On Friday, December 4, students at
John Love Elementary received presents from a special visitor during HandsOn Jacksonville’s annual “Visit from Saint Nicholas” event.
The event, aimed to promote literacy, provided the entire student body of John Love Elementary with gifts for the holiday season.
“I am excited for our students to be a part of this wonderful event,” said Patrice McConnell Britton, instructional coach. “For some of our students, the present received today may be the only one they receive this holiday season - and for that, I am very grateful and appreciative.”
Students in grades pre-kindergarten through second received backpacks full of goodies, while students in grades 3rd through 5th received wrapped packages of books and toys.
The Saint Nicholas event at John Love was sponsored by Jaxport, one of the school’s business partners.
Students in Ms. Gandy’s fifth-grade classroom, the school’s 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year, were read the “Secrets of Saint Nicholas” by Melody Davis, Duval County Public Schools’ (DCPS) executive director of sustained elementary schools in Cluster 1.
The story of Saint Nicholas teaches students to show
kindness by sharing with, caring for and helping others. Ms. Davis reminded the
students to follow Saint Nicholas’ example by being kind to their families, teachers, peers and everyone they encounter.
In addition to John Love's visit, 14 additional elementary turnaround schools participated in the 2009 Saint Nicholas event including: Andrew Robinson, Highlands, Hyde Grove, Justina Road, Kings Trail, Lake Forest, Martin L. King Jr., Pickett, Ramona Boulevard, Rufus Payne, Rutledge Pearson, Timucuan, West Jacksonville and Windy Hill.
Through the event, HandsOn Jacksonville, with the help of more than 800 volunteers, delivered 26,000 books and 38,000 toys to 7,500 DCPS' students.
For more pictures from Saint Nicholas' stop at John Love Elementary, visit the
DCPS' flickr Photostream.
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