Local Elementary School Sends Pajamas And Teddy Bears To Adopted Schools

Head O’ Meadow (HOM) Elementary School is continuing its efforts to help schools in Louisiana recover from this year’s devastating hurricane season. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, HOM Parent Teacher Association adopted a school in Denham Springs, La., and later adopted a second school in Slidell.

Both schools sustained minimal physical damage from the hurricanes, but saw their enrollments swell as evacuees from other areas joined their student bodies. The schools tried to maintain positive and productive learning environments, as students poured in from public shelters, temporary trailers, and overcrowded private homes. The schools clearly needed a hand, and Head O’ Meadow teachers, parents, and students were ready and willing to help.

This month, HOM will be sending a very special shipment to Louisiana. Nearly a hundred children in the adopted schools will receive gift bags with a new set of pajamas, a cuddly stuffed animal, and a story book. The PTA was inspired to conduct the pajama drive after hearing that children in the shelters were not sleeping well and coming to school extremely tired. “Having endured the emotional trauma of Hurricane Katrina, these children deserve some comfort to get them through the night,” said PTA member Kim Calbo. To make the gifts as personal as possible, HOM families were matched with specific children in need and provided with their sizes and color preferences and interests.

HOM PTA also collected more than $800 in cash contributions to help provide holiday meals for the evacuees. “The response has been overwhelming and we are so thrilled to help give these families a nice Thanksgiving or Christmas meal,” said committee member Kristin Larson.

Newtown Savings Bank heard about the adopt-a-school program and is paying for the shipment with a cash donation of $500. “We are thrilled with the support not only of the community, but from our students, parents, and staff at Head O’ Meadow. The support has been tremendous. Our children are learning so much about the gift of giving,” Ms Larson continued.

Head O’ Meadow parent Carolyn Bell heard of the efforts and approached, Harcourt Press, the company she works for to seek their assistance in helping the hurricane victims. Harcourt Press generously donated over 1,000 books to be sent to Louisiana.

“The response has been tremendous,” states Head O’ Meadow PTA President Amy Schmidt. “We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our HOM PTA as well as each and every person who made this drive a success. I’m very proud of all our kids who have given from the heart this holiday season,” she added.

To make a donation to Head O’ Meadow’s Adopt-A-School Program make checks payable to HOM PTA, note “Adopt-A-School” in the memo line, and send to 94 Boggs Hill Road, Newtown CT, 06470. All contributions will go to holiday meals for displaced children in Louisiana.

For more information contact PTA President Amy Schmidt at 364-0056.