Caledon Central shares the joy of the season
By Amanda Hodge Grade 7 student

During December, students of Caledon Central Public School have dedicated their time and energy to both academics and generosity.

All divisions of the school participated in the Share the Joy and the Twelve days of Santa Express programs.

Share the Joy enabled students to raise money to support deserving, needy families. The students were encouraged to take an active role in raising money by completing household chores. Donations to Share the Joy were also submitted in lieu of purchasing gifts for teachers. Through these efforts, students donated more than $3,000, which enabled them to support four needy families.

A group of students and teachers went shopping to purchase items that the families had identified on their wish lists. Students then wrapped the gifts, which were to be delivered to the families through the Department of Social Work.

The school would like to thank the Tremblay family, Zellers and Boston Pizza for their generous support.

During the Twelve days of Santa Express, students filled 75 boxes with nonperishable food, toys and winter outerwear. Then Mrs. Halls, a parent, dropped off seven boxes of surplus toys from her company's Christmas party to make a grand total of 82 boxes. The Orangeville Food Bank distributed the food to deserving families and the Salvation Army will deliver the toys and outerwear to good homes.

Donalda Barlow, principal of Caledon Central, was pleased with the dedication of the students, parents and teachers.

"We are truly blessed at Caledon Central to have such a caring community that recognizes the importance of sharing with others," she declared.