By MARY SAYDAH
Assistant Features Editor
After a month of planning, the Cultural Communications Club was joined by 38 ages three to five years old Headstart students this morning for the eighth annual Headstart holiday event, according to the CCC club.
Advisor and Spanish teacher Sabina Campbell had the original idea eight years ago. After working at Headstart for six years, she wanted to continue to help the young students living below the poverty line.
“When I left, I didn’t want to forget them,” she said.
The morning consisted of nine performances from an interactive reading of “The Polar Express” complete with bells for the children to junior CCC council member of Middletown Brendan Gosse’s solo dance to “Too Close” by Alex Clare. Other highlights included senior Brianna Merriman of Middletown singing “Silent Night” while she played the ukulele and Campbell’s Spanish Class’ performance of the children’s story “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”
After the show, the students received presents, each bag filled with goodies like puzzles, crayons and stickers. Along with the bags, the Headstart students were given unique teddy bears.
This tradition is due to physical education teacher Virginia Clevenger’s mother, who brought the idea to Communications High School. She was a volunteer at the Salvation Army at the time, and they held “teddy bear tea parties.” Different organizations would donate teddy bears and they would then be dressed up.
When Clevenger mentioned the CCC Headstart event to her mom, Campbell attended a tea party with Clevenger’s mother. They returned to CHS with a bag of teddy bears.
“This is pretty special to me,” said Clevenger, who let her sophomore students help with today’s program. “It makes me think of my mom every year.”
Upon receiving their first presents for the holiday season, the students were elated, letting out a big cheer of excitement. Campbell was just as pleased with the turnout.
“It is always so great,” she said.
SEE A PHOTO SLIDESHOW OF THE EVENT BELOW.
BLOT SLIDESHOW BY BRI DAZIO AND SARAH TAKASH