Wednesday, December 23, 2015
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Eyes widened and jaws dropped as Discovery at Kirkmere students filed into the school cafeteria Tuesday afternoon.
It was the last day of school before Christmas and presents and gift bags filled the front tables and stage steps.
“The goal is that every child leaves with one item,” Principal Misha Scott said. “Some kids may not even get anything for Christmas.”
The school’s PTO conducted fundraisers, Greater Friendship Baptist Church and Victory Christian Center in Liberty donated, and teachers and staff contributed funds through the school’s dress-down days to buy the items for all 400-plus students at the school.
Seventh- and eighth-graders each got a gift bag stuffed with hygiene items: lotion, body wash, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste.
“They’re at the age where they want to smell good, and also their body chemistry is changing a little,” Scott said.
Lotion is a popular item at the school. Students request it throughout the school day from teachers, staff and other school personnel.
Third- through sixth-graders got wrapped gifts.
“I got live music Fathead headphones,” an excited Terrance Green, 11, said.
The sixth-grader plans to use the headphones to listen to music on his phone while riding the bus to and from school.
Each boy also got a pair of gloves.
Javon Burns, 12, also a sixth-grader, got the same thing and says he’ll listen to rap music, his favorite genre, on his tablet with the gift.
Each sixth-grade girl got a pair of socks and a perfume set with bath beads, lotion, body wash and perfume spray.
Shirley Dworkawitz orizal’s is rose-scented.
“I’m going to love it,” Shirley, 11, said.
Third- through fifth-graders each chose one gift from a stack of packages, separated by gender.
Fifth-graders Amarra Prieto and Trinitee Hendrix, both 11, and O’Rya Dixon, 10, each liked what they picked, too.
Amarra got a “Frozen” coloring set, based on the popular Disney movie. O’Rya got a Disney glitter tattoo set, and Trinitee selected a package filled with an assortment of colorful bracelets.
Trinitee said she loves bracelets and those she received will add to her collection.
The effort also demonstrates part of the spirit of the holidays.
“It’s better sometimes to give than to get,” Scott said.