Windsor Public Schools Give Back This Holiday Season

Windsor Public Schools are spreading holiday cheer and teaching students about the true meaning of the holiday season – to give back to the community and to those less fortunate. Please see below several initiatives taking place in our district:

Windsor High School:
Every year, Windsor High School particpates in their annual holiday gift collection where district staff anonymously sponsor 20-25 WHS families in need within our community. Over the past four years, an estimated $20,000 in gifts have been donated. This collection allows the most deserving students to enjoy a holiday season their families otherwise would be unable to provide.

The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) cadets volunteered at the Windsor Women's League "Cookies with Santa" event at the Windsor Fire Station. Cadets also participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Veteran's Cemetery in Windsor.

The Windsor High School Award-Winning Choral Department had a "Battle of the Sections" food collection challenge to see which section could bring in the most food items that would be donated to the Food Share in Bloomfield. In the end, over 500 items were collected. Honors Chorale & Gospel Choir performed at a local nursing home to bring holiday cheer to the residents.

Team Paragon participated in Windsor EMS toy drive to support Windsor’s Project Santa. In November, Team Paragon and Blazing Spirits held a “Turkey and 20” drive in preparation for Thanksgiving to donate to Windsor Food and Fuel Bank and helped the Windsor Jaycees set up for their annual Christmas tree sale.

The Spanish & French Honor Societies are conducting a toy drive to benefit patients at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

The Warrior Wake Up Coffee Shop is donating all its proceeds from the end of November through December to sponsor a family in Windsor, and to purchase toys for the World Language Honor Societies Toy Drive for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Sage Park Middle School:
The Sage Park National Junior Honor Society has collected 225 new toys overall for Windsor Families.

Sage Park Leaders are demonstrating anonymous acts of kindness. Being kind without looking for the recognition. Each of the 7 leadership groups chose a different population of the school to express their kindness to.

A seventh grade girls leadership group made Thanksgiving cards for residents at Kimberly Hall in Windsor to spread holiday cheer. An eighth grade girls leadership group created greeting and holiday cards for the hospitalized children at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Students are also making fleece blankets for the women and children at YWCA.

John F. Kennedy School:
John F. Kennedy School has organized a Giving Tree and is asking students and staff for donations of hats, mittens, socks, scarves, and jackets. These items will be donated to a local shelter for women and children in transition. Students in the Kiwanis club also participated in an annual carol sing to the seniors at Kimberly Hall.

Poquonock School:
Poquonock School is collecting snack donations during the month of December for the Windsor Weekend Wheels Program. This program distributes supplementary food on the weekends to children in need through the Windsor School system.

Poquonock School is donating a portion of the money that was raised from the "Poquonock for Puerto Rico Breakfast" to the displaced families that are now living in Windsor because of the hurricanes. These families are in need of winter clothing along with other seasonal items.

Poquonock School collected items for "Send Hometown Windsor to Soldiers." These items were sent to the men and women who are currently serving overseas who reside in Windsor.

Oliver Ellsworth School:
Oliver Ellsworth gave back to their families with warm clothing for their children this winter. Families needing holiday assistance filled out a holiday help form and returned it in a sealed envelope to their child’s teacher. All names were kept confidential. Many staff members and families chose to adopt an anonymous Oliver Ellsworth family this holiday season from an annual “Giving Tree” organized by the Family Resource Center. Oliver Ellsworth was able to assist 23 families with warm clothing this year.

Windsor Public Schools Central Office:
The Windsor Public School Central Office sponsored three families through the Project Santa Program. A Giving Tree was organized at Central Office including ornaments indicating a wish gift for a specific child by age and gender. Staff members provided unwrapped gifts to fulfill holiday wishes.