With Christmas right around the corner and the busy holiday season coming up, teachers at Latrobe have limited time to go holiday shopping. Spreading Christmas cheer, Greater Latrobe Senior High Key Club held its annual “Santa Sitters” in the CSC. The event allows teachers to get their Christmas shopping done, while their kids enjoy activities prepared by the high school students.
On Wednesday, December 10, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 26 Key Club members met in the CSC to create an unforgettable evening for the kids. With lots of fun activities arranged, the kids got to run around and enjoy every one of them. The high school students let the kids go through each activity as they pleased, and helped them make new friends along the way.
During this year’s event, sixteen kids signed up for Santa Sitters. Teachers from throughout the district were invited to drop their kids off. The Key Club members worked together to have plenty of fun activities for the kids to enjoy, such as cookie decorating, coloring, playing with Legos, movie watching, bracelet making, and pin the bow on the reindeer.
The Grinch was a favorite. “The kids’ favorite part is for sure the movie and the cookie decorating,” Key Club President Elliana Hutchinson said.
Not only did the kids love the activities, but they also made new friends and saw friends they hadn’t seen since last year’s event. While running around with her friend Emma, Anya Jordan said, “I love everything about this!” Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Jordan junior high band and art teachers, later on shared how grateful they were for the chance to relax and get some shopping done, knowing that their little girl was having such an amazing time.
The Key Club members were excited to notice how much joy their planning brought kids’ laughter, which made all the hard work worth it. “My favorite part is the cookie decorating as well as watching the kids run around laughing,” Hutchinson said. By the end of the night, the CSC was filled with festive energy, making this year’s Santa Sitters another success for not only the Key Club but also the school community.
Overall, the Santa Sitter event once again showed the positive impact of service Key Club provides to help out the teachers in the school. The CSC was filled with excitement, laughter, and holiday cheer as the kids explored activities, made new friends, and enjoyed the night that was designed for them.
For the Key Club members, the event served as a reminder of why they dedicate their time to help others. Getting to see the kids’ smiles and hearing their laughter made all the planning and preparation worth all the hard work put into the event. Teachers were grateful for the chance to take a break, and finish their holiday shopping and appreciated that their kids were left in good hands and were happy and safe.
As the evening came to an end, Santa Sitters became more than a festive tradition for our school; it had grown into a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the bonds within the school community. With each successful year, the event continues to inspire kindness and a shared sense of togetherness during the holiday season.
