Salisbury Academy shares Christmas joy at RVO
Published 12:10 am Saturday, December 21, 2024
Salisbury Academy student Macy Jones serves refreshments to RVO consumers at the recent student-led Christmas Happiness Party. - Submitted
At right, student James Oden, seventh grade at Salisbury Academy, takes a break from leading his bowling game to smile with party attendees from RVO. - Submitted
Student Audrey Faggart places a Santa hat on a RVO client’s head as part of his props for the party’s photo booth. - Submitted
Spreading joy through song, students Will Almeida, left, and Lucas Oden, right, join in karaoke Christmas songs with a party guest. - Submitted
Clara Misner, from left, and Zoe Holmes lead an ornament decorating station at the RVO Christmas Happiness Party. - Submitted
SALISBURY — In a long-standing tradition, Salisbury Academy middle school students experienced the true spirit of the holiday season at their recent Christmas Happiness Party for the clients of Rowan Vocational Opportunities.
At the party, the students led games and activities for RVO clients, from karaoke to cookie and ornament decorating to bowling.
“Looking around the room at RVO during the party, I saw everyone smile, and I’ve never seen more beautiful smiles from so many people,” 8th grader Harper Haines said.
Seventh grader James Oden added, “During RVO, helping the clients there have fun and putting a smile on their faces really warmed my heart. It put a smile on my face, too.”
In addition to the festivities, the middle schoolers also presented thoughtfully collected gifts — ranging from toiletries to clothes to other essential items — donated through a schoolwide drive to support RVO clients.
“It makes you feel so good, especially knowing that this may be the only Christmas that some of the RVO clients get,” eighth grader Macy Jones said. “I’m so happy we could be a part of that.”
Eighth grader Lucas Oden added, “Engaging in this RVO outreach made me feel and appreciate all that we have.”
With so many activities, Salisbury Academy students were tasked with manning different stations and games. Eighth grader Audrey Faggart took the reins of the photo booth.
“I got to interact with most everyone there,” Faggart said. “We students were just as excited as the clients at RVO. This is such a meaningful tradition for us.”
Administrators at RVO raved about the event and were grateful to Salisbury Academy for spending the time there.
“Our clients, as well as our staff, are so enamored and joyful for this special occasion every year and begin talking about and anticipating it in the months leading up,” said Wilson Cherry, director of community affairs for RVO. “The kindness of the students is something that’s truly appreciated. It’s a wonderful blessing.”
RVO Executive Director Gary Yelton said that the event has been going on for 17 years, although they took a break during the height of the COVID pandemic. Yelton indicated that every year, their clients look forward to the event and start getting hyped for it weeks out.
“Our clients will start talking about it way in advance,” Yelton said. “They will ask me or Wilson if those kids are coming again this year. They love the party.”
Yelton confirmed sentiments from Salisbury Academy officials that the event is mutually beneficial.
“We benefit from it tremendously, and I think that the middle schoolers do as well, if not more so,” Yelton said of the interaction that occurs between two groups that might not otherwise spend a lot of time together.
The party serves to officially launch the holiday season at RVO as well.
“I always say this is sort of our kick-off to the holiday season,” Yelton said. “We know when Salisbury Academy comes to do this party that, hey, it’s the Christmas season now.”
On Friday, Yelton said that they were packing up goodie bags for their clients with many of the items that Salisbury Academy donated.
“They contribute to that,” Yelton said. “When they came the other day, they brought a ton of soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes that they had gathered up for weeks and brought all that over.
“That kids have embraced our program, raised money to put on this party and collected donations to contribute to our gift bags is pretty neat.”
Cherry poured on additional praise for Heather Coulter, the curriculum coordinator at Salisbury Academy.
“She has been our contact liaison that helped start the whole thing,” Cherry said.
