Every Christmas, I felt bad because I didn't get my family a gift because I didn't have money. But now I can get my family gifts. And when I do, I feel better."
Blanca from Ms. Turgeons class said, "When I was making my list, I had a hard time choosing five family members to buy gifts for. I was so happy walking home with my gifts and thinking how my family members would love them."
"Given the challenges many of our students face, we need to be those reassuring waves that let kids know everything is OK." said Mary Beth Kuzoian of the school's Family Resource Center. The Holiday Extravaganza at Silver Lane Elementary School is one event that helps make that happen at this special time of year.
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