Seasonal & Holidays

Iona Prep Students Bring Holiday Joy To Kids With Disabilities

Students and faculty visited with elementary, middle and high school students at Hawthorne Country Day School and handed out gifts.

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Iona Prep Santa, Angelo Squillante of Crestwood, spreads some Christmas cheer to a few of the many students served by the Hawthorne Foundation, Inc., at the Hawthorne Country Day School.
Iona Prep Santa, Angelo Squillante of Crestwood, spreads some Christmas cheer to a few of the many students served by the Hawthorne Foundation, Inc., at the Hawthorne Country Day School. (Photo Courtesy Iona Preparatory School )

NEW ROCHELLE, NY —The smiles evident on the faces of children this week at Hawthorne Country Day School during an annual 35-year holiday tradition was as much a present for the gift bearers as it was for the kids who unwrapped the donated toys and books.

On Dec. 20, a group of Iona Preparatory's high school students spent their day spreading Christmas cheer during a visit to the Hawthorne Country Day School. The day school has built a national reputation for its work providing academic and vocational skills to children with disabilities.

Iona Prep seniors Gavin Blenk and Angelo Squillante, freshman Nigel Presume and junior Michael Punzalan continued the 35-year partnership the New Rochelle private school has had with Hawthorne Country Day School. (Courtesy Iona Preparatory School)

Iona Prep students visited with elementary, middle and high school students at the day school and provided Christmas gifts that the Iona Prep community collected and wrapped over the last few weeks. This was part of an ongoing relationship between the two schools that has now entered its fourth decade of sharing.

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(Courtesy Iona Preparatory School)
Iona Preparatory continued its 35-year partnership with Hawthorne Country Day School on Dec. 20. (From left) Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Justin Pellegrino, freshman Nigel Presume, senior Gavin Blenk, senior Angelo Squillante, junior Michael Punzalan, HCDS physical education teacher Daniel Ryan, HCDS Coordinator of Physical Education and Health Matt Materasso, and Director of Campus Ministry Sean D’Alfonso. (Courtesy Iona Preparatory School)

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