Middle Gate Elementary School teachers were surprised with new chairs, a new table, a new bookshelf, new artwork, and new decorations for the school’s teachers lounge between Thursday, December 10, and Monday, December 14.

According to the school’s PTA, United Office Furniture of Hamden donated 15 refurbished, like-new chairs for the project, Superior Furniture of Danbury offered a discount on a used, also like-new, 12-foot table, and Bob’s Unfinished Furniture of Darien supplied a bookshelf for the room.

PTA President Debbie DeBlasi and volunteers Sheila Rice, Roxann Monaghan, and Jennifer Sinapi arrived at the school early on Monday to set up breakfast options for teachers. Ms DeBlasi said the PTA was undertaking the task of giving the lounge a “face lift” when Principal Chris Geissler asked about offering a breakfast for teachers on December 14.

Ms DeBlasi said she then thought of fixing the space for the same day.

The table was delivered to the school on Thursday, December 10, the chairs were delivered the next day, and, Ms DeBlasi said, the teachers were surprised in stages.

The new decorations were on display by Monday,.

Among the new amenities are paintings created by Middle Gate students during a PTA meeting. Bridget Hartigan oversaw the painting process, according to Ms DeBlasi. The six paintings are now decorating two walls.

Other new purchases for the space, found at a number of places, including Goodwill, include a tea kettle, kitchen towels, a utensil caddy, a storage shelf for Keurig cups, and a ceramic yellow smiling face decoration that reads, “Have a nice day.“

“We want [the teachers] to know we adore them and we appreciate them every day,“ said Ms DeBlasi.