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Students send Christmas spirit overseas
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Neighbors | Amanda TonoliStudents crafted Christmas ornaments on Oct. 9 at Poland Union Elementary School for troops to decorate donated trees. Pictured, from left, are Ella Mathews, Ally Nigh and Vander Bodine.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Kindergarten students Anna Maria Whorten (left) and Zechariah Murphy (right) put gemstones on their ornaments to give them a shiny look on Oct. 9 at Poland Union Elementary School.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Mrs. Catcott demonstrated to kindergarten students how to properly design ornaments for the troops on Oct. 9 at Poland Union Elementary School.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.On Oct. 9, Poland Union Elementary kindergarten students made ornaments as part of a give-back program donating Christmas trees to the troops overseas. Pictured, from left, are Blake Barnes, Lily Martin and Zach Roberts.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Jack Downie and Big Dog Kelsey Thompson crafted Christmas ornaments at Poland Union Elementary School on Oct. 9.
By amanda tonoli
Poland Union Elementary School participates in a give-back program throughout the year, giving to those not quite as fortunate as they are.
The most recent give-back project is collecting “loose change,” putting it together to buy and send Christmas trees to military troops overseas for the holidays.
Principal Michael Masucci headed the program, thinking not only of his immediate community, but of other communities abroad.
Vicky Kindinis, parent volunteer, came to Union on Oct. 9 to help students with a special project for the trees being sent.
“Today they are making the ornaments for the troops to decorate their trees with,” Kindinis said. “What the troops do, is send the kids thank you’s in each class.”
Big Dog mentor Kelsey Thompson said she was just happy to be able to help the students with this project.
“I just like working with the kids,” Thompson said. “It just reminds me of when I was younger.”
One of the favorite parts of this activity was being able to make the thumbprint hearts.
“We want to send our love over to the troops,” said parent volunteer Mrs. CatCott.
Kindergarten teacher Nanette Ungaro said she was glad to see the giving nature this project brought out in her students.
“They’re sending a piece of themselves and they’re thinking about someone else,” Ungaro said.