50 High School Students Volunteer in Wiseburn this Month
This month, 50 Da Vinci high school students spent a combined 150 hours volunteering in the Wiseburn community at Aviation Elementary School’s Family Craft Night and at Hollyglen Elementary School’s Bear Bazaar fundraising event.
At Aviation Elementary, Da Vinci high school students signed up to help younger kids with making handmade crafts, which included everything from making slime, to making ornaments and bead bracelets, decorating picture frames, and more. The Da Vinci Schools Fund donated the services of El Churro Man, a churro vendor who offered made-to-order churros, and Pixster, a photo booth vendor that allowed anyone who wanted to take a photo with a custom backdrop to do so, then get an instant print.
“Almost 200 people participated in Aviation’s Family Craft Night and everyone was all smiles,” said Liz Fancher, Aviation’s PTA parent and event organizer. “Thank you so much to Da Vinci Schools, the Da Vinci Schools Fund, and all the high school students who came out to support the younger students in the Wiseburn community. We are so grateful to you.” The very next day, another 30 Da Vinci high school student volunteers showed up at Hollyglen Elementary School to support the PTA’s biggest annual fundraiser called Bear Bazaar. At Bear Bazaar, vendors buy space and display one-of-a-kind gifts. This year, there were vendors selling everything from aprons, books, plants, and jewelry, to baked goods, art, clothing, and a whole host of other unique items.
While grown-ups were shopping and bidding on silent auction items, Da Vinci high school student volunteers were painting the faces of younger kids, wrapping the gifts that people bought, and collecting money from baked goods sales.
Student volunteers—some of whom had never done face painting before—were so kind and so brave in the way they engaged with the younger kids who wanted their faces painted. It was truly remarkable to watch the high school students who had never painted another person’s face before go from having trepidation to feeling more comfortable, to being more confident with each little one’s face they painted.
“It was really incredible to see our Da Vinci students who had never done face painting before support the younger kids and be so brave and so willing to try something new,” said Carla Levenson, Da Vinci’s Executive Director of External Relations. “We’re so grateful that they came out to support this important Hollyglen PTA fundraising event.”
As we wind down this calendar year, and close out the holiday season, we want to thank our students for being so willing to dedicate their time and energy to the Wiseburn community, and for showing up with such pride, kindness, and school spirit. We want to thank the parents and guardians who allow their children to participate, and in many cases physically transport them to the events. And, of course, we’d like to thank Wiseburn USD, and all the PTAs and PTA leaders who allowed us to partner with them to create lasting memories for all. We are so grateful. #BetterTogether
