43
Hilltoppers holiday shop at PTO’s Santa’s Workshop
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.These third-grade Hilltop Elementary School students were all smiles after shopping for everyone on their lists at the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 12.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.These Hilltop Elementary School first-graders shopped for family and friends at the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 13.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Hilltop Elementary School students checked out the variety of items available for purchase for everyone on their lists at the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 13.
By ABBY SLANKER
Hilltop Elementary School students finished their holiday shopping a little early, thanks to the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 12-13. The holiday ‘store’ was set up in the school’s library by parent volunteers and is designed to be a safe, child-centered environment where children can learn how to budget and spend wisely, while they also experience the gift of giving.
Prior to Santa’s Workshop, a form was sent home with the students that allowed them and their parents to make a list of the people, and pets, they wanted to buy for and create a budget for their each of their purchases.
Gifts available for purchase included toys, a large variety of holiday items, jewelry, ornaments, puzzles, mugs, tools and baby items. All items are priced from 25 cents to $5.50.
Several items were also available for students’ pets, including dog and cat toys and dog biscuits.
After the children made their purchases for everyone on their lists, they went to the wrapping table where several PTO volunteers wrapped and labeled the gifts for the children to take home.
Several volunteer members of the PTO shop year-round for items for Santa’s Workshop, which gives the students the chance to pick out their own inexpensive, high-quality gifts for family and friends. A variety of items are purchased, with something for everyone on the students’ lists.
The year-round shopping process, which focuses on buying items at deeply discounted prices, was started six years ago to be able provide the students nice gifts as an alternative to ordering all the items from one company.
Dawn Tomko and Michelle Schrock served as co-chairmen of this year’s Santa’s Workshop. Dozens of volunteers were involved in this year’s workshop, performing such tasks as buying the items, organizing and pricing the items, setting up the workshop, helping the children shop, wrapping the children’s gifts and cleaning up after the workshop was over.
To prevent students from being excluded from the shopping experience, the PTO donated Santa Dollars to any student who would not be able shop due to their economic means.