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Watson, Woodside host Santa shops
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The students of Mrs. Reel’s Watson first-grade class held up their purchases.
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At Woodside’s Santa Shop, Isabelle Robinson held up a Browns banner she’s hoping to give to her grandfather this Christmas.
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The students of Jen Schuler’s kindergarten class were eager to finish their shopping and share their purchases with their classmates.
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Although there was much more on her list, Krista Capito found two ducks at Watson’s Santa Shop that she wanted for herself.
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Brayden Melia had his hand at the ready, always prepared to point out the best gift he found for his family members at Woodside’s Santa Shop.
By SARAH FOOR
With only a few quarters from lunch saved here and there, most elementary school students have trouble finding the perfect gift for their family members at Christmas time. That’s where the PTA and its annual Santa Shops comes in.
On Dec. 2 and 3, the Woodside and Watson PTAs each hosted a Santa Shop, offering low-priced Christmas gifts for students to buy for family and friends.
“These Santa Shops are all for the kids. We want the kids to have nice gifts for their families. We want them to learn how to shop for themselves. The PTA doesn’t get much in return here, but we definitely don’t mind,” said Julie Skelly, of the Watson PTA.
At Woodside, popular gifts included jewelry for mothers and Ohio State and Browns gear for sports-loving dads and grandparents. Watson, on the other hand, had many students searching for perfect gifts for brothers and sisters. For siblings, many Watson students decided on plush guitars.
As Jen Schuler’s kindergarten students gathered after shopping to show each other their gifts, some shared their purchases freely. Others, like Brayden Melia, kept their’s hidden.
“I’m going to keep it a secret for Christmas,” he explained.