WHMS teachers treat students to night on the town
West Holmes Middle School teachers like Sarah Sponseller-Uhl have helped middle school students shop for Christmas for many years. Many of the teachers have committed to participating in this event for a long time.
Shop 'til you drop.
Shopping under the stars.
Shop for season savings.
There are many ways people can profess their love of shopping for the holiday season, but few can rival the true spirit of Christmas more than West Holmes Middle School’s Shop with a Teacher.
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, what seemed like the entirety of the WHMS staff took time to go on a shopping adventure with three dozen middle school students during the annual event, and this year’s effort continued the tradition of the staff connecting on a more individualized basis with the students they see every day, only in a very different setting.
For West Holmes Superintendent Eric Jurkovic, this marked the first experience he has had with the evening, and he was impressed with the length the staff members go to ensure this night is one to remember for the young people.
“This is awesome, a great way to support the kids and the community,” Jurkovic said. “It’s another way the community shows its support to the schools and these kids. This is truly what the spirit of Christmas should be, and these teachers obviously care deeply about these kids.”
Before setting sail in Walmart, the group gathers together for a time of food and fellowship at Pizza Hut, where they are treated to a smorgasbord of pizza.
Pizza Hut manager Jen Mizer said she is humbled to get to be a part of something this special, and Pizza Hut enjoys providing the food for the night, at the same time donating some of the proceeds back to the school via savings.
“Every nonprofit we give back 15%,” Mizer said. “This is so enjoyable because it’s loud and fun and the kids are having a blast. It has such an enormous family feel to it, and it’s a special way to celebrate Christmas.”
After the meal the entire crew headed across the road to Walmart, where the real shopping experience kicked into high gear.
The students paired with teachers and flocked throughout the store’s clothing area first, picking out items they liked.
Each young person was allotted $125 that was donated to the cause by teachers, staff members and many community members.
The bulk of the designated funds was to be spent on clothing, but there was $20 allotted that each student could spend on other gifts, like fishing gear, craft supplies, board games, toys and more.
Teacher and shopping newcomer Kayla Nicholson partnered with Rayann Hendrix and Kayden Bartlett, and there was plenty of interaction and chatting as the night progressed between the three.
“I knew about this when I was in school (at WHHS), and I talked with a lot of teachers who said it was an amazing experience,” Nicholson said. “It’s everything I heard it would be, and it’s a touching program.”
Middle-schooler Lelynd said he was looking for hunting gear because he enjoys hunting and fishing.
Carson said he was excited to get a chance to shop and was looking forward to finding something fun he could do with his family. He said it was loads of fun from start to finish.
As for teaming up with teacher Erica Camacho, Carson said, “She’s the nicest teacher in the entire building.”
WHMS Principal Jeff Woods, who has been part of this event for many years, said it’s always enjoyable watching the kids pick out clothes and gifts, but every once in a while, he experiences something unique.
“It’s always really touching when one of the kids uses some of the money to purchase a gift for a sibling or their parents,” Woods said. “But every year it’s fun to see the kids light up, and they will come into school the next day all wearing new clothes they picked out.”
Woods said even when staff members don’t participate, many of them give to the fund that grows throughout the year, noting that giving in many capacities is central to the culmination of shopping night.
WHMS math teacher Jerrica Lowe has headed up the effort over the past several years, and she said it continues to be one she and the entire staff love to pour themselves into, knowing the impact it can have on the students.
“This is a time when teachers can get out of their element at school and connect with the kids on a very relaxed level, and we can leave the books at school and all of the rules and regulations there and go out for a night and really have a fun and relaxed night out and see each other in a very different light than we usually do,” Lowe said. “I think that helps put us all in a better place to understand that we’re all just people.”
Her partner Bridget, a sixth-grader, said she enjoyed the experience, and she was grateful she got to team up with a teacher who is so willing to invest in her.
“I have Bridget in class, and one of the things we always try to do is team up teachers and staff who are compatible,” Lowe said. “Bridget is always so quiet, but tonight I got to see a whole new side of her, and that is part of the joy of this night.”
She said it also helps the students realize the teachers aren’t just there to teach, but also to help them learn valuable life skills and lessons.
Lowe also said the staff is grateful to all of the sponsors who make this night a reality and thanked the 23 staff members who came out to help.
With teachers investing in the kids’ lives, it serves as not only a great shopping experience, but also an evening designed to share the love and compassion of the Christmas season.