Grade 4 Students Organize ‘Santa’s Scottie Village’ to Benefit Padres Unidos

The event was conceptualized to tie service learning into grade 4’s theme of “shelter” – and specifically exploring what truly makes a home a home, including love, family and traditions during the holiday season.
Sillers Hall was transformed into Santa’s Scottie Village last week, a holiday gift donation experience organized by the entire grade 4 for families in the Padres Unidos program at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

The event was conceptualized by St. Margaret’s Lower School principal Jennifer Blount and Lower School Director of Community Life Tupper Spring to tie service learning into grade 4’s theme of “shelter” – and specifically exploring what truly makes a home a home, including love, family and traditions during the holiday season.

The students took it from there, and brought the idea to life with the help of their teachers and the Lower School student leadership committees.

“Through the generosity of the entire Lower School community, we were able to give thoughtful and personal gifts to all of the families to take home,” Mrs. Blount said. “This was a very proud moment for the Lower School.”

With Christmas music playing in the background, grade 4 students spread out behind tables full of donated pajamas, books and toys in Sillers Hall. They helped as Padres Unidos parents picked out gifts to take home to their families. There was even a gift-wrapping station to package the presents and a table of crayons and coloring books to keep preschool children busy while the parents shopped.

Padres Unidos is a preschool and parent education program for low-income Hispanic families in Orange County, and meets weekly at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. The families had no idea that Santa’s Scottie Village was set up across the courtyard when they arrived.

 “Having students actually touch, sort and deliver packages to Padres Unidos families made this such an impactful service project,” Mrs. Blount said.
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