EXETER — A long-standing tradition continued at Wyoming Area Catholic when the school’s Parent Teacher Guild (PTG) sponsored the annual Santa Sale Dec. 11 in the school’s cafeteria.
Hundreds of potential gift items were displayed throughout the cafeteria floor for students to shop for family and friends.
Each Christmas season, the PTG and its volunteers prepare the sales floor with low-budget items for students to purchase. Items range from 50¢ and higher. The lower-grade students are escorted by upperclassmen who help them shop.
Prior to shopping, a photo was taken of the partnered shoppers by PTG President Lisa Pribula. Once shopping is complete, students took their gift items to be wrapped by PTG volunteers.
The Santa Sale has been in existence for 30 years, according to school Principal Eileen Rishcoff. “It’s great because they schedule it so the older kids help the younger kids shop.”
Rishcoff said the PTG does not benefit greatly from the event financially, making it economical for the students. “It’s just a way for the kids to buy things for their families.”
“It’s nice that the school offers this event for the children so they can purchase things for their family and friends,” said parent/volunteer Colleen Madar, of West Wyoming. “Things are very reasonably priced, but it also teaches the children to buy and look out for other people.”
Madar is the mother of 7-year-old Morgan, a second-grader at Wyoming Area Catholic. “She loves it; she loves to pick out things for her family and best friends in class.”
This is the last Santa Sale at Wyoming Area Catholic for all eighth-graders, including Grace Mangan, of Pittston. “Ever since I came to this school in first grade, my mom has been helping out a lot and it’s such a big deal that every kid gets to shop for whatever they want,” Mangan said, who is interested in attending Holy Cross High School in Dunmore next year. “I like helping kids; it’s my favorite thing to do.”
Eight-year-old Cayden Richards enjoys the Santa Sale each year. “I bought things for my parents and my family,” Richards said. He even had enough money left over to buy a flashlight for himself.
