Christmas is the time to shop for your loved ones and to decorate your doors with beautiful Christmas wreaths to welcome the upcoming holiday.  The residents at the Calexico Neighborhood House Senior Apartments had a wonderful surprise this year.  Students from the Calexico Community School delivered Christmas wreaths to each of the 45 residents Friday, December 17, 2004.

The students started working on the wreaths three weeks before their winter break.  With the help and encouragement of the teachers and SWB & FR Prevention Specialists they were able to complete the wreaths on time.  The students learned the true spirit of giving when they delivered the wreaths to senior citizens on Friday.  Mrs. Limon, retirement home supervisor, welcomed the students and gave them a can of popcorn to thank them for coming.

The students took the time to speak with the senior citizens and learned they have a lot in common. It does not matter how old people are, they all want the same things:  someone who will listen, give them some time and respect them. The students plan to return after the holidays to visit with the senior citizens, play some games with them or participate in other projects throughout the year.  Through this activity the students understood the importance of taking an interest in other people, particularly senior citizens because they were once young too.

This community service was brought to the senior citizens by the Community Service Grant Program (CSPG) through Imperial County Office of Education’s Alternative Education and Student Well-Being and Family Resources Departments.  The main goal of CSPG is to provide the students who are suspended or expelled from mainstream schools with community service opportunities.  Community service teaches the students the importance of giving back to their communities and practice appropriate behaviors.  These combinations provide supports needed for them to transition back to mainstream schools. 

Alternative Education and Student Well-Being are working together to provide our youth with the necessary skills to prepare them to be the future leaders in our community. The students are seeing the value in teamwork as they work with the staff and teachers toward a common goal to better their community.  With the community service opportunity, the students experienced first hand how they made a difference in the lives of the senior citizens which will affect their lives for the better.