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“Children from the Andrus Center have been joining Bronxville ninth-graders for a holiday party for more than 20 years,” said Julie Clarke, the ninth-grade faculty adviser.
Andrus Children’s Center is a nonprofit organization that provides care and support for children who are unable to live at home for a variety of reasons.
According to Rodger Burton, the head of activities at the Andrus Center, the party is the children's favorite event of the year.
The freshman class planned the celebration at the Bronxville School and provided refreshments, games, dancing and gifts from Santa Claus for each of the center’s 29 children.
Clarke said the freshman class officers had been planning this year’s holiday party for weeks to provide a memorable experience for their visitors. Clarke had been organizing the event every year for the last 10 years.
“This is a tremendous community service project and traditional freshman class event,” she said. “This event provides both the Andrus and Bronxville students with a memorable experience and gives us all a better understanding of the spirit of the holiday season. The party would not have been possible without donations from the ninth-grade families.”
The festivities included activity stations where the children could decorate cookies and make bookmarks, bracelets and ornaments. Clarke said the students also planned dancing and gift-wrapping. There was plenty of pizza and baked goods on hand as well.
The highlight of the party on Dec. 11 was when Santa and his helpers stopped by to give out gifts to each of the Andrus children and fulfill their holiday wishes. One child received a remote control airplane, another a wrestling action figure.
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