The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current, December 15, 2018, Image 12

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The times., December 15, 2018, Image 12

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Newspaper Page TextNick Bowman Features Editor | 770-718-3426 | life@gainesvilletimes.com S'hc Srtnes gainesvilletimes.com Saturday, December 15, 2018 ‘Every person matters’ Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Above left: Teachers at Chicopee Woods Elementary wrap presents Friday, Dec. 14. The school is preparing for families of students at the school. Almost 95 percent of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunches. Above: Beth Cook, right, and Brittany Washington wrap gifts for boxes the school will donate to families of students. The gifts will be boxed alongside food and necessities. Local school hosting Christmas Block Party for students, families BY LAYNE SALIBA lsaliba@gainesvilletimes.com At principal Jamie Hitzges’ suggestion, teachers at Chi copee Woods Elementary School rode through their students’ neighborhoods last year in an attempt to get them excited for the upcom ing school year. They weren’t expecting what they found. “As we go out and visit those neighborhoods and where our students are living, we can see their living condi tions and where they’re liv ing,” said Alisha Buffington, a science teacher at the school. “We know our students are in need.” Almost 95 percent of stu dents at the school qualify for free or reduced meals, according to Hitzges. Almost 85 percent of the student body is Hispanic, and 78 percent are English language learn ers, according to the Georgia Department of Education. That’s one of the many rea sons why the school and other partners in the community came together to host a Christ mas Block Party, complete with holiday activities, games, food, giveaways, music and student performances on Dec. 18 at Chicopee Village. “In a nutshell, we’re trying to bring Christmas magic to our kids who may not get the same opportunities to experi ence Christmas,” said Matt Yeary, a third-grade teacher at the school. And preparations are well underway ahead of the party. The school has been hosting a food drive, collecting dif ferent foods that will then be distributed to students at the school who are in most need. There’s quite a haul to get through — 140 families will receive a box full of foods and snacks to enjoy over Christ mas break. Each box will be wrapped in holiday paper and delivered by teachers the morning of the block party. “Our students, they do depend on our meals here at school at breakfast and lunch,” Yeary said. “So when school stops, that food may be stopping or be limited. So this is just a way to help that. It’s not going to cover the whole break, but it’s going to give the children some type of food to eat while they’re away from us.” After that, Chicopee Woods will send out eight school buses to pick up families from around the community. This year’s block party is bigger than the party last year, when the school only sent out three buses. “That’s one of the biggest things our parents have trou ble with is (they have) either no license or they don’t have a car,” said Erika Word, a third- grade teacher. “We didn’t want to limit them to not be able to come because they couldn’t walk there.” Yeary said the school’s motto this year is, “Every per son matters. Every minute counts.” By having this block party, he said the school is liv ing that motto by helping the students and families that are a part of the school — even when school is out of session. “We’re giving to them in other types of ways,” Yeary said. “We don’t just want to spend time with them teach ing math. We want to share with them and just really spend time getting to know them, their culture, what they do outside of school and also really just enjoy time with each other that’s not academic.” Beyond the block party, Hitzges said there will be other ways teachers can con nect with students throughout the year. Embracing the students’ culture is one of those ways they’re trying to be deliberate in the way they connect. For example, instead of a tradi tional Halloween celebration this year, the school had a Dia de los Muertos celebration, embracing the culture that’s representative of the school. “We’ve done a whole lot more as of late,” Hitzges said. “It’s kind of been organic the way it’s happened ... We’re trying to be deliberate about it, but it came from an organic place where we all saw the need and kind of jumped in.” At the block party, Posadas Navidenas, a Mexican tradi tion, will be worked into the celebration. “A lot of our families partic ipate in it and it’s really bring ing knowledge and awareness to our staff,” Yeary said. “We’re not just going to do the American celebrations.” Chicopee Woods Elementary’s Kelley Trippe counts jars of peanut butter for gift boxes Friday, Dec. 14. The school will deliver 140 of the boxes of meals and a few gifts and necessities to families of students at the school. Teachers at Chicopee Woods Elementary wrap packages and prepare food for gift boxes Friday, Dec. 14. The school is also planning a Christmas celebration for teachers, students and families. FAITH EVENTS Christmas Open House at Historic Crescent Hill Baptist Church. Christmas carols and history of the church presented every half hour. 5-8 p.m. Dec. 15. Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 291 Ga. 17, Sautee Nacoochee. Christmas Lessons and Carols. 8:45 a.m. Dec. 16. Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Highway, Cumming. The LeFevre Quartet. 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Lighthouse Baptist Church, 329 Harmony Church Road, Dawsonville. Red Church Hymnal Singing. 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Mountain View Baptist Church, 3765 Mountain View Road, Gainesville. Youth Christmas Program Service. 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon. Dec. 16. Christ Lutheran Church, 3612 Old Oakwood Road, Oakwood. clcga@ bellsouth.net. Bible study. 7-8 p.m. Dec. 19 and Jan. 9. Mount Zion Baptist Church, 4000 Thurmond Tanner Road, Flowery Branch. 770-967- 3722 or mzbcinfo@yahoo.com. Birthday Party for Jesus. Bouncy house, hot cocoa, smores, cake, ice cream and party bags. 7-9 p.m. Dec. 19. Rock Hill Church, 4115 Price Road, Gainesville. 678-908-2763 or wherethesidewalkends316@ gmail.com. Children’s Christmas program. 11 a.m. to noon. Dec. 23. Dunagan Chapel United Methodist Church, 5540 Timber Ridge Drive, Gainesville. brockmm@gmail. com. Singles Enrichment/ Empowerment. 9-9:45 a.m. Dec. 23, Jan. 27, Feb. 24 and March 24. Mount Zion Baptist Church, 4000 Thurmond Tanner Road, Flowery Branch. mzbcinfo@ yahoo.com. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Free Chapel, 3001 McEver Road, Gainesville. alexisramgopal@gmail.com. The LeFevre Quartet and Sounds Of Jericho. 7 p.m. Dec. 28. The Venue at Christ Place Church, 3494 Atlanta Highway, Oakwood. Marriage Enrichment. 9-9:45 a.m. Jan. 13. Mount Zion Baptist Church, 4000 Thurmond Tanner Road, Flowery Branch. 770-967- 3722 or mzbcinfo@yahoo.com. Movie Night. 7 p.m. Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30. Chicopee United Methodist Church, 3 First St., Gainesville. 770-634-6803 or pegflute@yahoo.com. Rethinking Retirement. Retreat to encourage and equip elders for the work of discipling the next generation. 9 a.m. Feb. 15 to 10 a.m. Feb. 17. Ark on Lake Lanier, 6250 Old Dawsonville Road, Gainesville. David Marsh, theater organist. 3 p.m. Feb. 17. Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Highway, Cumming. Darrell and Dawn Ritchie. Noon Feb. 26. Concord Baptist Church, 6905 Concord Road, Cumming. ONGOING Celebrate Recovery. 6:15-9 p.m. every Friday. Dinner, large group service and small groups. Children’s ministry available for children of all ages. CrossBridge Community Church, 751 Ga. 53 E, Dawsonville. $2-3. 770-883-2576 or slreeves2@yahoo.com. Free clothing store. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday. Infant, children and adult clothing available for those in need. Donations appreciated. Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 7049 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch. 678-336-6964. Gentle Hearts Ministry Food Pantry. Distribution of food. 5-6 p.m. every Wednesday. St. Paul United Methodist Church, 705 Summit St., Gainesville. 770-536-4910. Senior adult choir. 1 p.m. Wednesdays. First Presbyterian Church, 800 S. Enota Drive, Gainesville. Membership not required. 770-532-0136.