On Wednesday, December 18, members of Williamsville East’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter participated in their first large event of the year: the annual Christmas party. Members were bussed to downtown Buffalo’s Public School 30 in the morning to create a winter wonderland for kindergartners, and they did not disappoint. The gym was decked not in boughs of holly but snowflakes. Various stations were placed around the gym for the kindergartners to get their faces painted, make paper snowflakes, have a book read to them, and even get a present from Santa (Peter Kazmierczak in costume). Prior to the event, NHS members signed up for a student to purchase a present for off of their Christmas wishlist, and the joy in the children’s reactions made the process worthwhile. One girl even told Santa that he had given her “exactly what [she] wanted” and the excitement in the children was apparent as they could barely wait for their names to be called. NHS members crowded around the gaggle of kindergartners every time a class would chant “3, 2, 1!” before opening their presents in unison in order to see the elation on the face of the child they purchased a present for.
Other NHS members gave the children the gift of music by playing Christmas and holiday themed music throughout the event. The mini band of members included Jon Weisbrot on the saxophone, Evan Sparks on the trombone, Richard Patti on the piano, and Teagan Faran, Sally Yi, and Emily Zu on the violin. The group played classics like “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman” to the delight of the youngsters, who gathered around them and sang along to the well-known tunes.
At the end of the event, the Williamsville East National Honor Society gave Public School 30 a donation in order for the kindergartners to attend field trips throughout the 2013-2014 school year. The event was undoubtedly an amazing time for both East students and the kindergartners alike.
