Westhoff Elementary School hosted its 19th
annual Spark of Love toy drive and holiday program on Friday. Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Robert Harmon,
Engineer Dave Bohon, Firefighters Tim Robertson, and Craig Sredhick from Walnut
Station #146 accepted the donations of toys and sporting goods from students.
Twenty-five huge boxes were filled with hundreds of gifts
for needy children.Captain Harmon thanked the students and parents for their
ongoing support of the Spark of Love Toy Drive.
“We are thankful to be a part of this event and every year
it keeps getting better! Because of your generosity many children across Los
Angeles County will experience joy on Christmas morning because they will have
a gift to open,” he said.
The holiday program that followed featured choreographed
songs, an oral presentation, and band performance. Each grade performed on the stage decorated with glittery
ornaments, snowflakes and snowcapped Christmas trees.
Kindergarteners performed “Feliz Navidad” wearing holiday
hats, scarves, and sombreros. They played a variety of instruments and select
students held up letters that spelling out Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad. The Band played “Jolly Old St. Nick” and “Good King
Wenseslas”. First graders performed “Christmas
on the Beach in Waikiki” wearing colorful leis, sunglasses and played kazoos.
Second graders sang “Go Go Christmas” and third graders
recited “Twas the Night Before Christmas” wearing colorful cozy pajamas. Fourth graders sang a hip-hop version of “Jingle Bells” with
Santa hats, neon sunglasses, and dance solos.
Fifth graders performed the high energy “The Greatest Time
of Year” with yo-yo twirling, cartwheels, guitar playing, razor scooters, and
hip-hop dancing.The staff’s two-stepping finale “All I Want for Christmas is You” featured a very
special appearance by Santa and his elves!
“This is one of my favorite events at Westhoff because it ties
in with our character program. We talk about kindness, empathy, respect,
tolerance perseverance, and goal setting in our daily morning announcements, in
the classrooms, and our monthly assemblies. Thank you for giving these all of
these wonderful toys for other children,” said Principal Denise Rendon.