Madison elementary staff, students give, rather than receive, at Christmas

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Before leaving for winter break, the children and adults at Madison Elementary School proved that giving is better than receiving.

“The student council at Madison elementary voted to support Christmas Charities Year Round by collecting canned goods,” assistant principal Britt Lovelace said. “Our students at Madison elementary turned in 2,000 cans to help feed families in need.”

The faculty and staff at Madison Elementary could have been treated to a Christmas party. Instead of that option, the teachers and administrators decided to adopt families in need of Christmas presents.

“All of the teachers adopted a child or a family that was identified as a family in need,” Lovelace said.

“Our staff support team also decided to adopt families through ‘Gifts of Love’ instead of giving each other gifts,” Lovelace said.

These staff employees are media center resource assistant Lindsey Barrett; substitute teacher Judy Carter; plant managers David Gray and Terri Gray; clerical aides Jane Hindman, Kim Persons and Cherry Shickel; in-school suspension assistant Angie Jones; fourth-grade teacher Cindy Rhodes; and bookkeeper Cindi Sanderson.

Dr. Timothy Scott, principal at Madison elementary, adopted three angels from the Salvation Angel Tree.

Sixth-graders at Madison elementary created a “Wall of Fame” to honor veterans who may be deployed away from their families during the holiday season.

Speech pathologist Amy Lungrin and special education teacher Zandra Morgan volunteered their time to Knights of Columbus, which supports individuals with disabilities and is associated with St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Lovelace said. Knights of Columbus then donated $5,000 to the City of Madison.