Amid the raucous squeals of delight of youngsters zipping around the Recreation Community Building, fueled by snacks of grapes, chips and pudding, a group of Iola High School students were in awe of how orderly the chaos was.
“It really went smoother than we planned,” said Tessa Rowe.
Rowe and IHS leadership classmates Andrea Stahl and Shauna VanEtten spearheaded the leadership group’s annual Christmas party, host to more than 120 kindergarten students.
The party was filled with games, dancing and arts and crafts, with the leadership students — 30 in all — coordinating the activities.
“All of the stress was worth it, especially seeing how much fun they had,” Stahl said.
“I liked seeing the parents come and watch their kids,” Rowe added. “It was fun.”
The annual Christmas party has been funded over the past three years through private donations, leadership class adviser Jodi Grover said. Those funds helped purchase the snacks and arts and craft materials, as well as scarves each kindergartner received at the end of the party.
Grover is applying for more grants and reaching out to local businesses to fund similar activities in the future.
THAT THE EVENT went so well can be attributed to the younger students’ familiarity with their high school counterparts.
The leadership students have visited each kindergarten classroom this fall through a character education effort, teaching about such topics as respect and responsibility.
One piece of evidence that the lessons took hold was when the snack session was finished.
Stahl noted the leftover snacks, plates and cups were arranged neatly on tables so they could be disposed of quickly and properly.
“It made it a lot easier for cleanup,” Grover said. “All of the kids were very well-mannered.”
Stahl agreed.
“I think the fact that they knew us already made it easier,” she said.
THE LEADERSHIP students will assist with other community activities in the spring, including helping the Allen County Animal Rescue Foundation with a car wash fundraiser. The group also will host once again a senior citizens prom the day after the IHS junior-senior prom in the high school gym.
Stahl, Rowe and VanEtten planned the party since late October.
