Jefferson Elementary students receive gifts from Santa
Jamie Jones, Jefferson Elementary School parent liaison, worked with SEMO Santas to provide Christmas gifts to more than 350 students. Santa visited each classroom and hand-delivered the gifts. The event had kindergartners rolling on skateboards and little girls crying because they got the baby doll they had asked for. Jones has also coordinated donations between local businesses and families who have reached out about their individual needs. Red Letter Communications' staff brought in food, household items, clothing and toys for six families. Each year, Mary Lou and Tom Bass come to Jefferson with a crew of Christmas elves to host the Christmas store. For the week prior to Christmas, student earn behavior tickets that they use to purchase items from the Christmas store for their parents or grandparents. Each gift is carefully wrapped, and children are given cards to fill out to go with their gifts.