Lynn Classical helps bring Christmas cheer to elementary students

LYNN – This year the Connery School was the lucky one to have Classical High School teachers who play Santa visit.Teachers in the lower grades ask families in need to make a Christmas wish list for their kids.Coula Kesanlis, who works in the front office at Classical, collects those lists and then hands them out to the high school teachers.And the shopping begins.All gifts are routed back through Kesanlis to the families and everything is delivered with a “From Santa” tag.All giving is done anonymously, so that parents who can’t afford a present will have something they can give on Christmas morning.This week Kesanlis’ student helpers, Megan Brady, Jessica Bolduc and Kayla Wonoski, worked to wrap a room crammed full of presents.”I like helping out and a lot of kids don’t have much,” said Brady as she tied ribbons on a package.Bolduc agreed it felt good to know kids at Connery will have some surprises for the holidays.”I remember how happy I used to be on Christmas morning,” she said.For years, the secret Santa gift drive was a citywide effort that drew in teachers from all the city’s schools.But like a lot of holiday traditions, it started to fade away with time. And that’s when Kesanlis decided to step in.”Coula took the reins and said we are not going to let this die out at Classical,” said Hana Walsh, an English teacher who helps organize the program.Kesanlis said without the gift drive, the holidays weren’t the same.”So, I made it happen again,” she said. “This is my Christmas.”Kesanlis didn’t have any trouble convincing the teachers at Classical to jump back on board.”A lot of the teachers enlist their families to help with the shopping,” she said “And a lot of the teachers go way beyond what’s on the list.”Walsh said teachers often spend around $200 on gifts for a child and his or her siblings. And some teachers grab two or three lists.Those who don’t have the extra time to shop often drop off cash and gift certificates. And it’s not always that easy.”Our teachers have jobs, but they are not exempt from the economy,” said Walsh. “They have the same economic problems as everyone else, but somehow, everyone steps up.”This year, Walsh was able to convince several corporate sponsors to lend a hand.Eastern Bank, Garelick Farms and the employees at Garelick donated to the gift drive. Walsh is hoping to get more local businesses on board for next year.The elementary school teachers who invite parents to make a list know which kids are coming to school without socks, or boots, or sometimes coats.Walsh said the wish lists this year were filled with requests for hats, mittens and scarves.”More than ever, parents were asking for the necessities for their kids,” she said.Wonoski said the gift-wrapping crew had packaged up lots of clothes, scarves and gloves this year. But there were also boxes of Legos, packages of play dough, action figures, princess crowns and plenty of other toys in the mix.”It’s good to give them what they need,” said Wonoski. “But it’s Christmas and the teachers try to give the kids something that’s fun, something they want.”