Santa has already visited students at Four Corners Elementary School, but instead of giving them presents, they gave him some.
The students collected food pantry items for Santa, also known as chiropractor Dr. John Lange, to deliver to CASDA.
Four Corners collects food for him every year, but this year the students outdid themselves. They more than tripled their 500-item goal. In one week, Four Corners' 252 students collected 1,773 items including canned food and toiletries.
"Each of us agreed to bring in two or more items, and it ended up that we all brought in more," said fourth-grader Connor Gray.
The donations snowballed because Parent Involvement Coordinator Patti Stalvig made giving into a game. Students' donations were added up by classroom with the class giving the most receiving a prize.
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Students collected food last week and tracked their progress on a scale in the lunchroom. The competition started last Monday with only one class donating, but its donations inspired Four Corners' other 12 classes, Stalvig said.
"It was so much fun to see the kids get so excited about it," she said.
The tallies were made on a candy cane chart made by parent Joey Hauswirth. Several classes filled their candy cane, and Stalvig had to modify the chart several times.
Everyday they would run into the lunchroom and cheer if their class was in the lead, but it was a good-natured competition, she said.
Most of the donations were given to Santa yesterday when he visited. Each year he hands out candy canes and reads a story to each class.
Lange visits all the local elementary schools and has been collecting donations on his visits for the past 10 years.
Kids learn to give of themselves at Christmas time through this donation. They learn that the holiday isn't just about getting but about giving as well, Lange said.
Students always knew he collected donations, and they'd try to remember to bring something the day he came. This time everything was ready for him in advance, Stalvig said.
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Some of the items were set aside for local families and food shelves.
The students understand the donations are important because children of local families helped attend Four Corners, said fourth-grader Kelsey Burnham.
Marie Godfrey's fourth-grade class won the competition by bringing in 389 items. Its chosen prize was an extra recess. The class gets 45 minutes outside Friday afternoon.
Godfrey's class lead the competition in the start with the first day's donations, but it wasn't without worries as the week progressed.
"This kid on my bus, his dad is a dentist, so he brought in 100 toothbrushes," said Jeremiah Johnson, of Godfrey's class "So we really had to pick up the pace."
Students brought grocery bags and backpacks full of food to school.
"Mostly what the class did was give from their hearts," said Tailor Schuster, of Godfrey's class.
In addition to the prize, Stalvig handed out popsicles to all Four Corners students for their good work and enthusiasm.
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Anna Kurth covers education. Call her at (715) 394-4411, ext. 138 or e-mail akurth@superiortelegram.com .
