NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffAlumniPre-K to 8AdvancementService
Students relish gift of giving
Dec 12, 2005 12:43 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Sonya Elkins, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer, published 12/8/05
Spinning dolls flew overhead, toy cars zipped across the floor, and children running, twirling and playing created a scene of merry chaos at Darlington School.
The School's dining hall hosted an early Christmas for almost 100 children ages 2 to 5 at the Middle School's 18th annual Christmas party for the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center on Wednesday [Dec. 7].
Four-year-old Tremaine Adams talked animatedly with classmates outside the dining hall before the party. He said he was hapy to be getting his presents, pulling a plastic bag from his pocket, ready to carry home his bounty.
"Santa's gonna be here," he said excitedly. "We want to see Santa."
The man in red made his appearance at the party, hugging children and handing out candy canes. Each development center student was paired with two Darlington Middle Schoolers who presented them with gifts and helped them open, assemble and properly break in their new toys.
The part is an "incredible gift" to the children and a special way Darlington reaches out to the community, said center director Jane Lyon. It has become bigger and more elaborate each year, she said.
"The children that have been before always tell the new kids about the Darlington party," she said. "The anticipation just builds up, and they get so excited."
And the anticipation grows for the Middle Schoolers, too. It was seventh-grader Bonnie Tillman's second year to participate. She said her favorite part is playing with the children.
"It's fun to see their faces light up when they get their new gift," she said. "And you get to see them come back the next year and do it all over again."
This year's program was endangered when they were unable to use public transportation to get the children to the party, Lyon said. However, Shorter Avenue Baptist Church came through with a bus to keep the children's special Christmas date. It was cars - not buses - on 4-year-old Ethan Scales' mind as he played with his new racing cars across the floor and pushed noise-making buttons. He was too busy playing with his new toy to pay attention to the cupcake and sweets waiting on the table. "I like it," he said, carefully balancing two toy cars atop the track for another race. "It's fun."
Spinning dolls flew overhead, toy cars zipped across the floor, and children running, twirling and playing created a scene of merry chaos at Darlington School.
The School's dining hall hosted an early Christmas for almost 100 children ages 2 to 5 at the Middle School's 18th annual Christmas party for the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center on Wednesday [Dec. 7].
Four-year-old Tremaine Adams talked animatedly with classmates outside the dining hall before the party. He said he was hapy to be getting his presents, pulling a plastic bag from his pocket, ready to carry home his bounty.
"Santa's gonna be here," he said excitedly. "We want to see Santa."
The man in red made his appearance at the party, hugging children and handing out candy canes. Each development center student was paired with two Darlington Middle Schoolers who presented them with gifts and helped them open, assemble and properly break in their new toys.
The part is an "incredible gift" to the children and a special way Darlington reaches out to the community, said center director Jane Lyon. It has become bigger and more elaborate each year, she said.
"The children that have been before always tell the new kids about the Darlington party," she said. "The anticipation just builds up, and they get so excited."
And the anticipation grows for the Middle Schoolers, too. It was seventh-grader Bonnie Tillman's second year to participate. She said her favorite part is playing with the children.
"It's fun to see their faces light up when they get their new gift," she said. "And you get to see them come back the next year and do it all over again."
This year's program was endangered when they were unable to use public transportation to get the children to the party, Lyon said. However, Shorter Avenue Baptist Church came through with a bus to keep the children's special Christmas date. It was cars - not buses - on 4-year-old Ethan Scales' mind as he played with his new racing cars across the floor and pushed noise-making buttons. He was too busy playing with his new toy to pay attention to the cupcake and sweets waiting on the table. "I like it," he said, carefully balancing two toy cars atop the track for another race. "It's fun."
