
The SAES Student Ambassadors led an effort to collect 2,668 toys, games, and books to benefit the North Hills Community Outreach toy drive
The students, staff, and families of Shaler Area Elementary School have gone above and beyond this year to ensure many families in the northern communities of Pittsburgh have a blessed holiday season. The SAES Student Ambassadors, a group of 6th-grade student leaders, organized a toy collection to benefit the North Hills Community Outreach toy drive. Their efforts led to an impressive collection of 2,668 toys, games, and books. After loading a district vehicle with the gifts, the ambassadors traveled to North Hills Community Outreach to organize all the toys on tables for parents to come and shop for their children. We are so proud of our students for their leadership, compassion, and generosity.
Beyond the elementary school, Shaler Area students are demonstrating this same level of compassion and generosity in all of our schools. Although this list is not a comprehensive in nature, here’s a snapshot of what is occurring across our district during this holiday season:
At Burchfield Primary, students wrote letters to Santa to be donated to Macy’s Letters to Santa campaign that donates $1 per letter, up to $1 million, to Make-A-Wish. Also, students and staff sponsored an Angel Tree and purchased gifts to benefit 15 Shaler Area families.
Scott Primary hosted its annual “Scott Gives Back” night, during which students, their families, and staff members made blankets for Project Linus, holiday cards for soldiers, and ornaments for Meals on Wheels, Rebecca Residence, and North Hills Community Outreach.
Students and staff at Marzolf Primary collected boxes of pet supplies and $85 to be donated to Animal Friends.
Reserve Primary students, staff, and families collected money for Thanksgiving and Christmas support for Shaler Area families in need.
Shaler Area Middle School students raised more than $1,100 for the North Hills Community Outreach’s holiday toy drive, and members of the student council used the money to purchase the gifts to be donated. Students in the middle school’s Kindness Klub also organized an effort to create and send holiday letters to active service members and veterans who cannot be home for the holidays.
Shaler Area High School students and staff “adopted” 42 residents from Vincentian Home and bought Christmas gifts for them. The building also sponsored an Angel Tree and more than 120 gifts were collected and sent to the Network of Hope. Additionally, ELA classes raised more than $1,300 and purchased toys to be donated to the North Hills Community Outreach toy drive.
As you can see, our students and staff of the Shaler Area School District are banding together to support our community and the surrounding region. During this holiday season, we are making a difference in our community, and these efforts are teaching our students a valuable lesson — it’s a greater blessing to give than to receive. We are proud of our students for demonstrating kindness, compassion, and generosity during this season of giving.