43
Winter Festival brings Campbell community together
CAMPBELL
With a steady jingle of bells as he stepped, Santa and Mrs. Claus entered the cafeteria at Campbell K-7 school and were met with an eruption of excitement from a contingent of expectant students.
The visit from Christmas’ most iconic couple was part of the Campbell school district’s Winter Festival on Thursday evening, one of the district’s seasonal community events.
More than 650 students, teachers and community members registered to attend the festival – which was open to the public – and all were treated to a free meal, as well as a variety of activities and music provided by the middle-school band and choir.
In addition to the meal provided by The Nutrition Group, the school also had a raffle and a donation drive to help support victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico.
On the stage, choir members sang a number of Christmas carols.
In the gym, students had their faces painted by volunteers who gave one student a very convincing white Santa beard to go along with his floppy red hat before having their photos taken.
Third-grade teacher Dominique Galletta was – like several other teachers at the event – dressed like one of Santa’s elves while she oversaw the event.
“We used to do these monthly, but we eventually moved to doing one big community night every quarter,” Galletta said. “It’s a nice way to involve the community in what we’re doing here at the school.”
Inside the cafeteria at a table manned by members of the community service organization Youth Intensive Services, students had the chance to make paper snowflakes and holiday gift cards with the help of staffers like behavior intervention specialist T.J. Lowery.
“It’s a great event; all these community nights are,” Lowery said. “They bring the community and the education staff together.”
Similar to the counselors’ table, the Campbell Police Department had representatives working a table, passing out educational coloring books to interested students.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County had a holiday book display, and Youngstown State University after-school program volunteers helped students make their own Christmas tree ornaments.
Valerie Graham, a parent of two young Campbell K-7 students and a stroller-bound future Red Devil, said she enjoyed the community nights both for the entertainment they provide her children as well as the pride she has for her school.
“They really enjoy these. My daughter thought we missed it because it was dark out, and she got mad,” Graham said. “I graduated from Campbell. I’m a Red Devil, and these guys will be, too. It’s just a nice way for all of us to spend some time together.”