Benjamin Community Spreads Holiday Cheer

The Benjamin community has been spreading holiday cheer during the month of December through a variety of extracurricular activities and community service.

 

Lower and Middle school students collected unwrapped toys for Lake Park Elementary School students as part of Benjamin’s ongoing school-wide community service partnership. The two divisions gathered close to 600 toys for Lake Park students!

 

“This year the Lower School Student Council set a goal of 300 toys,” said fifth grade teacher Adrienne Sparger. Due to the kindness of Benjamin families we have surpassed our goal again.

Upper School teacher Amanda Pierman's advisory group sponsored underpriviledged children in the community through the Hispanic Resource Center. A group of seniors, along with Pierman, delivered gifts to the children that were purchased by the senior class. The faculty also sponsored three families who were in need of assistance.

"We were able to donate shoes, clothing, toys, holiday themed gifts and cash to each family. They were beyond grateful and touched by our generosity. One father said that he couldn't thank us enough and knew that our blessings to his family would be returned by God and wished us a very merry Christmas and his heartfelt thanks," Pierman said.

Benjamin students and faculty weren’t the only ones in the giving spirit. Benjamin parents Mr. and Mrs. Gelnaw, whose sons Colin and Brendan are in the second grade, donated a collectable Hess truck collection to Benjamin’s toy drive. The 253 piece collection dates back to the 1960s.

 

Benjamin students have also been giving of their time. Middle School students welcomed guests from the Renaissance Learning Academy, a local school that serves students with autism spectrum disorders, to campus. The group, led by Head of Middle School Chuck Hagy and Science teacher Stephanie Oster, worked together on a holiday wreath decorating activity.

 

“I was so proud of our students and the wonderful job they did,” Director of Student Services Susan Poncy said.

 

The beautiful Santa-themed wreaths were donated to the Renaissance students.

 

The Middle School also held its annual wreath decorating contest. Mr Crisafi’s advisory group won for the 6th grade, Mrs. Oster’s group for the 7th grade and Mrs. Franzen’s group for the 8th grade. The wreaths were donated to Lake Park Elementary.

 

Seventh grader Teresa Tuong got in the Florida holiday spirit with her drawing of a flamingo and crab helping to decorate a palm tree with lights and ornaments. Her drawing was so creative that it won the annual holiday card decorating contest. The picture will be featured on a holiday card from Head of School Bob Goldberg and sent to the entire Benjamin community. Head of Middle School Chuck Hagy says Teresa isn’t just a great artist, but an excellent student who is near the top of her class.  

 

Holidays at The Benjamin School wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Granny H’s story cottage. The magical space, where the love of learning is instilled in students of all ages, was transformed into a life size gingerbread house full of magical reindeer and elves. Students from all Lower and Middle School grade levels made a special holiday trip to the Cottage where they were treated to story time with Granny H.