Second graders trade gifts with seniors

Photos and story by Danny Maerten

Niagara Charter School's second-grade classes recently exchanged gifts, song and smiles with the residents of Woodlands Senior Village in Wheatfield.

A Giving Tree was established at Woodland Senior Village whereby the residents donated and positioned new gifts of toys, school materials and warm hats, scarves and gloves. On Thursday, Dec. 16, with gently falling snow, the second-grade students of Sparkle Yates, Russ Morgan and Shauna Smith journeyed to Woodland Senior Village to present their gifts of Christmas carols and a large wreath made from green hand-shaped cutouts of each individual student. Being second-graders, their favorite song, thoroughly enjoyed by the residents, was "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."

The very next day, Friday, Dec. 17, the gifts from under the Giving Tree were delivered to the second-grade classes of Niagara Charter School, located at 2077 Lockport Road. Jessica, Woodlands' manager, and Joanne Sestrich, Woodlands' resident who organized the Giving Tree witnessed the smiling faces, some missing their two front teeth, and glowing energies of the students as they were presented the boxes of gifts.