WMHS students help Santa spread Christmas joy

by Steph Kerrigan

This past week, English teacher Kristen McMahon and her devoted students successfully collected toys and items for kids in need who wouldn’t be able to open presents on Christmas.  Due to an excessive amount of wishful thinking and dedication, three of McMahon’s junior English classes were able to round up enough toys to provide three young children an immense supply of presents to open Christmas morning.

McMahon was ecstatic at the way her kids reacted when she presented them with the offer to collect toys for one child per class. The students were incredibly intrigued and believed that getting a child a few items each would be a great way to pursue a good deed as a class. This thrilled McMahon in knowing that her students are such wonderful, special people for wanting to do this for a young child in need of a Christmas.

McMahon’s remarkable idea started last year when she and her daughters acted as Santa for a young child during Christmas.

“My daughters and I were Santa for a child last year and all year I thought about the fact that there were so many kids that didn’t get ‘adopted’ for Christmas last year and it bothered me,” said McMahon. “And my classes this year are very special, outgoing, kind kids who I thought would do wonderful things for kids that needed them,” said McMahon.

  In addition, this brilliant teacher was also worried that it might not work out if the students did not meet the requirements of bringing in enough presents to grant the children. If none of her classes brought in enough toys, the kids would not have anything to open on Christmas and McMahon was fearful about breaking her promise to the children.

However, when each and every one of her classes pulled through, McMahon couldn’t have been happier and more proud of them for doing something so generous. Usually teenagers would rather spend money on themselves than do something special for a younger adolescent in need. The students involved in these English classes have proved everyone wrong though, and showed that being a teenager doesn’t always mean that they only care for themselves, but others as well.

“Teens sometimes get a bad reputation and those of us teachers know differently. I’m so proud of them and what they did to help the children,” said McMahon.

The students of McMahon’s classes were just as excited about collecting the presents as she was. Junior Caitlin O’Donnell explained that this great opportunity to provide presents to younger children made her feel extraordinary. 

“It feels fulfilling because instead of thinking of myself during Christmas, I’m thinking of the little girl and how much we have helped her and made her day special,” said O’Donnell.

Along with Caitlin, junior Cassie Magro is also in high spirits after she helped donate to a child in need as well.

“I feel like it is a good thing to do because it makes you feel good knowing that you helped a kid out. It’s better to give than to receive,” said Magro.

The girls of McMahon’s English classes weren’t the only ones who were eager about the donations. Junior Andrew Guilli explained how excited he was about being able to help out along with the rest of his class.

“It feels really nice to help someone out. I was excited to be given the opportunity to buy a present for someone in need. It is good to know that the child will have presents to open on Christmas,” said Guilli.

Junior Calvin Xie , another student in one of McMahon’s English classes,  has a big heart in understanding the meaning behind Christmas.

“I think this is great and awesome about how many people care. This is what the holidays are all about, it’s about giving and finding the good in each and every one of us,” said Xie.

Last but not least, junior Rafaella Lima had a lot to say on the topic. She was extremely pleased that McMahon wanted her classes to collect presents for children who won’t have any to open on Christmas.

“I was immediately enthusiastic when Ms. McMahon presented the idea and it was awesome to see that the rest of the class was just as excited. It felt really good knowing that we made someone’s Christmas possible. I feel like it really brought the Christmas spirit and I hope I get other opportunities to do something like this again,” said Lima.

The accomplishment of McMahon’s English classes will bring three young children with joy and exhilaration when they wake up on Christmas morning to find presents for them to open.  A big thanks goes out to English teacher Kristen McMahon and her students for this significant triumph. Hopefully this wonderful deed will encourage other classes to do the same next year. If every class did this, so many needy children would be granted a magical Christmas.

With that said, collecting toys as a whole is a simple, painless way that would make a young child’s Christmas and hopefully there will be other classes next year who will follow this example and perform this marvelous deed as well.